Author: Gospel Folio Press

 

DAILY?READINGS: Joshua 23; Isaiah 17-18; 2 Thessalonians 2

 

Is anything too hard for the Lord?…  Genesis 18:14
…With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. Matthew 19:26

Are you facing an impossible situation? Is there seemingly no solution? Take courage dear child of God. You have a heavenly Father who deals with the impossible all the time! Introduce your problem to your Almighty God and it will crumble before His power and might. Remember the Red Sea, the walls of Jericho and Sarah’s barren womb? These were all humanly impossible situations, but when confronted with the power of Almighty God, the impossible—becomes possible! Is “anything” too hard for the Lord? —E. V.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take, the clouds ye so much dread,
Are big with mercy and shall break, with blessings on your head.
—Cowper

 

DAILY?READINGS: Joshua 22; Isaiah 15-16; 2 Thessalonians 1

 

And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.  Genesis 22:12

No greater price could ever be asked of a father than the sacrifice of his only son. If possible, he would gladly give up anything else, even his own life. Yet what God stopped Abraham from doing, He permitted no such luxury for Himself. He spared not His own Son but delivered Him up for you and for me. May our remembrance and worship of Him today be sweet. —Sid Halsband

The Father gives His only Son;
The Lord of glory dies;
For us, the guilty and undone,
A spotless Sacrifice.
—R. C. Chapman

 

DAILY?READINGS: Joshua 20-21; Isaiah 14; 1 Thessalonians 5

 

And he marvelled because of their unbelief…  Mark 6:6 
…he marvelled at him…I have not found so great faith… Luke 7:9

Two times Jesus marvelled: once, because of great belief; once, because of great unbelief. The unbelief occured in His own city. They would not believe in Him simply because they were familiar with Him. It shouldn’t be surprising then that we see so many people who have long been exposed to God’s Word yet still haven’t trusted in Him. The centurion, however, unworthy and far from God, believed, because he recognized who Christ was and the authority He had. Isn’t it wonderful when people who hear the Gospel for the first time embrace it with all their hearts! —Tom Steere

Gracious Lord, Thou canst make me clean; Lord, I am pleading still;
Now I hear from Thy lips divine, “Child, thou hast faith—I will.”
—Fanny J. Crosby

 

DAILY?READINGS: Joshua 18-19; Isaiah 13; 1 Thessalonians 4

 

…Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.  John 21:17

Three times Peter denied the Lord (Matt 26:75) and three times the Lord asked Peter if he loved Him. However, Peter’s grief was not caused by the Lord asking him three times. It was the word He used.Twice He had asked Peter if he loved (agape) Him. Peter responded, “I have an affection (phileo) for Thee.” Jesus then lowered the standard from agape to phileo, using Peter’s word. Love reduced to affection. The Lord knows the quality of our feeling for Him. May our affection blossom into a deep love for our Saviour. —Dan Coulson

That day by day my heart may give to Thee;
A deeper love; and growing constantly.
—James Mountain

 

DAILY?READINGS: Joshua 16-17; Isaiah 11-12; 1 Thess. 2:13 to 3:13

 

Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith…But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it. 1 Samuel 31:4

So how will you die? Saul had a wonderful beginning. He seemed destined to become a great king. But he rebelled against the Lord’s command concerning the destruction of the Amalekites. When confronted by Samuel he was not truly repentant. He lived a life of rebellion against the Lord. Now he is at the end of his life, his army defeated by the Philistines and wounded by the archers. In despair he ends his own life. Beware then of a life lived in rebellion against God. Obedience will bring blessing and you will die well. —Donald L. Norbie

If I live, well, praise the Lord. If I die, well, praise the Lord.
If I live or die, my only cry will be, Jesus in me, praise the Lord. 
—Ray Hildebrand

 

DAILY?READINGS: Joshua 14-15; Isaiah 10:5-34; 1 Thess. 1 to 2:12

 

Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.  Psalm 23:4

There is a valley in California called Death Valley, and while it is  a foreboding physical place, it is nothing compared to the valley of the shadow of death. Most people will never see Death Valley. But the valley of the shadow of death looms in front of each one. Don’t go there alone. Religion can’t accompany you. Psychology can’t help you. You can’t brave it alone. The Lord Jesus Christ wants to forgive your sins, save you and be with you every day, all the way home to heaven. Trust Him today and you won’t go through that valley alone. —Carl Knott

And no evil will I fear while my Shepherd is so near,
There’s a light in the valley for me.
—Philip P. Bliss

 

DAILY?READINGS: Joshua 13; Isaiah 9:8 to 10:4; Luke 24:36-53

 

Then I proclaimed a fast…before our God to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.  Ezra 8:21

We often pray regarding our own needs. We also pray for our children and loved ones. But do we pray for our substance? Do we ask for guidance in using all that God has given us for His honour and glory? In this day of tremendous debt, are we believers using our substance for pleasure and for our “toys”? We need to be good stewards of our time and money. —M. Robins

Take my lips and let them be,
Filled with messages for Thee,
Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
—Frances R. Havergal

 

DAILY?READINGS: Joshua 11-12; Isaiah 8:5 to 9:7; Luke 24:13-35

 

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.  Galatians 3:13

When Adam sinned, he brought a curse into the world, under which humanity lives even today. The Law when it was introduced accentuated that curse by reminding us of God’s inflexible standards of righteousness and made man more conscious than ever of his plight. But God has removed that curse. At Calvary we see the sinless Sufferer wearing the symbol of the curse upon His blessed brow—the crown of thorns—reminding us that He took our place and became accursed for us, to redeem us from the curse of the law. —W. H. Burnett

Whatever curse was mine He bore; the wormwood and the gall,
There in that lone, mysterious hour, my cup—He drained it all.
—Author Unknown

 

DAILY?READINGS: Joshua 10; Isaiah 7 to 8:4; Luke 23:47 to 24:12

 

This is my body which is given for you; this do in remembrance of me.  Luke 22:19

Remembrance is a solemn act. It is a time to consider the greatness of the divine sacrifice. It requires an examination of the heart—taking the “pulse” of our spiritual health. Repentance, thanksgiving, worship and praise flow from a heart that regularly meditates on Him. Our Lord didn’t tell us to celebrate his birth—but to remember his death—for it’s only through His death that we have forgiveness of sins and a restored relationship with God. Think on Him today! —Deborah Manera

Upon a life I did not live,
Upon a death I did not die; 
Anothers life, anothers death, 
I stake my whole eternity.
—Horatius Bonar

 

DAILY?READINGS: Joshua 9; Isaiah 6; Luke 23:13-46

 

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.  Isaiah 55:8-9

How many times have we cried out to God and questioned Him as to what He is doing in our lives? We can feel frustrated, even angry. Our hearts ache and call out. Isaiah reminds us that God’s ways and thoughts are higher than ours. Who of us can plumb the “depths of His wisdom and knowledge”? His judgments (the decisions He makes) are untraceable and His ways (the paths He chooses) are beyond our comprehension. Rest in His sovereign faithfulness. —Jim Comte

Trust in Him, ye saints forever; He is faithful, changing never;
Neither force nor guile can sever, those He loves from Him.
—Thomas Kelly