Author: Gospel Folio Press

DAILY?READINGS: Joshua 8; Isaiah 5; Luke 22:54 to 23:12

Be not righeous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?  Ecclesiastes 7:16

There is a strong tendency among Christians to allow human reasoning to replace Scriptural principles, thus making ourselves “wiser than God”. Paul said, “My speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power” (1 Cor. 2:4). The real challenge is that our reliance on human wisdom is difficult to detect and we often don’t even realize we are doing it. But clear divine instructions set aside in favour of the reasoning of men will always leave us cold and disappointed. “Walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing” (Col. 1:10). —Vernon Markle

Come, O my soul, the call obey, take up the burden of thy Lord!
His practice is thy living way, thy guide His pure unerring Word.
—Charles Wesley

DAILY?READINGS: Joshua 7; Isaiah 3-4; Luke 22:31-53

And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him.  Exodus 2:4

Amid state-sponsored infanticide, Moses’ parents committed their ark-borne son to the Nile—a river that was worshiped by the Egyptians and was also used to kill the Hebrew children. They did this knowing that God would preserve him. The Lord used the waters to carry Moses into the arms of the family of Israel’s persecutor. The boy was raised by Pharaoh’s daughter. Only God can use nature and the machinations of evil men to bring about His purposes. Our security similarly depends on His ongoing providential care for us. —K. R. Keyser

Deep in unfathomable mines of never failing skill;
He treasures up his bright designs and works his sovereign will.
—Cowper

DAILY?READINGS: Joshua 5:13 to 6:27; Isaiah 2; Luke 22:1-30

The Lord is my Shepherd…  Psalm 23:1

It has been suggested that the most important word in Psalm 23 is “my”. You can know the Lord as a Shepherd, or even the Shepherd, but what really matters is to be able to say the Lord is my Shepherd. Is this Good (John 10:11), Great (Heb. 13:20), and Chief (1 Pet. 5:4) Shepherd your shepherd? —W. Ross Rainey

The King of love my Shepherd is, 
Whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack since I am His, 
And He is mine forever. 
—Henry W. Baker

DAILY?READINGS: Joshua 4 to 5:12; Isaiah 1; Luke 21:5-38

Have I committed an offence?…  2 Corinthians 11:7

What are the marks of a good man? Paul makes a few suggestions in this passage (vv. 7-11). A good man should be transparent (vv. 7-9), and genuinely affectionate (vv. 10-11). Transparency is a difficult virtue, as it means one must be vulnerable and exposed to others. It means choosing to be humble, so others may be exalted (v. 7); and impoverished, so others may be enriched (vv. 7-9). When it comes to affection, Paul lived it out. It knew no bounds, geographically (v. 10), or personally (v. 11). Wherever he was, with whomever he was, he was boundless in his affection for the Corinthians. How much stronger would our homes and churches be, if men like this were leading! —N. C. Funston

All that is good, all that is right; all that is truth, justice and light;
All that is pure, holy indeed, all that is You is all that I need.
—T. Paris

DAILY?READINGS: Joshua 3; Hosea 11:12 to 14:9; Luke 20:20 to 21:4

But beware of men…  Matthew 10:17

Like a gate sign warning of a dog, our Lord reminds us that the world will be unkind to His ambassadors. Men are reliably evil in the issues that flow from their hearts (Mark 7:21), and rebellion against God’s rule will be the epitaph of humanity. Paul said he became all things to all men (1 Cor. 9:22) but that was not his ultimate goal. It was the means to his goal—seeing some saved. If we lose sight of that, we will find out just how treacherous this world can be! —Rick Morse

If I must have some failing, 
let me rather speak the truth with too great severity,
than once to act the hypocrite and conceal the truth. 
—Martin Luther

DAILY?READINGS: Joshua 2; Hosea 10 to 11:11; Luke 20:1-19

For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment…  Genesis 18:19

What a high commendation God gives of Abraham and what an excellent example and challenge for Christian fathers today! God is looking for fathers who will raise their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Eph. 6:4). How can this be done in today’s evil society? It is accomplished by immersing one’s children in the teachings of God’s Word in every area of life. It is done by being a godly example before them. May we pray for and encourage godly fathers, thanking God for them. —E. V.

Come, follow Me, the Saviour spake, deny yourselves, the world forsake,
Oh, bear the cross, whate’er betide, take My example for your guide.
—Johann Scheffler

DAILY?READINGS: Joshua 1; Hosea 8-9; Luke 19:29-48

Art thou greater than our father Abraham…whom makest thou thyself?  John 8:53

The Jews accused our Lord of making Himself what He already was. They said He made Himself a king (John 19:12). He was already the King of the Jews (Matt. 2:2). They said He made Himself the Son of God (John 19:7). He was already the Son of God (John 10:36). They said He made Himself God (John 10:33). He was already God (1 Tim. 3:16). They said He made Himself equal with God (John 5:18). He was always equal, because He was the Son of God. Our Lord was not a man that made Himself God, but God who made Himself a man. Great is the mystery of godliness. —Harold G. Smith

A wonderful Saviour is Jesus my Lord, a wonderful Saviour to me,
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rocks, where rivers of pleasures I see.
—Fanny Crosby

DAILY?READINGS: Deut. 34; Hosea 6:4 to 7:16; Luke 19:1-28

Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you.  1 Samuel 12:23

Samuel, now an old man, was resolved to continue his life-long practice of praying for his people. To fail in this matter would have been a serious “sin of omission”! Do we need to be reminded that “To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin”? (Jam. 4:17) The Lord evaluates both what we do and what we do not do. —George Hall

Deeds of merit, as we thought them;
He will show us were but sin;
Little acts we had forgotten,
He will tell us were for Him.
—A. M. Monteath