Author: Gospel Folio Press

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 8:31-66; Jer. 16; Philippians 1:21 to 2:11

 

Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself.    Philippians 3:21

 

This is the ultimate makeover for the believer. The world’s sad replica is through cosmetics—applied and surgical, yet this serves only to feed the vanity of the heart, rather than to improve it. In that coming day, our longing will be unto Christ, and we will desire sin no more. The spots, wrinkles, and blemishes of our present condition will be gone forever. Now that’s a fashion statement!    —Rick Morse

 

And is it so! We shall be like Thy Son,
Is this the grace which He for us has won?
—J. N. Darby

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 8:1-30; Jeremiah 15; Philippians 1:1-20

 

Jesus Christ … whom God set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past.    Romans 3:25

 

God did not just pass over our sins as in Moses’ day. He has put them away forever. But at a mighty cost! What an act of grace—that God should make Christ sin for us. What a distance he endured—“Eli Eli Lama Sabachthani!” Today we draw near. And we can but bow in adoring worship at the feet of our exalted Lord.    —Drew Craig

 

Yes, Jesus bore it, bore in love unbounded,
What none can know,
He passed through death,
And gloriously confounded our every foe.
—M. L. Carson

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 7; Jeremiah 14; Ephesians 6:10-24

 

His divine power hath given unto us all things.    2 Peter 1:3

 

William Hearst was a famous American business magnate. His wealth allowed him to invest in works of art. He had so many that he had to store some in a warehouse. One day he read about a valuable piece of art and instructed his agent to locate and buy it regardless of price. The agent searched far and wide and discovered the item was already owned by Mr. Hearst and was in storage in his own warehouse! We can be guilty sometimes of still searching for treasures and blessings we already possess. Perhaps we have forgotten we have them or have not realised the value of the spiritual blessings we have already in Christ.    —Brian Powlesland

 

Count your many blessings; wealth can never buy,
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high. —Ira D. Sankey

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 6; Jeremiah 13; Ephesians 5:22 to 6:9

 

David therefore departed … and escaped to the Cave Adullam and when his brethren … went down thither to him. And every one that was in distress … in debt … that was discontented gathered themselves unto him and he became a captain over them.    1 Samuel 22:1-2

 

Here we have a lovely picture of our Lord Jesus, in the scene of His rejection, being the gathering centre of His people. In all our need we are drawn to “the Prince of life” (Acts 3:15), “the Captain of our salvation” (Heb. 2:10) and “the Author of our faith” (Heb. 12:2). May we be found standing with Him today, outside the camp, bearing His reproach.        —Pete Smith

 

Thy reproach far richer treasure, than all Egypt’s boasted pleasure,
Drawn by love that knows no measure, outside the camp. —E. Dark

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 4-5; Jeremiah 12; Ephesians 5:1-21

 

But to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.
Proverbs 11:18

 

From among the hundreds of apricot pits my mother threw out from her home-canning, one seed later sprouted and grew into a productive tree. We may become discouraged when our repeated witness bears no fruit. In John’s account of the feeding of the five thousand, Peter’s brother Andrew pointed to a lad who had five barley loaves and two fishes, and asked, “what are they among so many?” (John 6:9). Since that small lunch served thousands, who can tell what one sprouted seed will accomplish in the hand of the God who multiplies.    —E. Dyck

Give of your best to the Master, give Him first place in your heart;
Give Him first place in your service, consecrate every part.
—H. B. Grose

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 3; Jeremiah 11; Ephesians 4:17-32

 

I have been young and now I am old.         Psalm 37:25

 

During his life, David had avidly pursued God’s heart—fought battles, slain giants, danced before the Lord, known passionate love and deep friendship. Now he was old—his voice for praise quieter, his hand not so strong for the sword, the fire of his vigour dimming. Old age can bring a sense of loss, of being diminished, of uncertainty about one’s value and purpose. The young can be unappreciative and dismissive. But is not old age just one last term in God’s school of faith? And there is “school work” yet to be done: counseling, teaching, praying, encouraging. And the triumph of finishing well!    —S. McEachern

 

Jesus, my only hope Thou art, strength of my failing flesh and heart;
O could I catch one smile from Thee, and drop into eternity!
—Charles Wesley (last hymn, dictated on his death bed)

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 2; Jeremiah 10; Ephesians 4:1-16

 

That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death.    Philippians 3:10

 

This section of the Scriptures is a list of truths that the apostle Paul wanted to “apprehend.” That is to “grasp the meaning of,” or “understand fully.” It was his goal and prize. The greatest output of divine power ever seen was the resurrection of Christ from the dead. Paul longed for and had this as his goal—a manifestation of that same “resurrection power” in his own life. In our Christian experience, what are our goals?     —Vernon Markle

 

Then wake, glad heart! Awake! Awake and seek Thy risen Lord;
Joy in His resurrection take, and comfort in His Word. —J. S. Monsell

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 1; Jeremiah 9; Ephesians 3

 

This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
1 John 5:4b

 

Hudson Taylor, the pioneer missionary to China, chose as the motto of his life the words of the Lord Jesus Christ in Mark 11:22, “Have faith in God.” Commenting on the subject of faith, he said: “Reckon not only your own faith, but also on God’s faithfulness to you. All my life I’ve been fickle: sometimes I could trust and sometimes I couldn’t; but when unable to have faith, it was a great encouragement to realize that God would still be faithful to me.”    —W. Ross Rainey

 

Put thou thy trust in God,
In duty’s path go on;
Walk in His strength with faith and hope,
So shall thy work be done. —P. Gerhardt

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Samuel 24; Jeremiah 8; Ephesians 2:11-22

 

And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein.     Acts 14:15
I (John) fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not … worship God.    Revelation 19:10

 

The people of Lystra attempted to worship Paul and Barnabas because of a miracle they did. John was overwhelmed with wonder at an angel and fell down to worship. Wonder working men, mighty angels—it matters not. Only God is worthy of worship. Let us give Him what is His due today.    —K. C. Ung

I see Thee bowed beneath Thy load of woe;
For Thee, my Saviour, all my tears will flow. —J. Bridaine

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Samuel 23; Jeremiah 7; Ephesians 1:15 to 2:10

 

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.     John 5:39-40

 

How do we read the Scriptures? Do we approach the Bible with a preconceived bias? Have we made up our mind on subjects before we really let the light of God’s word shine upon them? The Jews searched the Scriptures but with hearts that were not willing to see its truth. They had already made up their minds and failed to see the One of whom the Scriptures speak. Let us approach our Bibles like it was the very first time. Let us allow its revelation to illuminate and teach us afresh.    —Sid Halsband

 

My Bible, precious treasure! Worth more than gems or gold;
Be it my choicest treasure, thy covers to unfold. —H. E. Brown