Author: Gospel Folio Press

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 29; Job 38-39; Matt. 15:29 to 16:12

 

Ye know the house of Stephanas…that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints.  1 Corinthians 16:15

Life’s addictions—drugs, alcohol, nicotine, gambling, etc.—end up costing the addict everything. Material goods, employment, family and friends, physical and mental health, dignity—wasted to appease a craving that will never be satisfied. Addicting oneself to the service of other Christians is just the opposite. Everything an earthly addiction could possibly cost, an addiction to ministry exceeds, both in this life and the one to come. Wouldn’t the result be amazing if an epidemic of “service addiction” caught hold of God’s people? —Rick Morse

Let this my motto be; 
Help me to live for others, 
That I may live like Thee.
—C. D. Meigs

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 28; Job 36-37; Matt. 15:1-28

 

And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.  Luke 1:6
That we…might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him, all the days of our life.  Luke 1:74-75
I have found David…a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. Acts 13:22

Note the importance of the word “all” here. Zacharias and Elisabeth had a sincere regard for God’s Word. They sought to obey all of it! Is our goal like theirs, to serve the Lord all the days of our life? Does God delight in us, as He did in David, because He knows our desire is to fulfil all His will? May half-heartedness never mark us! —Pete Smith

Take my will and make it Thine, it shall be no longer mine;
Take my heart—it is Thine own, it shall be Thy royal throne.
—Havergal

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 27; Job 34-35; Matt. 14:13-36

 

God called unto him (Moses) out of the burning bush. And said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.  Exodus 3:4
And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh?…Certainly I will be with thee. Exodus 3:11-12

When God called Moses to His service, Moses replied “Here am I” indicating his availability and willingness to please God. But when God outlined the size of the task, Moses asked, “Who am I?” Sometimes the work God sets before us seems daunting but, if we are willing, He will enable us to accomplish His purposes. As we head out into the opportunities of this day, may we be encouraged by the certainty of His declaration, “I will be with you.” —Ken Gross

The service of Jesus true pleasure affords;
‘Tis heaven to trust Him and rest on His words.
—Frank C. Huston

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 26; Job 32-33; Matt. 13:44 to 14:12

 

Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies?  Mark 2:7

We must be ever careful that we do not become like the Pharisees. In this passage the Pharisees struggled with seeing God work in a way that was inconsistent with their version of truth (vv. 1-12). That was certainly not the spirit of the Apostle Paul (see Phil. 1:18). They were also scandalized as the Lord reached out to a class they considered below them (vv. 13-17). Christ reached out to all people, as should we. He also possessed a liberty towards fasting that they lacked (vv. 18-22). We too must watch that ritual does not take precedence over enjoying the living Christ. May He never say of us, they “honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me” (Mark 7:6). —N. C. Funston

Lord, take my life and make it wholly Thine;
Fill my poor heart with Thy great love divine.
—J. E. Orr

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 25; Job 31; Matt. 13:24-43

 

O Lord, you are my God…a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat.  Isaiah 25:1,4

The Lord is our strength and our refuge, a helper in our times of trouble (Ps. 46:1). He is our solid rock. When our hearts are overwhelmed we can always run to Him. At His feet we can pour out all our sorrows (Ps. 62:8). He is like no other. The world surely cannot offer us a refuge like He does. Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). Taking refuge in Him will shelter us from the storm! —L. Fraser

You are my strength when I am weak, 
You are the treasure that I seek. 
You are my all in all!
—D. Jernigan

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 24; Job 29-30; Matt. 13:1-23

 

My God forbid it me, that I should do this thing: shall I drink the blood of these men that have put their lives in jeopardy?  1 Chronicles 11:19

To David, the cold water from the well near Bethlehem became a symbol of the love and sacrifice of the three men who broke through the Philistine armies to fetch it for him. Therefore he would not drink it, but poured it out. How much more should we reverence the cup of the Lord! “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?” (1 Cor. 10:16). David felt unworthy of such a sacrifice. How much more we are unworthy and yet we drink the cup today because He has made us worthy. —Shane Johnson

We love Thee for Thy mercy, we love Thee for Thy grace,
We love Thee for Thy love, and long to see Thy face.
—Shane Johnson

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 23; Job 27-28; Matt. 12:22-50

 

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son.  Galatians 4:4
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. Romans 5:6

Timing is everything, especially God’s timing. It’s often asked, “Do we know when Jesus was born?” The answer is yes, it was “when the fullness of time was come.” Similarly, His death for us was “in due time”. When the world was in its greatest need, the Saviour was born, and when we were sinners, hopelessly lost, Christ died for us. When will He come again? We don’t know the day or the hour, but we do know that His timing is perfect! —Rex Trogdon

O Lord Jesus, how long, how long, e’re we shout the glad song?
Christ returneth! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Amen.
—H. L. Turner

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 22; Job 25-26; Matt. 12:1-21

 

When John had heard…the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and show John again those things which ye do hear and see. Matthew 11:2-4

Have you ever felt imprisoned by your circumstances? Have you ever looked at your situation and doubted your calling and purpose? Or maybe even doubted God Himself? If you have, be encouraged, you are in exceptional company. Even the greatest of God’s servants had doubts! In this instance, the Lord answered “Go and show John again.” The Lord never tires of encouraging His people again and again and again. —Sid Halsband

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
—J. Scriven

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 20-21; Job 23-24; Matt. 11:2-30

 

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen…which we have looked upon…and our hands have handled, of the Word of Life. 1 John 1:1

A Christian is one who has seen, heard and touched God. He doesn’t promote a religious doctrine or creed to compel others, but possesses an intimate relationship with God—the testimony of his faith. This world doesn’t need more religion. It needs men and women who have seen and heard and touched God, who live that reality daily.  Make this your mission today. —Deborah Manera

We are the Bibles the world is reading; 
We are the creeds the world is needing; 
We are the sermons the world is heeding.
—Billy Graham