Author: Gospel Folio Press

 

DAILY?READINGS: Nehemiah 3; Daniel 12; Revelation 8

Wisdom is better than jewels…I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me…My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver.  Proverbs 8:11, 17, 19 (ESV)

God’s treasures are better than jewels, better than pure gold and choice silver. Sadly there are many people today adorned with jewelry and not with wisdom. Wisdom is not in anything you can put around your neck or on your wrist or fingers. It only is found with the Lord. His Word is full of His wisdom, and God’s Son, the Lord Jesus, is Wisdom. In Him “are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:3). Love the Lord and His Word, and let His wisdom adorn your life.  —Carl Knott

Oh, yes, my friend, there’s something more, something more than gold:
To know your sins are all forgiv’n, is something more than gold.
—James Martin Gray

 

DAILY?READINGS: Nehemiah 1-2; Daniel 11:21-45; Revelation 7

If thou…the Lord shall.  Isaiah 58:9, 11

Not all of God’s promises are unconditional. We have responsibilities! A reading of these few verses will reveal that if we will lay aside our own selfishness and pride and serve God faithfully, He will bless us abundantly. As we crave the presence of God, casting away the yoke of earthly vanities, and invest our souls in the lives of others in need, the blessings of God will be abundantly bestowed. —Sam Thorpe

Moment by moment I’m kept in His love,
Moment by moment, I’ve life from above;
Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine,
Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.
—Daniel W. Whittle

 

DAILY?READINGS: Ezra 10; Daniel 11:1-20; Revelation 6

Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O Lord, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.  Isaiah 26:8

What a lovely claim. Is it true of us? Is the desire of our soul to His name and to a remembrance of Him? If it is, then today is a singular day for us. With joy we will gather to His name and claim the promise of His presence (Matt. 18:20). Together we will remember Him and His death at Calvary. What a blessed privilege to gather and partake of the emblems. May the desire of our soul be to His name and remembrance. —Harold G. Smith

Thy broken body, gracious Lord.
Is shadowed in this broken bread:
The wine which in this cup is poured,
Points to the blood which Thou has shed. —S. Tregelles

 

DAILY?READINGS: Ezra 9; Daniel 10; Revelation 5

And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.  Ephesians 4:30
[We] ourselves…groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.   Romans 8:23

To purchase and then set free are the two ideas that define redemption. God’s beloved Son became flesh and entered Satan’s domain to deliver us from judgment and eternal death. He took the deserved punishment and has set us free from the law of sin and death. He paid the price with His precious blood, “a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Pet. 1:19). We now, indwelt by His Spirit, await the completion of that purchase, the redemption of our bodies and our transformation into His likeness. —Drew Craig

Thrice blessed day, when Jesus comes to take His ransomed children home;
Ye saints of God, arise and sing, Hosannas to your Saviour King. —J. Burtis White

 

DAILY?READINGS: Ezra 8; Daniel 9; Revelation 4

How can I myself alone bear your cumbrance (weight), and your burden, and your strife?  Deuteronomy 1:12

Moses was overwhelmed with the burden of leading Israel through the wilderness to the Promised Land. We, too, are often overwhelmed with the burdens of daily life whether they be family, workplace, or the local assembly. Thankfully we are not called upon to bear that burden alone. There are godly men and women around us to help “bear one another’s burdens” and a plurality of leadership in the local assembly for that same purpose. And most importantly, we always have the Saviour! Cast your cares on Him today.   —Wm. H. Gustafson

I must tell Jesus all of my trials, I cannot bear these burdens alone;
In my distress He kindly helpeth me, He ever loves and cares for His own.
—Elisha A. Hoffmann

 

DAILY?READINGS: Ezra 7; Daniel 8; Revelation 3:7-22

Eleazer, who had no sons.  1 Chronicles 24:28
Now the sons of Keturah, Abraham’s concubine…  1 Chron. 1:32
Chosen us in him before the foundation of the world.  Ephesians 1:4

Have you ever wondered why God caused so much space to be taken in His Word by repetitious genealogies? Is it not to stress the importance of every person in God’s eyes. The Bible records that Eleazer had no sons. God noted this sad event. God acknowledged the sons of Keturah, Abraham’s concubine. We probably would have hidden that bit of information but in God’s sight they were vitally important. Do we doubt that God loves us and cares for us? We were chosen “in Him before the foundation of the world” and He loves us. —M. Robins

E’en now by faith I claim Him mine, the risen Son of God;
Redemption by His death I find, and cleansing through the blood.
—Martha M. Stockton

 

DAILY?READINGS: Ezra 6; Daniel 7; Revelation 2:18 to 3:6

And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.  Luke 2:18-19

What is our reaction to the good news that God sent His beloved Son to be our Saviour? Are our souls touched? Do we stop to consider what this story and Person is all about? Or are we like those who were told the news by the shepherds, who wondered, but seemingly never inquired further? Or are we like Mary? She believed and treasured the Lord Jesus. She constantly pondered His worth in her heart. May we do likewise.  —Pete Smith

But silent knelt the mother blest,
Of the yet silent Word,
And pondering all things in her heart,
With speechless praise adored. —Jean B. de Santeüil

 

DAILY?READINGS: Ezra 5; Daniel 6; Revelation 2:1-17

Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child.  1 Samuel 3:8c

Eli recognized that God was in the call to Samuel. That may seem like a fundamental observation but it was critical to a young man with very little spiritual experience. We need leaders of such discernment today! As mature believers who are getting older, we need to immerse ourselves in mentoring the next generation—and all that that involves. It will be challenging. It will take time. But it is a great necessity. God wants us to prepare His workers for the next situation and the next generation. May we not let this divine trust slip.  —Norman Craig Funston

O use me, Lord, use even me,
Just as Thou wilt, and when, and where,
Until Thy blessed face I see—
Thy rest, Thy joy, Thy glory share. —Frances Ridley Havergal