Author: Gospel Folio Press

DAILY?READINGS: Numbers 5; Proverbs 2; Mark 14:27-52

And Judah said unto Israel his father…I will be surety for him.  Genesis 43:8-9
Then Judah came near. Genesis 44:18

The sons of Jacob argued with their father over taking their youngest brother, Benjamin, down to Egypt. Reuben offered, “Slay my two sons if I don’t bring him back.” What good would that do, except reveal what a scoundrel Reuben was? They were at a deadlock. Then, Judah offered himself as surety. That made the difference. When the test came to make good on his offer we read, “Judah came near.” As with Judah, so with his descendant, Messiah, our Saviour, who came near and offered Himself as our surety on the cross. —Rex Trogdon

Behold! A spotless victim dies, my surety on the tree;
The Lamb of God, the sacrifice. He gave Himself for me!
—Author Unknown

DAILY?READINGS: Numbers 4; Proverbs 1; Mark 14:1-26

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.  Matthew 18:18-19

Our first response when someone gives us a command is often “Who are they? What authority do they have to tell me what to do?” That is why our Saviour prefaced his final command by establishing His right to give the order. He is not only our Saviour, but our Lord. We are His. Since this is the case, what choice do we have but to obey? And if we love Him as we should, why would we not willingly want to? What are we doing to carry out His command? —Ken Gross

Christ of God, our souls confess Thee—King and Sov’reign even now!
Thee we rev’rence, Thee obey— Own Thee Lord and Christ alway.
—R. Holden

DAILY?READINGS: Numbers 3; Psalms 148-150; Mark 13

…Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things.  Matt. 25:21

What a return on investment—reigning over many things because of faithfulness in a few things. Reward is one incentive to be true to Him who has been true to us. But higher still is the service that issues from a grateful heart overflowing with the knowledge of sins forgiven, His abiding presence now, and a loving Saviour waiting to welcome us to our eternal Home. This above all, should be the greatest motive to faithfully serve the King. —Mark Kolchin

Hear ye the Master’s call, give Me thy best! 
For be it great or small that is His test.
Do then the best you can, not for reward, 
Not for the praise of men, but for the Lord.
—S. Kirk

DAILY?READINGS: Numbers 2; Psalms 146-147; Mark 12:18-44

Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.  1 John 3:13
Ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. John 15:19

Even the secular media today reports on the hatred existing and being displayed against believers in Christ. Christ Jesus clearly stated when He experienced hatred in the first century, that we might expect the same as His followers. When walking the planet, Jesus said, “Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). We know with certainty of this world’s coming demise and that persecuted saints will ultimately reign with Him. What a prospect! —Arnot P. McIntee

And though here on earth rejected, ‘tis fellowship with Thee;
What besides could be expected, than like Thee, our Lord, to be?
—S. P. Tregelles

DAILY?READINGS: Numbers 1; Psalms 144-145; Mark 11:27 to 12:17

For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  1 Timothy 6:7

When Alexander the Great was dying, he summoned his generals and told them of his final wishes. One wish was quite unusual and vivid; He wanted his hands to hang out of his coffin! He said “I want my hands to swing in the wind, so that people understand that we come into this world empty handed and we leave it empty handed.” We can accrue as much of this world’s goods as we like, but we will leave them all behind. Only what has been done for the Lord can be “sent ahead” into heaven. —Brian Powlesland

Must I go—and empty handed? Must I meet my Saviour so?
Not one soul with which to greet Him? Must I empty handed go?
—C. Luther

DAILY?READINGS: Leviticus 27; Psalms 142-143; Mark 11:1-26

…But the Lord was not in the wind… not in the earthquake… not in the fire.  1 Kings 19:11-12

This was not the first time that the wind, earthquake and fire were seen on Mount Horeb. Horeb, also known as Sinai, saw these same dramatics when God was dealing with Moses. This time, however, God was dealing in a different way, with a different servant, Elijah. While God may manifest Himself in a spectacular manner, most times He reveals Himself through the small things, the quiet things, the obscure things. It was truly what Elijah needed. The splash and the flash of each of these necessary displays were fine, but not for this time. Too often we crave the sensational. What we really need is the consistent, quiet, comforting assurance of God’s presence. —N. C. Funston

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side 
Leave to thy God to order and provide.
—K. von Schlegel

DAILY?READINGS: Leviticus 26; Psalm 140-141; Mark 10:32-52

…Do this in remembrance of me.  Luke 22:19

The Lord knows our forgetfulness, especially when it comes to gratefulness. The note we should have sent, the thanks we should have said, all because we forgot. So He gave us the symbols of bread and wine. They represent our Saviour in His essence—body given and blood shed on our behalf. Jesus death, burial and resurrection are at the centre of the heart of God. Though He can call upon all of nature to praise Him, none of these are as meaningful as a heart overflowing in love for His Son. Let us determine to be there, when it is time to remember Him. Lest we forget. —Charlie Tempest

Come let us sing the matchless worth, 
And sweetly sound His glories forth.
Which in the Saviour shine.
—Samuel Medley

DAILY?READINGS: Leviticus 25; Psalm 139; Mark 10:1-31

That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.  Ephesians 1:12

Amazing how God can take a lost, guilty sinner and through His full salvation make them “to the praise of his glory”. All the purposes of God are in His Son (Eph. 3:11). He is said to be “Him that filleth all in all” (Eph 1:23). Since He is restoring what Adam lost, it is not good that He should be alone. The Father is creating a spiritual Eve as a bride for His Son. She is the fulness of Him that filleth all in all. How wondrous to know that God has saved us for such glory. —Harold G. Smith

It took a miracle to put the stars in place, 
It took a miracle to hang the world in space, 
But when He saved my soul, cleansed and made me whole, 
It took a miracle of love and grace!
—John Peterson

DAILY?READINGS: Leviticus 24; Psalms 137-138; Mark 9:33-50

For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the Lord. Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.  Hosea 4:10-11

Immorality is weakening the heart of God’s people. Surrounded by the world’s hedonistic media and society’s permissive attitude, sin abounds and the love of many waxes cold. But where sin abounds, grace does much more abound. Our best and only defense against this world’s immorality is God’s all-sufficient grace. He gives His best, enabling us to give Him our best. May our love be restored to burn for Him again. —Rick Morse

Marvellous, infinite, matchless grace; 
Freely bestowed on all who believe.
—J. H. Johnston