Author: Gospel Folio Press

DAILY?READINGS: Nehemiah 1-2; Daniel 11:21-45; Revelation 7

 

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!     Luke 2:14
Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.    Luke 19:38

 

When Jesus was born the heavenly host offered peace to earth. At His triumphal entry the multitudes answered with, “Peace in heaven.” But, God’s offer of peace was obviously rejected when man crucified the Prince of peace. So, what would God do? “He made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven” (Col. 1:20). It is the cross of Christ through which peace is made between heaven and earth.    —Rex Trogdon

 

Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin?
The blood of Jesus whispers peace within. —E. H. Bickersteth

 

DAILY?READINGS: Ezra 10; Daniel 11:1-20; Revelation 6

 

Because I have called and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded; but ye have set at naught all my counsel.
Proverbs 1:24-25a

 

This is a serious warning indeed! The wisdom of God calls out to every person to take heed, listen and act now! What could be more plain than this warning? Those who respond to it are wise; those who don’t have considered neither the grace of the offer nor the consequences of their refusal. God has done all in His power to save people from their sins. The responsibility is now yours.    —G. Frear

Accept now God’s offer of mercy;
To Jesus, oh hasten today;
For He will receive him that cometh,
And never will turn him away. —S. M. Sayford

DAILY?READINGS: Ezra 9; Daniel 10; Revelation 5

 

And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.    Mark 3:6

 

A man was healed and the response of the Pharisees was to plot the death of the Healer. The Pharisees were a heartless group but sometimes my attitude may be too similar to theirs. In order to avoid such an attitude we need to trust God’s truth in every circumstance and not impose our own wisdom. We need to reach out to all peoples as the Saviour did—never creating false barriers between any. And we need to avoid allowing ritualism to take control of our lives. Christianity is Christ and we need to live in that reality, not bound by forms or activities that may be historical but are not Biblical.    —I. I. M.

 

Lord, take my life and make it wholly Thine;
Fill my poor heart with Thy great love divine. —J. E. Orr

DAILY?READINGS: Ezra 8; Daniel 9; Revelation 4

 

And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.    1 John 2:28

 

A knock was heard at the door of a humble home.  Someone had come to fulfill a dying request of the young boy who lived there. The boy was elated!  But his poor father was so ashamed!  Dressed in dirty old work clothes, unshaven and not presentable to meet Mr. Eisenhower, President of the United States of America.    —E. MacLelland

 

Oh, may I be walking so close to His side,
As He would desire His heavenly bride,
Awaiting the call, “Come, oh, come thou away,
My fair one, with me.” It may be today! —E. MacLelland

DAILY?READINGS: Ezra 7; Daniel 8; Revelation 3:7-22

 

Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us.    Hebrews 6:17-18

 

The word immutable or “changeless” describes the eternal “sameness” of our God—yesterday, today and forever. In contrast to everything else, God and His Word remain absolutely constant. We experience change in our human pilgrimage, but not the Lord Jesus. His immutable promise has been given for a “strong consolation,” to us who have fled to him for refuge.    —S. B.

 

No mood of feeling, form of thought, is constant for a day;
But Thou, O Lord, Thou changest not, the same Thou art alway.
—John Campbell Shairp

DAILY?READINGS: Ezra 6; Daniel 7; Revelation 2:18 to 3:6

 

So David prepared abundantly before his death.     1 Chronicles 22:5

 

It was in David’s heart to build the temple for a place for his God to dwell. God acknowledged this but did not allow him to see the edifice built, and wonder at its glory. David did not become embittered or envious, but instead did everything he could to prepare the way for Solomon, his son. May we be prepared to support and encourage those to whom God has given public gift and responsibility, even if they are much younger than us.     —Brian Russell

 

Press on, press on, this one thing do;
Forget the things behind!
Press onward to the Christ before,
Press onward with this mind.
—D. M.

DAILY?READINGS: Ezra 5; Daniel 6; Revelation 2:1-17

 

But we will give ourselves continually to prayer.      Acts 6:4
Epaphras … always labouring fervently for you in prayers.
Colossians 4:12
Night and day praying exceedingly.    1 Thessalonians 3:10

 

In the days of the early church, prayer was taken seriously by God’s people! How much more would be accomplished in our testimonies, individually and collectively, if we gave ourselves wholeheartedly to prayer? It takes time, commitment and focused effort to intercede for one another and the lost. “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1).
—Pete Smith

 

O Thou by whom we come to God,
The Life, the Truth, the Way!
The path of prayer Thyself hast trod:
Lord, teach us how to pray! —J. Montgomery

 

DAILY?READINGS: Ezra 3-4; Daniel 5; Revelation 1

 

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

 

What a change! He came in lowliness, our souls to save, and we who despised and rejected Him are now His worshippers. We did not esteem Him, and now there is no one we esteem more. Gladly we come before His throne, full of thanksgiving. We worship and praise the Lamb. He is esteemed and adored in our hearts and our gatherings. Lord, haste the day when it will be face to face!    —Carl Knott

 

I worship Thee, most gracious God,
And all Thy ways adore;
And every day I live, I seem,
To love Thee more and more. — F. W. Faber

DAILY?READINGS: Ezra 1-2; Daniel 4; 3 John

 

Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! For so did their fathers to the false prophets.    Luke 6:26

 

The Bible indicates that humanity is more likely to believe a lie than what God says. Consequently, most of God’s messengers, including His Son, were rejected and suffered for delivering God’s messages. If the Church is to awake from her complacent condition, believers must be faithful to know and convey God’s Word graciously to others. May the Lord give us both discernment and courage to speak up for the Lord.     —W. A. H.

 

Speak for Jesus, blessed Saviour! Tell of mercies, sweet and true;
Pleading, on His throne of glory, He is speaking now for you.
—E. E. Hewitt

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Chronicles 36; Daniel 3; 2 John

 

Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God, and let the Lord do that which is good in his sight.    1 Chronicles 19:13

 

Jeremiah speaks of the potter remaking a vessel “as seemed good to the potter” (Jer. 18:4) The Lord Jesus committed Himself to the Father, “Even so Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight” (Matt. 11:26; Luke 10:21). Surely we as New Testament believers should recognize the sovereign workings of God in our lives and resign ourselves to His will in all of the circumstances of life. We need the “Not my will, but thine be done” (Luke 22:42) mentality. He will choose the best for those who will leave the choice with Him.    —William Gustafson

 

I dare not choose my lot, I would not if I might;
Choose thou for me, my God, so shall I walk aright. —H. Bonar