Author: Gospel Folio Press

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Chronicles 2; Ezekiel 3:16 to 4:17; 2 Timothy 4

And you, fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.  Ephesians 6:4

In too many cases fathers have abdicated their responsibility of being the leader or head of the home. Business consumes too many, to the point where fathers are not home for supper, nor able to attend their children’s events. Do they see that your faith is real? Have they ever walked in and found you reading the Word or on your knees praying? Do you take time to have a “family altar” at the supper hour? A recent article as to why many youth leave the church cited that they fail to see “the commitment of (their) parents.” They don’t see authentic faith! Is your faith real and demonstrable? —Jim Comte

O give us homes where Christ is Lord and Master,
Where pray’r comes first in peace or in disaster. —B. B. Hart

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Chronicles 1; Ezekiel 2 to 3:15; 2 Timothy 3

Howbeit I believed not their words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the one half of the greatness of thy wisdom was not told me: for thou exceedest the fame that I heard.  2 Chronicles 9:6

The queen of Sheba confessed before Solomon that she had doubted the witness of his greatness, but when she saw she believed and confessed the half had not been told. What will we say when we see the King of kings and His kingdom? How we yearn for the day when we enter into His presence. “Whom having not seen we love; in whom, though now we see Him not, yet believing, we rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Pet. 1:8).  —D. Pickup

The half cannot be fancied this side the golden shore;
O there He’ll be still sweeter than He ever was before. —W. C. Martin

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 25; Ezekiel 1; 2 Timothy 2

They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.  John 8:4

Some people think they are too sinful, too far gone to ever be forgiven of God. Our Lord ministered to this woman who had been found in the act of adultery. One of the last people He comforted was a condemned thief. God loves you no matter what sin you have committed. He wants you to turn to Him. The thief asked the Lord Jesus to remember him and Jesus heard his cry and told him that he would be with Him in paradise. Turn to the Lord Jesus and accept the salvation He lovingly offers.  —M. Robins

Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me;
And that Thou bidd’st me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God I come! I come. —Charlotte Elliot

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 24; Lamentations 4-5; 2 Timothy 1

It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.  Psalm 119:71

Afflictions, sufferings or persecutions need not be bad. Some are good. They teach us lessons that God wants us to learn. The caterpillar struggles to come out of the cocoon with strengthened wings to enable it to soar into the sky. Without that struggle it will just drop to the ground. God answered Paul’s prayer to have his thorn in the flesh removed—not removing it but  providing His grace to bear it. Are you learning precious lessons from God through sufferings? Look up to Him. His grace is sufficient.  —K. C. Ung

When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress. —John Rippon

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 23; Lamentations 3; 1 Timothy 6

So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.  Jonah 1:6

The tempest threatened to engulf the pagan mariners, who were more awake to their mortal peril than was the backsliding, sleeping prophet. He knew the God “who made the sea and the dry land” (Jon. 1:9), yet he only shared this knowledge when circumstances forced him. Are we also asleep to the perishing ones all around us? The Lord disciplined disobedient Jonah until he proclaimed His message to Nineveh. Despite the messenger’s reluctance, God saved an entire city from certain destruction. Let us gladly testify to the lost, so that many might share in God’s gift of salvation. —K. R. Keyser

Salvation! O ascended Lamb, to Thee the praise belongs,
Salvation shall inspire our hearts, and dwell upon our tongues. —I. Watts

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 21:19 to 22:20; Lamentations 2; 1 Timothy 5

It is he who has made us and not we ourselves; We are his people and the sheep of his pasture.  Psalm 100:3

In this thanksgiving psalm, we see the Lord as our Creator—it is He who has made us; our Redeemer—we are His people; and our Shepherd—we are the sheep of His pasture. As our Creator, we submit to His creatorial right over us. As our Redeemer, we respond to His amazing grace offered through His precious blood—redemption’s price. As our Shepherd, we follow Him. There is no shepherd who cares for us like Jesus!  —Rex Trogdon

Give thanks to God, for good is He, His grace abideth ever;
To Him all praise and glory be, His mercy faileth never.
His wondrous works with praise record, His grace abideth ever;
The only God, the sovereign Lord, whose mercy faileth never.
—Author Unknown, Paraphrase of Psalm 136

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 20 to 21:18; Lamentations 1; 1 Timothy 4

Let us lay aside every weight…and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.  Hebrews 12:1

A contestant entering a race on a hot summer day with a woollen coat, work boots and a backpack would never win. These burdens need to be removed if there is to be any chance at success. This image of a weighed down runner is presented here as a lesson for the Christian life. We cannot have success if we are burdened down spiritually. Excess weight is anything that hinders our faith. The Christian life is a race that requires discipline and endurance and weights like laziness, bitterness, fearfulness or other habitual sins will ruin the race for us. By the Spirit, each of us know what weight needs to be removed in our life. Will you lay it aside?  —Robert Gentile

Poor is my best, and small: how could I dare divide?
Surely my Lord shall have it all, He shall not be denied. —F. R. Havergal

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 19; Jeremiah 52; 1 Timothy 3

And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.  Matthew 17:16

The Lord’s disciples had experienced a public failure in their inability to heal a demon possessed child. Afterwards they asked the Lord “Why could we not cast him out?” (v. 19). The Lord explained that it was because of their unbelief and that with faith, great things can happen. He went on to say “Howbeit, this kind goeth not out, but by prayer and fasting” (v. 21). We may have known failure in our service and our confidence may have been undermined. Restoration and renewal come when unbelief is set aside and faith rekindled. It is also critical to recognize the importance of prayer in our service for God.  —W. H. Burnett

Make me a channel of blessing today,
Make me a channel of blessing I pray. —H. G. Smyth

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 18; Jeremiah 51:25-64; 1 Timothy 2

For thou art my lamp, O Lord: and the Lord will lighten my darkness.  2 Samuel 22:29

When we are in literal darkness, we value the help of a powerful lamp. Likewise, when life’s problems envelop us, the Lord, as a shining lamp, is always available to “lighten our darkness”. To “walk in His light” means to trust Him step by step, in the assurance that His hidden purposes will have a glorious outcome.  —George Hall

All the way my Saviour leads me;
Oh, the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised,
In my Father’s house above.
—Fanny J. Crosby