Author: Gospel Folio Press

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 24; Psalm 68; Acts 13:26-52

The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.  1 John 1:7b

Martin Luther records that he once dreamed that Satan came to him and told him he could never hope to get to heaven because he was such a sinner. “Have you a list of my sins?” Luther asked. “Yes,” said Satan, and brought him a long list of failures. Twice Luther asked if there were any more, and twice Satan brought him a long list. Again, Luther asked if there were any more. “That is all,” Satan said. “Then” cried Luther, “write now across them all, ‘the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.’” And Satan left! Have your sins been washed away by the blood of Jesus Christ?    —W. Ross Rainey

Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? —Elisha A. Hoffman

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 23:10-33; Psalms 66-67; Acts 13:1-25

One of his disciples said unto him, Lord teach us to pray. Luke 11:1

At a group discussion on prayer, a teenage girl expressed surprise about receiving an answer to her prayer even before verbalizing it to God. It reminds us of Isaiah 45:24, “Before they call I will answer.” Most answers do come from spoken petitions, but we may also agree with an 18th century hymn writer who penned, “Prayer is the burden of a sigh, the falling of a tear.” Some deeply felt needs seem inexpressible. But if the heart’s sincere desire rises silently on a wing of prayer, God hears that cry from the darkness of the soul. —E. Dyck

The saints, in prayer appear as one;
In word, and deed and mind,
While with the Father and the Son;
Sweet fellowship they find. —James Montgomery

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 22 to 23:9; Psalms 64-65; Acts 12

Boaz said, unto Ruth, Go not to glean in another field, but abide here fast by my maidens.    Ruth 2:8

The eye of Boaz observed Ruth, the recently arrived young widow from Moab. Soon, looks turned to love. Because of his loving concern, he wished to see her safely gleaning in his field. His young men were instructed not to touch or harm her and to provide her with refreshing water as she toiled in the blazing sun. In the field of the one who was to become her kinsman redeemer, Ruth found protection, provision, and enjoyable fellowship with others in the same service. Don’t leave the field where God has placed you for a non-satisfying world.  —Arnot McIntee

Go labour, on; spend and be spent; thy joy to do the Father’s will;
It is the way the Master went; should not the servant tread it still?
—Horatius Bonar

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 21; Psalms 62-63; Acts 11:19-30

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. Revelation 5:12

To think that, even now, the glorious theme around the heavenly throne is the Lamb that was slain! In our private meditations and in our collective remembrance, let us be caught up with this theme that will occupy us in eternity. In this way, we will find that, in our worship and service, “The things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.” —Mark Fenn

“Praise the Lamb,” the chorus waking,
All in heaven together throng;
Loud and far each tongue partaking,
Rolls renewed the endless song.
—J. N. Darby

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 20:1-26; Psalms 60-61; Acts 11:1-18

Being made so much better than the angels.    Hebrews 1:4

We find in the letter to the Hebrews that Jesus is a better priest (7:7), serving under a better covenant (8:6), in a better sanctuary (9:11). His was a better sacrifice (9:22-23), which speaks of forgiveness rather than vengeance, and thus of better things (12:24). Therefore, we have a better hope (7:19) established upon better promises (8:6), of a better substance (10:34). We are going to a better country (11:16) and will obtain a better resurrection (11:35). What a better thing for us (11:40)! —Tom Steere

The veil is rent: Lo Jesus stands before the throne of grace:
And clouds of incense from His hands fill all that glorious place.
Within the holiest of all, cleansed by His precious blood,
Before the throne we prostrate fall, and worship Thee our God.
—James G. Deck

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 19; Psalms 58-59; Acts 10:24-48

This same Jesus shall so come in like manner. Acts 1:11
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8

The statement has been made, “A ‘changing’ Christ for a ‘changing’ world.” But is that what is needed? Is that really the issue? Or is it that the world wants to change the rules to accommodate a sinful lifestyle, to resist what conscience knows is implicitly wrong? What is needed is not a change ahead to new things, but a change back to what has stood the test of time—given by the One who said, “I am the Lord, I change not!” (Mal. 3:6). The only thing that is new is His mercies, and they come every morning. Let’s thank the Lord that He who is untainted by time or trend never changes and is always the same. —Mark Kolchin

Yesterday, today, forever, Jesus is the same.
All may change, but Jesus never! Glory to His name!
—A. B. Simpson

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 18; Psalms 56-57; Acts 10:1-23

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32

A young believer was asked what forgiveness is and gave this beautiful answer: “It is the odour that flowers breathe when they are trampled upon.” William MacDonald reminds us that “An unforgiving spirit in a believer breaks fellowship with the Father in heaven and hinders the flow of blessing.” Let’s beware that we do not harbour an unforgiving spirit and thereby, among other things, grieve the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30).    —W. Ross Rainey

Oh, what joy and peace we forfeit,
When forgiveness we withhold;
Fellowship with God is broken,
And the heart grows hard and cold.
—D. De Haan

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 17; Psalm 55; Acts 9:32-43

And the Lord hath given a commandment concerning thee, That no more of thy name be sown: Out of the house of thy gods will I cut off the graven image and the molten image: I will make thy grave; for thou art vile. Nahum 1:14

Although an earlier generation of repentant Ninevites experienced God’s mercy in a dramatic revival that spared the wicked city (Jon. 3:10), the next century witnessed Assyria’s destruction for their reversion to evil. The idols in which they trusted were cut off and the Almighty promised to bury their name. It is a sad fate in comparison to Abraham, who departed from the same region and had his name perpetuated and made great by God (Gen. 12:2).    —K. R. Keyser

My name is in the book of life, oh, bless the name of Jesus;
I rise above all doubt and strife, and read my title clear. —D. S. Warner

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 16; Psalm 52-54; Acts 9:1-31

These sought their listing among those who were registered by genealogy, but they were not found; therefore they were excluded from the priesthood as defiled. Ezra 2:62

Without a genealogy, the children of Barzillai were put out of the priesthood. Sometimes revival results in blessed reductions. One church leader said to another that they had experienced revival. The other replied, “That’s good. How many were added to the congregation?” The former responded, “None were added, but ten were subtracted.” The Lord prayed that the spiritual oneness of believers would declare the glory of God to the lost (John 17:21-23). If the unconverted and those in sin join our ranks, the spiritual vitality of the assembly and its evangelical efforts will wane.    —W. A. H.

Walk in the light: so shalt thou know, that fellowship of love;
His Spirit only can bestow, who reigns in light above. —B. Barton

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 15; Psalm 51; Acts 8:5-40

And they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13

The sanctifying, transforming process of a Christian begins at conversion and reaches its perfection in glory. The disciples spent much time with their Master and the people observed that they were becoming like Him in attitude and character. This is God’s ultimate goal for His children. Time spent in His presence in prayer and the Word will transform us, so people will say, “He has been with Jesus.” This will mean emulating Him in His loving compassion to reach lost sinners. It will include a sacrificial life lived for others and not for self. God help us to be conformed to the image of His Son and not to the world (Rom. 8:29; 12:2).    —Milton Haack

Redeemed from sin and saved by grace, we shall behold His blessèd face,
The wonders of His love to trace, as we shall be with Jesus. —D. Gordon