Author: Gospel Folio Press

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Chronicles 19-20; Ezekiel 18-19; John 6:41 to 7:11

 

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.    Isaiah 6:1

 

Israel’s long time king had died. Isaiah faced this devastating loss knowing that it might threaten Israel’s spiritual and national unity. He could have looked down or around or inward for answers but instead he looked up. There he saw the Lord—high and lifted up in all his majesty and power! In a most discouraging time, Isaiah learned that God was enough. What are you facing today? Are there circumstances that have overwhelmed you? Are you fretting over what may happen next? Take a lesson from Isaiah whose God-ward gaze resulted in a life-changing encounter.     —Deborah Manera

 

What though my joys and comforts die? The Lord my Saviour liveth;
What though the darkness gather round! Songs in the night He giveth.
—Robert Lowry

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Chronicles 17-18; Ezekiel 17; John 6:22-40

 

And the Lord God answered me and said.    Habakkuk 2:2

 

Habakkuk took his burdens and his doubts to the Lord. From his watchpost, his vantage point high above the city, and above the people, the problems and the voices, he waited with a hearing heart for God’s revelation. And the Lord answered Habakkuk. That statement alone is staggering. It is worth inscribing at the top of our prayer lists. Habakkuk asked, not shaking his fist with demands, but with a heart eager to better know and understand his God. And God answered him.    —M. MacMullen

 

Be still and know that I am God;
Come find your strength in the quiet place;
Be still and know that I am God.
—R. Hamilton

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Chronicles 16; Ezekiel 16:35-63; John 6:1-21

 

Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things … but with the precious blood of Christ.    1 Peter 1:18-19

 

A flashing red light, and then a police officer firmly stated the infraction, “You were exceeding the speed limit by 10 miles an hour.  This ticket stipulates you pay the fine in money, or in blood, to the Red Cross.” The offender eventually presented his ticket to the police station. Across it had been written in red ink, “Paid in blood.” The Lord Jesus Christ paid for your sins and mine, with his own precious blood. Believe it and freely receive eternal salvation.         —Arnot P. McIntee

 

There is forgiveness, God doth say, through the blood,
Both sin and guilt are put away, through the blood.
—Frances R. Havergal

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Chronicles 15; Ezekiel 16:1-34; John 5:24-47

 

But we … beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory.    2 Corinthians 3:18

 

My husband was waiting on the barge as a young man came down the boat ramp. He felt he should know him, but was puzzled until the man turned his face and my husband saw the likeness to his father. As people watch me today, what do they see? Is it my frustration and worried demeanour or do they see a likeness to my Saviour?
—J. Fleming

Yes we would see our Saviour; know His truth and grace,
Gaze upon the beauties, of His lovely face.
Yes we would see our Saviour, but the test must be,
Do others view His glory shining out through me?
—J. Fleming

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Chronicles 13-14; Ezekiel 14-15; John 5:1-23

 

There came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat the bread, after that the Lord had given thanks.
John 6:23

 

The giving of thanks seems, from this verse, just as important, if not more so, as the food itself. This is as it should be. A bowed head and audible expressions of gratitude in a public place are always an excellent testimony to the people of the world, who are, for the most part, ungrateful for the goodness and mercy of God. —Brian Russell

 

Bounteous source of every good,
Giver of our daily food;
Thou thy mercy dost reveal,
As we prove at every meal.
—Author Unknown

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Chronicles 12; Ezekiel 13; John 4:31-54

 

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
Proverbs 4:23

 

The heart, which should be constantly guarded, speaks of inner life. If its thoughts, motives, and desires are pure and right, then its conduct will be what it ought to be. A. W. Tozer in one of his writings has listed seven guidelines which disclose ways in which believers may evaluate themselves. 1) What we want most. 2) What we think about most. 3) How we use our money. 4) What we do with our leisure time. 5) The company we enjoy. 6) Whom and what we admire most. 7) What we laugh at. Applying the words of Philippians 4:8, we would do well to “think on these things.”     —W. Ross Rainey

 

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: 1 Chronicles 10-11; Ezekiel 12; John 4:1-30

 

For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil; But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.    Proverbs 5:3-4

 

Solomon knew all the answers, but didn’t follow his own advice! How often people lay down the law for others, but bend the same rules for themselves and their families! God’s laws apply equally to all. We must acknowledge the wrong we are allowing in our own lives and admit our faults. What he warned for others was Solomon’s own downfall—weakness for foreign women. A solemn warning. —G. Frear

 

Therefore do we pray Thee, Lord:
Help Thy servants whom, redeeming
By Thy precious blood out-poured,
Thou hast saved from Satan’s scheming. —I Franz

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Chronicles 8-9; Ezekiel 11; John 3:22-36

 

Rather train yourself for godliness.    1 Timothy 4:7 (ESV)

 

This word “train” is translated from a word which refers to vigorous exercise without encumbrance. We are to train ourselves vigorously in godliness. This chapter then goes on to define the various areas of our training—godly speech, conduct, love, faith and purity. To attain them we must wholly immerse ourselves in the practice of them—without encumbrance. Can it be done? Yes. Through Him. “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence” (2 Pet. 1:3 ESV). Will we plunge into a concentrated exercise of godliness today?     —L. DeVries

 

Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were an offering far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine, demands my heart, my life, my all. —I. Watts

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Chronicles 7; Ezekiel 10; John 2:23 to 3:21

 

And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and I will be with thee.    Genesis 31:3

 

Jacob was a man who appeared to sincerely want God’s will for his next major move in life. Responding to God’s direction he made ready to depart. Yet despite God’s clear-cut will for this move, Jacob slipped away without choosing the noble path of proper closure with Laban. One of the many lessons we learn from Jacob’s experience here is that while we should always seek God’s face for major moves, we must not forget the courtesy of communicating our plans to those with whom we serve. Misunderstanding can arise so easily. It is best to be open with all.    —Norman Craig Funston

 

All the way my Saviour leads me, cheers each winding path I tread, Gives me grace for every trial, feeds me with the living bread. —Fanny J. Crosby

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Chronicles 6; Ezekiel 8-9; John 2:1-22

 

And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain.    Revelation 5:6

 

Each Lord’s Day we see a symbolic, visible testimony of the Lord’s death portrayed in the bread and wine. For the saints in heaven the symbol is gone for the Lord Himself forever bears testimony. They have the joy of gazing on the One who was slain for them. It is a delight for us to remember the Lord as He has asked. Yet how we look forward to that day when we will see the One who loved us and gave Himself for us.    —George Ferrier

 

The cross reveals Thy love below; but better soon our hearts shall know,
When we behold Thy face above, the fulness of our Father’s love.
—M. J. Walker