Author: Gospel Folio Press

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

DAILY?READINGS: Num. 25 to 26:51; Prov. 22:17 to 23:11; Luke 1:26-56

In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. Job 12:10

If God were to close His hand on your breath today, where would your soul be? If you have trusted the Lord Jesus as your Saviour, it will be well! “Absent from the body and present with the Lord.” If not, it will be separation from God for all eternity! Put your trust in Him today! —E. MacLelland

Eternity! But Jesus died—Yes Jesus died on Calvary;
Behold Him thorn-crowned, crucified,
The spotless One made sin for thee.
O sinner haste! For refuge flee—He saves, and for eternity.
—Author Unknown

DAILY?READINGS: Num. 23:27-24:25; Prov. 21:12-22:16; Luke 1:1-25

And I am come down to deliver them…and to bring them up… unto a land flowing with milk and honey. Exodus 3:8

Honey is believed to be the only food that never spoils. Milk, on the other hand, needs to be consumed promptly to be enjoyed. What a lovely picture of all that the Lord offers to us! Through His coming down to deliver us, He has provided us with life that lasts forever, as well as mercies that are new every morning. Let us enjoy both the sweetness of knowing we have eternal life, as well as the nourishment of the Lord’s provision for our daily needs. —L. Shatford

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
—Thomas Chisholm

DAILY?READINGS: Num. 22:39-23:26; Prov. 20 to 21:11; James 4:13-5:20

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:105
Then spake Jesus…I am the light of the world. John 8:12

This well known verse (Ps. 119:105) points to the importance of God’s Word in our life. It is a lamp and a light to us. But the Lord Jesus is also referred to as the light. Thus He too is a lamp to our feet—He shows us where we stand and helps us daily in the choices we make. The Lord is also a light to our path. He reveals to us the road that lies ahead for each believer. Oh what certainty we have in the One who guides us today and assures us of a glorious future. —Bob Cretney

Saviour, like a shepherd lead us, much we need Thy tender care;
In Thy pleasant pastures feed us, for our use Thy folds prepare. —D. Thrupp

DAILY?READINGS: Numbers 22:1-38; Proverbs 19; James 3 to 4:12

In the seventh year of Jehu, Jehoash began to reign; and forty years reigned he in Jerusalem, and his mother’s name was Zibiah. And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all his days, in which Jehoiada, the priest, instructed him. 2 Kings 12:1-2

The little phrase “and his mother’s name was,” appears 23 times in the Old Testament. The significance seems to be the influence each mother had on her son. With the help of the priest of the Lord, Zibiah’s son was properly instructed and he was enabled to carry out his responsibilities with God’s approval. A godly mother is a treasure and one for whom Mother’s Day should be celebrated!     —David McCulloch

Come, follow Me, the Saviour spake, all in My way abiding;
Deny yourselves, the world forsake, obey My call and guiding.
Oh, bear the cross, whate’er betide, take My example for your guide.
—Johann Scheffler