Author: Gospel Folio Press

 

DAILY?READINGS: Ex. 2:23 to 3:22; Psalms 32-33; Matt. 28

Search me, O God, and know my heart…And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Ps. 139:23-24

On a November morning when looking out of my kitchen window, I noticed the Osage Orange tree across the road was leafless. Yet clinging to its topmost branches was a cluster of hedge apples. As in nature, so too, we must at times be stripped of the entanglements of life. Maybe it is excess busyness or a hindering habit. Perhaps discipline or an exhortation is needed to reveal a blind spot we are unaware of. Our lives rise to a higher level of holiness the more we walk in the Spirit. Fruitfulness pleasing to the Lord will follow. —E. Dyck

We are thine, do Thou befriend us, be the guardian of our way;
Keep Thy flock; from sin defend us; seek us when we go astray.
—D. Thrupp

 

DAILY?READINGS: Ex. 1 to 2:22; Psalm 31; Matt. 27:45-66

Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.    Isaiah 55:6

I was asked to visit a lady who was dying. I explained the way of salvation to her. She looked at me and said, “I know all that. I heard it when I was young. I have six months to live and I will go to hell.” She died a few months later and to my knowledge never trusted Christ.  How tragic when she could have come to Him as a young woman and lived her life for Him. If you are considering trusting Christ, don’t put it off. Accept His offer of salvation today. —Janet Fleming

Too late, the words came back to me, For I had reached eternity,
I knew at last the wealth I’d lost, Yes, Christ and heaven, what a cost!
My friend, why won’t you come and say, “Dear Lord, please cleanse my heart today,”
Then you will hear at heaven’s gate, “Come enter in” and not “too late!”
—J. F.

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 50; Psalm 30; Matt. 27:27-44

But he forsook the counsel which the old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men who were brought up with him.  2 Chronicles 10:8

Advice and counsel are readily available today on any subject which comes to mind. The issue is this: whose advice or counsel will we listen to? Is the one giving the counsel an authority in their field? Do they speak from experience? All too often the young tend to listen to their peers who have no expertise or experience on which to draw. How blessed is the young believer who seeks counsel from older saints who have knowledge of the Word, the ways of God, and can speak from life-long experience of walking with Him. —Wm. H. Gustafson

Remember thy Creator, in the days of thy youth,
Jesus calls thee in life’s morning, through His own Word of Truth.
—A. G.

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 49; Psalms 28-29; Matt. 27:1-26

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.  Isaiah 40:31

The majestic eagle mates for life. It is known for its swiftness, scent, and keen sight. But here the emphasis is on the exceeding strength of his wings. That strength can be dispensed to all those that wait upon the Lord. How? By the power of God’s Word, through His Spirit, and prayer. —E. MacLelland

Though thy way be long and dreary;
Eagle strength He’ll still renew;
Garments fresh and foot unweary,
Tell how God hath brought thee through.
—J. N. Darby

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 47:28 to 48:22; Psalms 26-27; Matt. 26:57-75

In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.     Hebrews 10:6
This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.    Matthew 3:17

In 2 Chronicles 35 we read that at one Passover alone, over 36,000 animals were slain. Yet these offerings did not completely satisfy God. They were unwilling sacrifices, shadows of the one sacrifice that would please God and settle the sin question forever. There has only ever been one willing and worthy sacrifice, God’s beloved Son. He “became obedient unto death even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:8).  —Ken Gross

All thy sins were laid upon Him;
Jesus bore them on the tree;
God, who knew them, laid them on Him,
And believing, thou art free. —J. Denham Smith

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 46 to 47:27; Psalm 25; Matt. 26:31-56

There failed not ought of any good thing which the Lord had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.    Joshua 21:45
The Lord will have mercy on Jacob.    Isaiah 14:1

I will never forget the late J. Boyd Nicholson concluding an address on encouragement with the words: “I have had a look at the end of my Bible, and God wins!” He will always perfect that which concerns us, fulfil all His promises given for this life and those yet to come, and no one, absolutely no one, will thwart Him.  —Brian Russell

My hope I cannot measure,
My path to life is free,
My Saviour has my treasure,
And He will walk with me.
—Anna Waring

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 45; Psalms 23-24; Matt. 26:1-30

And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.     Genesis 1:3
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts.    2 Corinthians 4:6

The first thing God did when He created the earth was to speak light into existence. Without light there could be no life. Life is dependent on light. So too in the regeneration of sinners, the light had to shine first. What a great day when the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ shone on us! It brought life to our darkened hearts. Has He shone in your heart? Open your heart to Him today.    —Sid Halsband

At the Cross! At the Cross! Where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away.
It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day. —Isaac Watts

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 44; Psalm 22; Matt. 25:31-46

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding.    Proverbs 3:5 (NKJV)

Our natural tendency is to trust our own experience, judgment, and the culture that surrounds us. But it is Satan who is the god of this world and guides the world’s philosophy and values. Trust in the Lord; listen to His Word and obey it. Then you will begin to make wise decisions and know His blessing. Trust the wisdom of your heavenly Father and let Him direct your life.     —Donald L. Norbie

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way,
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
—John H. Sammis

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 43; Psalms 20-21; Matt. 25:1-30

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.    Ephesians 2:8

It was April 14, 1912. Two men floated in the cold North Atlantic. They were within hailing distance and one who was wearing a life-jacket looked at his fearful friend and asked, “Are you saved, and on your way to Heaven?” The response came through chattering teeth to say, “No”. “Then take my life jacket and accept the Lord Jesus as your Saviour.” When the lists of the Saved and Lost appeared in New York, the willing donor was listed among the Lost—but only physically. The recipient of his life-jacket was among the Saved—but without Christ he was still spiritually lost. If you accept the Lord Jesus now, you will be eternally saved. —Arnot P. McIntee

Out of Christ without a Saviour, O can it, can it be?
Like a ship, without a rudder, on a wild and stormy sea.
—F. M. Davis

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 41:50 to 42:38; Psalm 19; Matt. 24:29-51

That they (older women) may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home… Titus 2:4-5

Prior to his death, Dr. Benjamin Spock, the humanist “guru” of child development stated, “We have raised a generation of brats.” The days of Mum staying at home to raise her children are mainly done. Sadly in many Christian homes both parents work for greater material possessions but to the detriment of their children. Motherhood is still the greatest vocation in the world. Raising children for God ought to be our highest goal!    —Jim Comte

O may all who come behind us find us faithful;
May the fire of our devotion light their way.
May the footprints that we leave, lead them to believe,
And the lives we live, inspire them to obey. —Jon Mohr