DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 7:11 to 8:19; Job 9-10; Matt. 5:21-48
Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three. John 21:11
How interesting that the Scriptures state the exact number of fish that were in the disciples’ net. The passage says there were so many that the disciples struggled to handle the net. Surely that would have been description enough. But could it be that the Lord wanted the disciples to not simply think about the collective catch of fish, but to count each one individually because each one was important? Just like individual believers are important to Him. —Brian Powlesland
Loved with everlasting love, led by grace that love to know; Gracious Spirit from above, Thou hast taught me it is so! Oh this full and perfect peace! Oh this transport all divine! In a love which cannot cease, I am His, and He is mine. —G. W. Robinson
Sometimes Gospel Folio’s selection of products in a given area can be daunting for our customers. It can be difficult to choose between similar products without actually seeing them in person. Below is a comparison of the Then & Now Bible Maps products GFP carries from Rose Publishing. For more information, click on the links provided to view the detailed product profiles on our webstore.
Then And Now Bible Maps This volume is a basic Bible Maps resource. Its main feature is that it includes Clear Plastic Overlays that show modern borders. For example, if you are reading about a city in the Old Testament, you can see where it would be located according to modern day geography. A spiral-bound hardcover, it is only 20 pages long. This is a companion product to the Rose Publishing Then and Now Bible Maps PowerPoint which is great for study and teaching purposes.
Deluxe Then & Now Bible Maps The Deluxe Then & Now Bible Maps volume is an expanded edition of the Then & Now Bible Maps (above). For an additional $10, you receive a CD ROM and about 20 more pages. It contains the clear overlays for many of the maps showing modern day borders. The Table of Contents is particularly helpful. “When I was studying for my trip to Israel, this was the map book that I used for the most part. I found it easy to use.” -Chris, GFP Warehouse Manager
Rose Then and Now Bible Map Atlas with Biblical Background and Culture This volume is a major Atlas, containing a lot of text, commentary, and history. It is a lot more than just a map book. It is a case-bound book (the rest of the Rose Map books are lay-flat coil bound). This altas is 272 pages (compare with 40 pages for the Deluxe Then & Now Bible Maps). It would take a lot of familiarization for this to become a regular Bible study tool in your library.
Rose Book of Bible Charts, Maps & Time Lines (Volume 1) There is also this volume, which includes a lot of the same maps as the other atlases mentioned above. The clear overlays, however, are not included. Instead of overlays, it contains a historical map followed by the present day map below on the same page. This Rose volume provides a lot of additional charts, etc.
Then and Now Bible Maps Insert This Bible insert contains material from the Then and Now Bible Maps in a portable format. It fits inside your Bible, providing on the go access to the information you would already have familiarized yourself with. It is a robust Bible Maps addition to the back of your Bible.
DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 6 to 7:10; Job 8; Matt. 5:1-20
Lord, I will follow thee; but first…Luke 9:61
Jesus encountered a certain man who proclaimed he would follow Him wherever He went. But first he had other things to do. If we want to be a follower of the Lord we must seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Who is first in our lives? —Bob Cretney
Follow! Follow! I would follow Jesus! Anywhere, everywhere, I would follow on! Follow! Follow! I would follow Jesus! Everywhere He leads me I would follow on! —Robert Lowry
Consider how great things he hath done for you. 1 Samuel 12:24
The purpose of the Lord’s Supper is not to remember our sin, but to remember Him! Samuel exhorted the people to fear the Lord and to serve Him in truth, remembering His marvelous works. We have so much more to remember and consider, for we look back to Calvary and the empty tomb. Of all the marvelous things that God has done for us, the greatest is the sacrifice of His Son. He bore our sins. He finished redemption’s work. We are washed, sanctified, justified, and now called “the sons of God” (1 John 3:1). As we gather to consider His great works, may our hearts overflow with gratitude and praise. —Carl Knott
Come, thou fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy grace; Streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise. —R. Robinson
For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.1 Thessalonians 3:8
Paul’s love for the believers was anything but casual. His life was bound up with their spiritual well-being. This is a day of shallowness, rather than deep fellowship between saints. Christ’s love impels us to deeper relationships with one another, where we challenge, exhort, encourage, and comfort each other. Do we invest in each other’s lives? When was the last time you phoned or e-mailed someone from your home assembly? A timely word can make all the difference in enabling a saint to continue on for the Lord amidst life’s trials. Older ones must mentor younger ones in God’s things, if the church is to grow in spiritual strength. “Together in one accord” is the goal.—K. R. Keyser
Love the saints! Spend yourself that others may grow, Daily fellowship with His flock; the seeds of unity will sow. —K. R. K.
DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 2:4-25; Job 2:11 to 3:26; Matt. 2
God…maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish. 2 Corinthians 2:14-15
Have you ever felt your heart bursting with joy, love, praise and thanksgiving? This was one of those times in Paul’s life. He was certain that God was leading him, even though his circumstances were not comfortable. He couldn’t explain the detours of life; but he was certain God was in control. His constant desire was that the fragrance of Christ might be experienced by all with whom he came into contact. May this be true of you and me.—Jim Comte
Lord, I would clasp Thy hand in mine, nor ever murmur nor repine, Content, whatever lot I see, since ‘tis Thy hand that leadeth me. —Gilmore
DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 1:1 to 2:3; Job 1:1 to 2:10; Matt. 1
When ye see the ark…then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it…that ye may know the way by which ye must go; for ye have not passed this way before.Joshua 3:3-4
Unknown territory always brings a mixture of emotions. Excitement but fearfulness too. So it must have been for the Israelites. But as they faced this daunting venture, they were told to keep their eyes on the ark and when it moved, to follow. We too, are entering unfamiliar territory as we start a New Year. It is exciting but intimidating. By keeping our eyes on the Lord and following His Word, we can navigate the unknown circumstances that lie ahead. God promises, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way thou shalt go” (Ps. 32:8). —E. V.
Then let us follow Christ, our Lord, and take the cross appointed And, firmly clinging to His Word, in suffering be undaunted. —J. Scheffler
DAILY?READINGS: Numbers 10:11 to 11:3; Proverbs 8; Jude
That he would grant you…to be strengthened with might through his Spirit in the inner man.Ephesians 3:16
Paul warns Timothy that in the last days perilous times will come. The Greek word for perilous is chalepo, meaning stress, pressure, fierce, dangerous, difficult. These last days are filled with “strength-sapping pressure.” Let us pray for one another that our strength will be renewed this day so that ours will not be a fragile joy, but a durable trust, a persevering confidence in the face of the worst of adversities.—Marilyn MacMullen
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Let this blest assurance control, That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate, And hath shed His own blood for my soul. —H. Spafford
DAILY?READINGS: Esther 9-10; Malachi 3:7 to 4:6; Rev. 22:6-21
And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness. Deuteronomy 8:2
Moses was about to depart to glory and in Deuteronomy we have his final words to Israel. Much of the book is occupied with reflecting on Israel’s years in the wilderness and the unfailing faithfulness of God to them there. But now he looked ahead. He knew they were about to begin a new type of experience. In wisdom he knew it was important for Israel to draw confidence and strength to face the future from their past experience with God. This is so necessary in our day. As we face the future, an unknown path, we can look back and see God’s hand at work in our lives, and step forward with boldness to face the challenges ahead. —W. H. Burnett
God holds the future in His hands, and every heart He understands. On Him depend, He is your friend, He holds the future in His hands. —James Rowe
DAILY?READINGS: Esther 7-8; Malachi 2:10 to 3:6; Rev. 21:9 to 22:5
And (Elijah) said…and I, even I only, am left…And the Lord said unto him…“Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal.” 1 Kings 19:10, 15, 18
Elijah had spent his life serving God and was devastated by the seeming lack of fruit. Depression struck! The Lord reminded him that, unknown to him, there were 7,000 in Israel who had refused to bow the knee to Baal. Were they the result of seeing Elijah’s courageous stand for God? If you are discouraged, press on. Remember that there is much we do not know of how God has been working through us. May we be, “always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58). —David Croudace
The task Thy wisdom hath assigned, O let me cheerfully fulfill; In all my works Thy presence find, and prove Thy good and perfect will. —Charles Wesley
