Author: Gospel Folio Press

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 14:5-31; Psalms 49-50; Acts 7:30 to 8:4

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1
The Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us. John 1:14

These sublime words take us back into a timeless, dateless past. It establishes the eternality, equality, and deity of the Son of God. The Word becoming flesh is an amazing mystery and Paul was caught up in the wonder of it. “Great is the mystery of godliness; God was manifest in the flesh” (1 Tim. 3:16). There is nothing that will consecrate the believer to yield to this blessed person than the realization of the majesty, glory, and power of Him whom they have trusted. —Jim Paul

Thou art the everlasting Word, the Father’s only Son;
God manifestly seen and heard, and heaven’s beloved One.
Worthy O Lamb of God art Thou, that every knee to Thee should bow.
—Josiah Conder

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 13 to 14:4; Psalms 47-48; Acts 7:1-29

I will declare the decree. Psalm 2:7a

There are many voices in the world today—voices demanding this, denouncing that. This is nothing new. This psalm contains many such voices, all clamouring for God’s attention and ultimately for His removal from their lives (vv. 1-3). And then God speaks! To the nations? Hardly. He confers with His Son. Then He responds to the nations through His Holy Spirit (vv. 10-12), giving the divine charge: “be wise” and “serve the Lord” and “rejoice with trembling.” The nations’ solution to its problems, then, as well as now, is found in God’s Son, Jesus Christ. Those who don’t respond to God’s voice will feel His anger; those who do, will receive His blessing.    —Norman Craig Funston

Praise, my soul, the King of heaven; to His feet your tribute bring.
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven, evermore His praises sing. —H. Lyte

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 12:21-51; Psalm 45-46; Acts 6

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.    1 Peter 5:7

What a privilege is ours as believers to be able to cast all our care on the Lord. The unbeliever has no one to turn to for help in despair. Yet, many times we try to bear it alone or we give our burdens to the Lord and then take them back again. Why? When such a God is ours—He who can bear our burdens and us, too. “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you” (Ps. 55:22).    —Rex Trogdon

Leave it there, leave it there,
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
If you trust and never doubt, He will surely bring you out,
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
—Charles A. Tindley

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 11 to 12:20; Psalm 44; Acts 5:12-42

And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, (pleasant) call me Mara (bitter): for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. Ruth 1:20

“Ami ngu kawa!” (I am a dog!) said the old lady when we asked her for her name. “No one cares for me; everyone has forsaken me. Some will toss a little left over food my way like they do to their dogs!” Being without Christ she was indeed without hope. How sad however, when a believer thinks like Naomi, that life has dealt them a bitter blow. True, she had lost two sons but we read that God had given her a daughter-in-law who “loves you and is better than seven sons” (Ruth 4:15). In our darkest hour we must hold on to God’s unfailing promises. —David Croudace

Midst the darkness, storm and sorrow, one bright gleam I see;
Well I know the blessed morrow, Christ will come for me. —Paul Gerhardt

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 10; Psalms 42-43; Acts 4:32 to 5:11

And Simon Peter said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. Matthew 16:16

Peter had seen beyond the “Son of Man” (Luke 9:22), to the “Son of the Living God.” He had recognized that behind the veil of Christ’s flesh, absolute deity was enshrined in all its fullness. Others had marvelled at the wonderful works that the Lord had done, but Peter goes further. It isn’t just that God is “with” Him, but that He Himself “is” God of very God. Many today would be prepared to acknowledge the greatness of Christ as a historical figure, but anything short of acknowledged deity will not suffice. Our salvation depends on Him being, not only “Son of Man,” but “Son of the Living God.” It is only as such that He could be our Saviour. —W. H. Burnett

Verily God, yet become truly human;
Lower than angels to die in our stead. —H. d’A. Champney

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 9; Psalm 40-41; Acts 4:1-31

And He gave them their request; but sent leanness into their souls. Psalms 106:15

When bringing our requests to God, we are exhorted to pray boldly, fervently and persistently. God’s Word also teaches us to pray in His will, by faith and with pure motives. When we pray with a heart of ingratitude, lust, or presumption, God often graciously declines our pleading. Yet there may be times God responds to our persistent begging by granting our petition, emaciating our soul so that we will turn back to Him. Instead let’s learn to listen for God’s answers, trust His wisdom and like both Moses (Deut. 3:26) and Paul (2 Cor. 12:9) learn to accept His refusals.    —George Ferrier

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Hold o’er my being absolute sway! Fill with Thy Spirit till all shall see;
Christ only, always, living in me. —Adelaide A. Pollard

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 8; Psalms 38-39; Acts 3

Keep my commandments and live, and my law as the apple of thine eye; bind them upon thine fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart. Proverbs 7:2-3

Solomon gave this admonition to his son. Moses gave the people of Israel similar instructions. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and might. Make Him the first in your life! Teach these things, talk about them constantly. Keep your hands from doing wrong and your eyes on the things that honour God. Giving in to temptation only ends in sorrow, regrets and a sad loss of fellowship with God.    —G. Frear

Upward still to purer heights!
Onward yet to scenes more blest,
Calmer regions, clearer lights,
Till we reach the promised rest. —W. H. How

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 6:14 to 7:25; Psalm 37; Acts 2:22-47

Thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve. Ezra 9:13

What honesty! How different from Cain, the profane man who complained, “My punishment is greater than I can bear” (Gen. 4:13). Unlike Cain, every enlightened, repentant sinner knows that God has not punished him as he deserves, no matter what he has suffered (Ps. 103:10). There at Calvary the Lord Jesus was punished exactly and fully for what our sins deserve. He bore our sins in His own body on the tree, and divine punishment fell completely on Him, instead of on us. How we love the Lord Jesus for taking all the punishment our sins deserve and crying out, “It is finished!” (John 19:30). Who cannot find their tongue to say “thank you Lord” for all that!    —Carl Knott

Thank you Lord for giving to me,
Thy great salvation so rich and free. —S. & B. Sykes

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 5 to 6:13; Psalms 35-36; Acts 2:1-21

But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.    1 Kings 21:25

Dear sisters in the Lord, make very sure you do not stir your husbands, or others, to do evil, by complaining and criticizing or urging aggressiveness towards others. But instead let us show them “the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price” (1 Pet. 3:4). We have a great responsibility to show the love and holiness of God in our daily lives. —M. Robins

Fill all my vision, Saviour divine,
Till with Thy glory my spirit shall shine.
Fill all my vision, that all may see,
Thy holy image reflected in me.
—Avis B. Christiansen

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 4; Psalm 34; Acts 1

In the last day, that great day of the feast. John 7:37

Today, Chinese communities in many countries celebrate the last day, the fifteenth day, of their New Year. In my country, Chinese ladies go to the beaches or river banks and throw mandarin oranges into the water with the wish that they will find good husbands this year. Today the secular world also celebrates Valentine’s Day with couples highlighting love to one another. On the last day of the eight-day Jewish Feast of Tabernacles, the Lord proclaimed, “If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink” (John 7:37). He was proclaiming His offer of love and eternal life to all who would believe in Him. On this day of love, will you respond to His love? —K. C. Ung

God is love! His Word proclaims it, day by day the truth we prove;
Heav’n and earth with joy are telling, ever telling, “God is love!”
—Fanny J. Crosby