Saturday, March 7, 2015

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 26:1-30; Psalms 70-71; Acts 15:1-21

 

…James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. Luke 5:10

The word “partners” is from the word koininea which means “fellowship”. In this passage we get an idea of what fellowship is. It is more than sitting in a meeting together. Many who do that every week have little fellowship with one another. James and John were in fellowship with Peter. They helped with the rowing, throwing out the nets, hauling them in and mending them. They were working together, sharing the good and the bad. Their lives coincided more than once a week for a couple of hours. What can you do to fellowship in the work of the assembly? Be a partner in the Lord’s work! —Carl Knott

To the work! To the work! We are servants of God;
Let us follow the path that our Master has trod.
—F. Crosby

Friday, March 6, 2015

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 25; Psalm 69; Acts 14

 

Also the Lord was angry with me for your sakes, saying, Thou also shalt not go in thither. But Joshua the son of Nun, which standeth before thee, he shall go in thither: encourage him: for he shall cause Israel to inherit it. Deuteronomy 1:37-38

No doubt Moses longed to enter the promised land. It was one thing to be told he could not enter, but another to be asked to encourage others to enjoy what was denied him. Are we older saints upset to see younger believers outstripping us spiritually and maybe enjoying more prominence than we have experienced among the Lord’s people? Rather than bemoan our lot, let us rejoice and encourage our spiritual children. —Brian Russell

Strong in the Lord of Hosts and in His mighty power,
Who in the strength of Jesus trust, is more than conqueror.
—C. Wesley

Thursday, March 5, 2015

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 24; Psalm 68; Acts 13:26-52

 

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  1 Peter 1:13

On Passover night the Israelites ate their meal dressed like pilgrims. Their loins were girded, they wore shoes, and they had their staves in their hands (Ex. 12:11). This unique garb stemmed from their expectation of imminent deliverance from slavery into a new life of worship and service in the Lord’s inheritance. Similarly, believers today must maintain a pilgrim mindset, soberly living with an eye on their coming Saviour. —K. R. Keyser

We hope in Thee, O God! The day wears on to night;
Thick shadows lie across our world, in Thee alone is light.
—M. Hearn

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 23:10-33; Psalms 66-67; Acts 13:1-25

 

Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.  Ecclesiastes 7:8

Our Christian beginning was like the lighting of a small candle. Our end, however, will be new bodies of glory. Our Lord’s birth was wonderful indeed, but His atoning work at the end of that life was a mighty work of glory. Take this lovely principle and apply it to the trials you may be experiencing today. “Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Cor. 4:17). —Vernon Markle

When He takes me by the hand, 
And leads me through the promised land, 
What a day, glorious day that will be. 
—James Hill

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 22 to 23:9; Psalms 64-65; Acts 12

 

But who is able to build Him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain Him…  2 Chronicles 2:6 
…upon this rock I will build my church. Matthew 16:18
I knew a man in Christ…caught up to the third heaven. 2 Cor. 12:2

The exceedingly magnificent temple which Solomon built was still not a suitable habitation for the Lord of heaven and earth (1 Chron. 22:5). The Lord Jesus, on the other hand, is building a spiritual house upon Himself. The full revelation of Him at His coming will bring us to the heaven of heavens (the third heaven). There we will see the throne of God Himself, on that day when we are caught up together to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thess. 4:17). —Tom Steere

A little while! Our Lord shall come, and we shall wander here no more;
He’ll take us to our Father’s home, where He for us has gone before.
—Deck

New GFP book – The God of Glory (Gary McBride)

Gary McBride has already written a couple of books for Gospel Folio Press. We are pleased to announce the printing another of his Bible studies.

The God of Glory
By: Gary McBride

From the Introduction:

The sum total of all that God is and does, His character, His conduct, and His attributes, could be referred to as the ‘glory of God.’ This is the great theme of the ages and ultimately stands as the reason for all that God does. It surpasses creation, revelation, and salvation as the highest motivation for the activities of the Godhead.

From the Foreword by David Reed:

“Having contemplated the pages of this manuscript several times, I liken them to a large tapestry hanging from a museum wall. An initial viewing unveils unique portions that snatch the mind’s attention and stir the heart to ponder the manners in which the glory of God is revealed. Inherent in each chapter are captivating perspectives of the glory of God, which can be enjoyed in an isolated reading of the chapter. However, upon each rereading, new portions will be highlighted and God’s splendor magnified. The reader is given cause to step back and appreciate in some small measure the tapestry of God’s glory woven together by the threads of the Son’s glory. Every individual aspect of God is glorious, but a panoramic view of God’s character transitions one’s focus to the united glory of God as revealed both in His work and in His person.”

Gary McBride and his wife Gloria were commended to the Lord’s work in 1980. They spent two years in Zambia and upon returning to Canada settled in northern Ontario. For twenty-six years they ministered in the north and helped with the operation of Northland Bible Camp. In 2008 they relocated to southern Ontario. Gary carries on an itinerant ministry at assemblies, conferences and camps. He and his wife Gloria have two married children and five grandchildren.

Order The God of Glory now.

Other GFP titles by Gary McBride:

Monday, March 2, 2015

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 21; Psalms 62-63; Acts 11:19-30

 

And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.  Genesis 11:4

God wants us to trust Him. But society is obsessed with self. It began in the garden with a temptation to be independent of God. It was not long after the flood that men and women attempted to build this tower, “whose top may reach unto heaven”. God stopped their attempt. Human effort will not bring us to God. We must depend solely on Him for salvation. The Lord Jesus is the only ladder that reaches to Heaven (John 1:51). Let us die to self today and trust wholly that the work of reaching God is finished in Jesus Christ. —Jared Fraser

His precious blood is sprinkled there, before and on the throne; 
And his own wounds in heaven declare, His work on earth is done.
—Deck

Lord’s Day, March 1, 2015

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 20:1-26; Psalms 60-61; Acts 11:1-18

 

And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped.  Exodus 34:8

How much we need a return to this kind of worship. Moses had been on the mount with God and God had proclaimed Himself to him. Note carefully Moses’ response. He made haste. The idea is that he melted down in the presence of Majesty. He bowed down. The original text indicates he shriveled up and became very small and worshipped. No words from Moses are mentioned. The bigger God becomes the smaller we get. Worship is not always with words, but when the spirit of man humbly bows in the presence of the Lord, there ascends to Him a sweet-smelling savour. —Harold G. Smith

O worship the King all glorious above, 
O gratefully sing His power and His love.
—R. Grant

Saturday, February 28, 2015

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 19; Psalms 58-59; Acts 10:24-48

 

There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?  John 6:9

Great crowds had gathered! The Saviour looked upon them and “was moved with compassion toward them” (Mark 6:34). The disciples said to the Lord, “Send them away” (Luke 9:12). But that was not His way. He challenged them to meet the need. Eventually Andrew brought forward the lunch of a lad—five barley loaves and two small fishes. The resources were so limited, it was almost comical. But He took them and fed the multitudes with 12 baskets left over! God can take our limited resources and multiply them to minister to others in ways beyond our comprehension. Never limit God. —Jim Comte

Little is much when God is in it! Labour not for wealth or fame.
There’s a crown and you can win it, if you go in Jesus’ name.
—K. Suffield

Friday, February 27, 2015

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 18; Psalms 56-57; Acts 10:1-23

 

…when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.  2 Timothy 4:13

A teacher at Sakeji School in the 1960s used to tell us that if she were taken to prison she would take with her a French Bible and the complete works of Shakespeare. We tried in vain to imagine what crime she might be capable of committing. In retrospect most of her pupils would also concur with the value both she and Paul placed on the Word of God. We watch as men and women receive their first ever copy of God’s Word, embracing it with tears of joy. Truly this is not just a living Book; it is life-giving. —Marilyn MacMullen

Blessèd Bible, pure and true, guide me all my journey through;
Heav’nly light within me shine, help me make Thy precepts mine!
—Fanny Crosby