Author: Gospel Folio Press

 

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

 

DAILY?READINGS: Leviticus 23:23-44; Psalms 135-136; Mark 9:14 -32

 

…Having a desire to depart and to be with Christ; which is far better. Philippians 1:23

The words “dying” and “death” trouble many people. They are stark and their subject is harsh. Paul saw his end as a departure. He meant leaving where he was (this world) and going to be where he wanted to be (with Christ). To leave a life filled with trials and tribulations and arrive on heaven’s shore to see our Saviour. What anticipation! What joy! Are you looking forward to your departure to a far better place? —Bob Cretney

In life’s eventide, at twilight,
At His door I’ll knock and wait;
By the precious love of Jesus, 
I shall enter heaven’s gate. 
—Elsie Ahlwen

 

DAILY?READINGS: Leviticus 23:1-22; Psalms 132-134; Mark 8:27 to 9:13

 

Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind… Matthew 15:14

We once were blind, but our blessed Saviour gave us sight. The Spiritual pride of the Pharisees caused them to refuse to acknowledge their blindness. And pride is sin. Jesus said, “If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth” (John 9:41). Men believe what they want to believe. God gave and respects that freedom of choice. Therefore, “let them alone” is the recognition of a choice that will determine their eternal destiny. Have you made your choice? —Vernon Markle

Choose now, just now! There’s a soul at stake! 
Oh what will your answer be?
Tis life or death; and the choice you make; 
Is made for eternity.
—H. Fithian

 

DAILY?READINGS: Leviticus 22; Psalm 128-131; Mark 8:11-26

 

Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places.  1 Kings 3:3
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness…not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? Romans 2:4

Solomon loved the Lord and walked in the ways of David. Sadly there was one exception—he sacrificed in the high places. Yet God, in His goodness blessed him and gave him great wisdom. Such “goodness” should have led Solomon to repent. Instead he drifted further and further from the Lord. If God is blessing us in spite of some sin, He is not condoning that sin! Rather His goodness should bring us to repent of it so that His blessing can abound. —David Croudace

Nothing between like pride or station, self or friends shall not intervene,
Tho’ it may cost me much tribulation, I am resolved there’ll be nothing between. 
—Charles A. Tindley

 

DAILY?READINGS: Leviticus 21; Psalms 124-127; Mark 7:24 to 8:10

 

The Lord sent out a great wind…there was a mighty tempest…  Jonah 1:4
Now the Lord had prepared a great fish… Jonah 1:17
And the Lord God prepared a gourd… Jonah 4:6
But God prepared a worm… Jonah 4:7
…God prepared a vehement east wind… Jonah 4:8

“Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby” (Heb. 12:11). As in Jonah’s experience, so too in our lives, things that we may find unpleasant are the hand of God at work to bring about a transformation that will ultimately benefit us and glorify Himself. —W. H. Burnett

Faint not, Christian! Though thy God, smite thee with the chastening rod;
Smite He must with Father’s care, that He may His love declare.
—J. Evens

 

DAILY?READINGS: Leviticus 19-20; Psalms 120-123; Mark 7:1-23

 

…Thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve…  Ezra 9:13

How different from Cain, the profane man who complained, “My punishment is greater than I can bear” (Gen. 4:13). Unlike Cain, every enlightened, repentant sinner knows that God has not punished them as they deserve, no matter what they have suffered (Ps. 103:10). Only a fool says, “Hell is in this life.” There at Calvary the Lord Jesus was punished exactly and fully for what our sins deserved. He bore our sins in His own body on the tree and divine punishment fell completely on Him, instead of on us. Who cannot find his tongue to say “Thank you, Lord” for all that! —Carl Knott

Thank you Lord for saving my soul, thank you Lord, for making me whole,
Thank you Lord for giving to me, Thy great salvation so rich and free.
—Seth and Bessie Sykes