Author: Gospel Folio Press

DAILY?READINGS: Numbers 35:9 to 36:13; Proverbs 31; Luke 5:17-39

Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women’s house, to know how Esther did and what should become of her. Esther 2:11

Every day Mordecai walked past where his cousin Esther, the king’s new bride, was living, to see how she was getting on. In an infinitely more wonderful way, God’s Holy Spirit dwells inside each believer. He is just as concerned about our feelings and thoughts as Mordecai ever was about Esther. When we neglect our times with the Lord, He is grieved, and when we rebel against what we know the Scriptures teach, His voice can be quenched. In spite of this, He is always with us. —G. Frear

Holy Spirit, strong and mighty,
Thou who makest all things new,
Make Thy work within us perfect,
And the evil foe subdue. —Heinrich Held

DAILY?READINGS: Numbers 34 to 35:8; Proverbs 30; Luke 5:1-16

He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the Lord his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them. Numbers 23:21

In one sense there was every reason for Balaam to go ahead and curse the children of Israel, but God was merciful towards the nation since they were His people. Sometimes we feel that because of our weaknesses and shortcomings we only deserve divine retribution. Remember that the Lord realises we are but dust (Ps. 103:14). Pick yourself up and remember He is with us, despite us. —Brian Russell

Not what I am O Lord but what Thou art,
That, that alone can be my soul’s true rest.
—Horatius Bonar

DAILY?READINGS: Numbers 33; Proverbs 29; Luke 4:16-44

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters. Psalm 23:2

Caleb’s daughter Achsah said, “Give me a blessing. For thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water” (Judg. 1:15). And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the nether springs. When we come to Christ for salvation we receive our “south land”. And in our Saviour, God gives us abundant refreshing springs for our Christian journey. As Achsah’s father gave, so will our heavenly Father. He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think (Eph. 3:20). Have we forgotten to ask? —E. Dyck

Marvellous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe;
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive? —Julia H. Johnson

DAILY?READINGS: Numbers 32; Proverbs 28; Luke 4:1-15

After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. Genesis 15:1

In rescuing Lot, Abraham learned that God was his shield in battle and his reward in victory. The Christian life is a battle but in Christ we can turn aside the piercing arrows of worry, opposition and failure. We can repel the fiery darts of fear, loneliness and despair. In victory we learn that Christ is our reward. Through Him we have a personal relationship with God—now and forever. Let’s foster that relationship today. —George Ferrier

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing,
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He; Lord Sabaoth, His Name,
From age to age the same, and He must win the battle. —Martin Luther

DAILY?READINGS: Numbers 30-31; Proverbs 26:13 to 27:27; Luke 3

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised and we esteemed him not. Isaiah 53:3

Humanly speaking we all seek the comfort of companionship. This support was absent as the Lord Jesus Christ went to the cross. The gospel writers record that His disciples “forsook him, and fled” (Mark 14:50). Others who followed Him stood “afar off” (Matt. 27:55). Looking off to this scene, the psalmist prophesied, “I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none” (Ps. 69:20). Our Saviour, the Man of Sorrows went to the cross alone. —S. B.

Man of sorrows! What a name;
For the Son of God who came;
Ruined sinners to reclaim;
Hallelujah! What a Saviour. —Philip P. Bliss

DAILY?READINGS: Numbers 29; Proverbs 25 to 26:12; Luke 2:22-52

When Jesus therefore saw her (Mary) weeping…he groaned in the spirit and was troubled. And said where have ye laid him? They say unto him Lord, come and see. Jesus wept. John 11:33-35

To “groan” has the meaning of righteous anger. Our Lord groaned because in Lazarus’ death He saw the workings of the Devil and the destructive outcome of sin. The word “trouble” is similar to the troubling of the water at the Pool of Siloam. The water trembled! Our Saviour knew that in order to fully bring Lazarus out He would have to experience the abandonment of Golgotha! No doubt it was a foretaste of the strong crying and tears he would pass through, not only for Lazarus but for the salvation of all who would put their trust in Him. —Drew Craig

His agony and shame, His dying cry.
Can any heart forget? Shall you? Shall I? —J. H. Johnston

DAILY?READINGS: Numbers 28; Proverbs 24; Luke 2:1-21

If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 1 John 2:1
I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, (advocate) that he may abide with you for ever; John 14:16

1 John 2:1 reminds us that if we sin, Christ is our advocate, standing at the right hand of God making intercession for us (Rom. 8:34). The prints of the nails in His hands and feet are an eternal reminder of His work on the cross for us. However God also has His advocate or comforter (the same word in the Greek) here on earth. He is the Holy Spirit who dwells in our hearts and reminds us of what is right and wrong. Let me listen to His every whisper and with a tender heart, simply obey. —David Croudace

Master speak! And make me ready. When Thy voice is clearly heard,
With obedience glad and steady, still to follow every word. —F. R. Havergal

DAILY?READINGS: Num. 26:52 to 27:23; Prov. 23:12-35; Luke 1:57-80

And of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by him; and the Lord shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders.  Deuteronomy 33:12

Born into a large and remarkable family, he was the baby brother to eleven fractious and strong willed men. His father undoubtedly loved him but his birth would always be associated with the loss of his adored Rachel. His only natural brother was soon betrayed and gone. Perhaps worst of all, never once did he experience his mother’s kiss or caress. But he was beloved of God. God loves the lacking. He will keep them by Him, protect them and bear them on His shoulders through all of life’s distresses and trials. —S. McEachern

So dear, so very dear to God, more dear I cannot be;
The love where with He loves the Son: such is His love to me!
—Horatius Bonar