Author: Gospel Folio Press

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 6:1-23; Jeremiah 39-40; Hebrews 10:1-18

 

Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.    Matthew 27:50

 

This loud cry came when the Lord had finished His work and dismissed His spirit. This was not the weak whisper of a dying man succumbing to death, but a strong cry of victory. Never think that the death of the Lord Jesus was the result of physical decline caused by the sufferings of the cross—severe as these were. The Lord Jesus was not overcome by death, because death had no claim upon Him. He had already said “No man taketh my life from me, but I lay it down of myself” (John 10:18), and in His resurrection, He demonstrated that He had overcome death, hell and the grave.    —W. H. Burnett

 

He Satan’s power laid low; made sin, He sin o’erthrew,
Bowed to the grave, destroyed it so, and death by dying slew. —S. Gandy

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 5; Jeremiah 38; Hebrews 9:15-28

 

There is but a step between me and death.    1 Samuel 20:3
Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.    Amos 4:12

 

Riding home on his bicycle, a young lad suddenly saw a black mamba on the path. Terrified he fell off right on top of the reptile, which promptly sank its fangs into his leg. Far from medical help he died two hours later! Thankfully I had had the privilege of explaining the Gospel to the young man that very morning—how that Christ had died for his sins, and wanted him to trust Him for forgiveness. Whether Kayombo was saved I never knew, but you my friend would do well to prepare to meet your Maker, for there is only a step between us and death. But also only a step between you and God!     —David Croudace

 

Only a step to Jesus! Believe and you will live;
Lovingly now He’s waiting, and ready to forgive. —Fanny J. Crosby

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 4; Jeremiah 37; Hebrews 9:1-14

 

And it came to pass when all the people were clean passed over Jordan.    Joshua 4:1

 

This might seem an innocuous statement in itself, but it reveals a precious truth. You may well have been led of the Lord to pursue and accomplish a certain task, but circumstances seem to militate against you to such an extent that the completion of the work appears to be thwarted. Remember that the Lord always succeeds in the end. Take heart—tomorrow is another day, and the Lord is able to overcome obstacles, procure a victory, and “get you to the other side.”
—Brian Russell

 

The battle is the Lord’s, all power belongs to Him.
Since He His mighty grace affords, let us go on and win.
—Author Unknown

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 3; Jeremiah 36; Hebrews 8

 

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.    1 Timothy 1:15
For all have sinned.    Romans 3:23

 

No one ever got saved without first having conviction of sin, and yet sin is the point we often dwell on least in our presentation of the Gospel. We get the cart before the horse, and talk much of love, and little of sin. God loves righteousness and hates iniquity. Of what does a person repent except his sin! According to 1 Timothy 1:8-11 the law is to bring conviction of sin. May we use the tools God gave us and the Holy Spirit honours, to bring about conviction of sin. Those who realize they are sinners, can be saved!    —Carl Knott

 

Sinners Jesus will receive; sound this Word of grace to all;
Sing it o’er and o’er again—Christ receiveth sinful men. —E. Neu­meis­ter

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 2; Jeremiah 35; Hebrews 7

 

“I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.”
1 Corinthians 3:6

 

Jesus told of a farmer who scattered seed in a field knowing that some would be lost to the birds, thorns or rocky ground. Someone planted the seed of a New Testament in a prison, but it was thrown into the garbage can. Another inmate saw it, picked it up and in his cell immediately read a good portion of it. Its message changed his life. When we see discarded tracts do we react with, “What a waste?” Buying a packet of gospel tracts or Christian literature to distribute is not a waste or expense, but an investment in life’s greatest purpose—to win souls for the Lord. May we be faithful sowers.    —E. Dyck

The sower went forth sowing, the seed in secret slept,
Through weeks of faith and patience, till out the green blade crept.
—William S. Bourne

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 1; Jeremiah 34; Hebrews 5:11 to 6:20

 

I am the Lord thy God, who teacheth thee to profit.    Isaiah 48:17

 

Often the child of God questions why the heavenly Father allows trials in their lives. The above verse suggests that He would teach us through them and thus we profit from them. His refining process in our lives, removes the dross and produces fruit, thus conforming us to the image of his Son. As we submit to His will, may His grace enable us to trust Him, and truly profit.    —E. V.

 

If through fiery trials our pathway should lie,
His grace all-sufficient shall be our supply,
The flame shall not hurt us; His only design,
Is the dross to consume and the gold to refine.
—W. Williams

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 22; Jeremiah 33; Hebrews 4:14 to 5:10

 

My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; In the morning will I direct my prayer to You, and will look up.    Psalm 5:3
In the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.     Mark 1:35

Both David and the Lord enjoyed the morning watch. Their example tells us this is the best time to meet with God. Did you notice that twice over David uses the word “morning” to emphasize its importance? As you awaken each morning in your “solitary” place, you will hear the voice of the Lord speaking through His Word to your soul. This will set the tone for your day. If the Lord Jesus chose this time to commune with His Father we would do well to follow His example.    —Jim Comte

 

Shut in with Thee far, far above, the restless world that wars below;
We seek to learn and prove Thy love, Thy wisdom and Thy grace to know.
—Alexander Stewart

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 21; Jeremiah 32:26-44; Hebrews 4:1-13

 

And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.    Leviticus 1:4

 

In the burnt offering, the sweet value of the animal was transferred to the offerer and then the animal was burned on the altar before God. Yet, in the non-sweet savour sacrifices, the sin and trespass offerings, the sin of the offerer was transferred to the animal, and except for the fat and kidneys the animal was burned outside the camp. Both offerings have their fulfillment in Christ. With our sins upon Him, He was once judged outside the camp, but through the Holy Spirit, the goodness of Christ in each believer will continue to refresh the Father forever. What a transaction! Our sin for the praise of God!     —W. A. H.

 

The gifts you bring with loving hand, your Lord will not disown!
Their odours sweet to Heaven shall rise, like incense round His throne.
—Fanny J. Crosby

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 20; Jeremiah 32:1-25; Hebrews 3

 

It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.
Psalm 118:8-9

 

Here, I believe, are the two middle verses of the whole Bible. How fitting it is that they should express so concisely the core message of the Scriptures! Only in the Lord can we find a solid foundation for our faith. As worldly ideals and standards collapse, let us hold ever more firmly to that which is “better.”    —George Hall

 

Simply trusting every day, trusting through a stormy way;
Even when my faith is small, trusting Jesus, that is all.
Trusting as the moments fly, trusting as the days go by,
Trusting Him whate’er befall, trusting Jesus, that is all. —E. P. Stites

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 19; Jeremiah 31; Hebrews 2

 

They shall call His Name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.    Matthew 1:23

 

This message was primarily written for the world. However, it is especially precious to the true Christian. Every morning, as we awake to a new day, we can savour the fact that He who is very God is with us, and will be throughout the day. And as we turn out the light at the end of the day, settling down to a night of rest, we are assured that He will brood over us in the darkness. God is with us.    —Doug Kazen

 

In the calm of the noon tide, in sorrow’s lone hour,
In times when temptation casts o’re me its power;
In the tempests of life, on its wide heaving sea,
Thou blest Rock of Ages I’m hiding in Thee. —W. O. Cushing