Author: Gospel Folio Press

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 30; Job 40-41; Matt. 16:13 to 17:13

O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good.    Psalm 107:1a

She was a very young child who was trying to spell various words. “Can you spell God?” my friend asked. She looked thoughtful and then replied, “G-O-O-D”. How true. God is good. We see his goodness every day and enjoy the benefits of His goodness in food, clothing, shelter, and numerous other things. Most of all, His goodness is expressed in the gift of the Saviour who died for us at Calvary. Give thanks to Him. He is good!    —Janet Fleming

God is good, the skies declare it,
Earth and sea alike proclaim
Day by day we share His blessings
Oh the wonder of that name.
—J. F.

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 29; Job 38-39; Matt. 15:29 to 16:12

The Lord will give strength unto his people.    Psalm 29:11

What a blessed promise! And so we need not wonder that the aged pilgrim wracked by ill health, or the young student bombarded with misleading philosophies, still perseveres in the faith. It should be of no surprise that a believer, isolated for family reasons, or in high pressure employment, still aspires to be faithful to the Saviour. It is because the Lord Himself, graciously and daily, gives His people strength for the challenges of the way. For whatever challenges you face today—He will give you strength. —Mark Fenn

God of our strength, from day to day,
Direct our thoughts and guide our way;
O may our hearts united be,
In sweet communion, Lord, with Thee.
—Fanny J. Crosby

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 28; Job 36-37; Matt. 15:1-28

Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus.    2 Corinthians 7:6

Some years ago, when going through a very difficult time in life, the last thing we needed was to be host for the weekend to a visiting speaker who we did not know. The dear man arrived and proved to be an enormous blessing. We were able to tell him our problems. He listened, understood and advised, and the end result was that he helped us make decisions which proved to be life changing. Thank God for the “Titus'” of this world, and even more for our God who sends them.     —Brian Russell

Wait in faith and quiet patience, thou shalt know the reason why,
God allowed the storm to gather, clouds to blot the sunlit sky.
—Bernard Fell

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 27; Job 34-35; Matt. 14:13-36

Make us a king to judge us like all the nations.     1 Samuel 8:5
And the Lord said unto Samuel…they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. 1 Samuel 8:7

It seems that even in the church there is a constant desire to usurp the Throne of God. Christ is the head of the church but so often He is replaced with a human hierarchy. He should be guiding the local assembly through His written Word, but elders often ignore the Bible when making decisions. He should be sovereign in my own heart and life but how often do I place myself on the throne and do things my own way? The Scriptures are clear, if I reject God’s Word to control my own life and behaviour, it means I am rejecting God and commandeering His throne.    —David Croudace

King of my life I crown Thee now, Thine shall the glory be;
Lest I forget Thy thorn-crowned brow, lead me to Calvary. —J. Hussey

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 26; Job 32-33; Matt. 13:44 to 14:12

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.    2 Timothy 1:7

This verse outlines the contrast between what God has given us and what He has not given us. If we are fearful, He is not the source of that emotion. God is love and “perfect love casteth out fear” (1 John 4:18). On the other hand we should be experiencing power, love and a sound mind of which He is the giver. If we are lacking these, perhaps we “have not, because we ask not” (Jas. 4:2). May we all take spiritual inventory and ensure that we are enjoying these graces that God delights to give. —Ken Gross

May the mind of Christ my Saviour live in me from day to day.
By His love and pow’r controlling all I do and say.
—K. Wilkinson

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 25; Job 31; Matt. 13:24-43

For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till he come.    1 Corinthians 11:26

\Several perspectives are emphasized in this lovely passage on the Lord’s Supper. Our hearts should be occupied with each. In this verse, we are to look backward to the cross and see our Saviour giving His life for us. Secondly, we are to look forward and anticipate His return, when we will not need the emblems anymore, but will see Him, be with Him, and be like Him. Again, we are to look upward to our great High Priest who is ever able to take our spiritual sacrifices and make them acceptable to God. Finally, we are to look inward. “Let a man examine himself” (v. 28), and then come with a pure heart to this holy feast. —Harold G. Smith

Calvary! O Calvary! Mercy’s vast unfathomed sea.
Love, eternal love to me, Saviour, we adore Thee! —Samuel T. Francis

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 24; Job 29-30; Matt. 13:1-23

Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born…that I should bear witness unto the truth.    John 18:37
And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?    John 8:46

The sayings of Jesus, whether to a heathen governor or to the scribes and Pharisees exposed the darkness of the human heart. Yet remarkably, officers sent to arrest Him confessed that ”never man spake like this man” (John 7:46). The moral glory that shone from the Saviour silenced the most severe critics. His walk among men exhibited grace and truth. Would that we could emulate such characteristics.    —Drew Craig

Give me a faithful heart, likeness to Thee;
That each departing day henceforth may see,
Some work of love begun, some deed of kindness done,
Some wanderer sought and won; something for thee. —S. D. Phelps.

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 23; Job 27-28; Matt. 12:22-50

The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.    Proverbs 8:22-23

The attributes that are given to wisdom in these verses are surely the attributes of our Lord Jesus Christ! It is He alone who worked with God in creating this world and placing humanity upon it. He was and is always God’s delight, doing only what pleases God. Those who hear and follow His ways will be blessed and wise and will have eternal life.    —G. Frear

Eternal wisdom! Thee we praise,
Thee the creation sings,
With Thy loved name, rocks, hills, and seas,
And heaven’s high palace rings.
­—Isaac Watts

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 22; Job 25-26; Matt. 12:1-21

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.    1 Corinthians 15:58

What a challenge Paul gives here particularly in view of the preceding verses about the Lord’s return. It is worth noticing that this verse does not say to abound in work for the Lord, but in the work of the Lord. What is the difference? We must first find out what He wants us to do, before we can do the work of the Lord. Therefore, let us search the Scriptures diligently daily. There is work that is done for the Lord today, but it is not the work of the Lord. Let us take care to do what He commands and not what we think.  —Harold G. Smith

Teach me Thy will, O Lord, teach me Thy way;
Teach me to know Thy Word, teach me to pray. —William M. Bunyan

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 20-21; Job 23-24; Matt. 11:2-30

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.    Isaiah 1:18

This verse names four colours, three of which (scarlet, red and crimson) describe our sin-stained condition in God’s sight. The good news, however, is that cleansing is available through the sin-atoning death of the Lord Jesus Christ. If you wish to be “as white as snow,” put your undivided trust in Him!    —George Hall

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
—Robert Lowry