Author: Gospel Folio Press

DAILY?READINGS: Numbers 32; Proverbs 28; Luke 4:1-15

 

A Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.    Luke 2:11
Christ, the Saviour of the world.    John 4:42
The Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour.    Titus 1:4

 

For the Passover, God commanded that every man take “a lamb” for their house. They were to ensure that “the lamb” was sufficient. But God finished by calling it “your lamb” (Ex. 12:3-5). The Lord Jesus is our Passover lamb sacrificed for us. Our appropriation of Him rests not merely in the fact that He is a Saviour or the Saviour, but in that He is our Saviour. He is the One who died for me!    —Tom Steere

 

Then that closing scene of anguish;
All God’s waves and billows roll,
Over Him there left to languish,
On the cross to save my soul. —J. J. Hopkins

 

 

DAILY?READINGS: Numbers 30-31; Proverbs 26:13 to 27:27; Luke 3

 

O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! Who hast set thy glory above the heavens.    Psalm 8:1

 

How remarkable! There is a link between ourselves, puny creatures of this earthly dust, and the glorious Lord of heaven! This link is the name of the Lord. His name is wonderful. It thrills our soul but it also  carries a practical element with it. As we live day by day, does our level of reverence for His name demonstrate that He is your Lord and mine?    —Mark Fenn

How excellent in all the earth,
Lord, our Lord, is thy name!
Who hast thy glory far advanc’d
above the starry frame.
—Scottish Psalter

DAILY?READINGS: Numbers 29; Proverbs 25 to 26:12; Luke 2:22-52

 

Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.    Philippians 4:14

 

When was the last time you gave a fellow believer a word of praise? We can be guilty of waiting till the day we bury them before we proclaim their merits and worth. A number of years ago two believers shared letters back and forth. Referring to a mutual friend, one wrote “The hearty warm approval of a friend is more than wealth and more than money, if you think some praise is due him, now’s the time to slip it to him. For he cannot read his tombstone when he is dead.” Why not encourage a brother or sister with a word of appreciation. Don’t take them for granted. Say well done!    —Brian Powlesland

 

Father, make us loving, gentle, thoughtful, kind;
Fill us with Thy Spirit, make us of Thy mind. —F. Kirkland

DAILY?READINGS: Numbers 28; Proverbs 24; Luke 2:1-21

 

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!    Psalm 133:1

 

The Lord hates those who divide His people (Prov. 6:19). He made one body, composed of Jews and Gentiles. They are pacified through His blood and united by His Spirit (Eph. 2:15). Ephesians 4:2-3 instructs us how to behave towards fellow-believers: “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” We do not create Christian unity, but we must maintain it in love. Keep this is mind as you interact with other saints.    —Keith Keyser

 

Thus may we abide in union, with each other and the Lord,
And possess, in sweet communion, joys which earth can ne’er afford.
—J. Newton

DAILY?READINGS: Num. 26:52 to 27:23; Prov. 23:12-35; Luke 1:57-80

 

And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field.      Exodus 1:14

 

This verse seems hard. Suffering is difficult. But there is something deeper here. God is at work. Suppose a people would soon become pioneers and create a new nation. What essential skills would they need? The abililty to put a roof over their head? Food on their table? Construction. Agriculture. Although we do not question the harshness of what the Israelites were suffering, their experiences were working together for good, because God had a purpose for them. How comforting to know amidst our trials that God has a purpose for us and He is creating in us the ability to fulfill it.    —S. McEachern

 

Bless me in every task, O Lord, begun, continued, done for Thee;
Fulfill Thy perfect work in me; and Thine abounding grace afford.
—William T. Matson

DAILY?READINGS: Num. 25 to 26:51; Prov. 22:17 to 23:11; Luke 1:26-56

 

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee: Trust ye in the Lord for ever; for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.    Isaiah 26:3-4

 

If we are not enjoying the promised “perfect peace,” it may be that we are more occupied with our faith, rather than with the God in whom our faith is anchored. As we remain firmly focused on the Lord, our enjoyment of His peace grows stronger. He is the only source of unending strength. Therefore “Trust ye in the Lord for ever!”   
—George Hall

 

Stayed upon Jehovah,
Hearts are fully blest:
Finding as He promised,
Perfect peace and rest.
—Frances R. Havergal

DAILY?READINGS: Num. 23:27-24:25; Prov. 21:12-22:16; Luke 1:1-25

 

In whom we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace.    Ephesians 1:7

 

The gospel is an on going business. It is an abiding fact from the past; our sins are gone. Calvary secured that. It continues to work in our lives on a daily basis as under the control of the indwelling Spirit, we seek to live in accordance with His righteous guidance. And it opens up a bright future when with glorified bodies we experience our Redeemer’s mighty power as He raises us to meet him forever.        —Drew Craig

And soon the happy day shall come,
When we shall reach our destined home and see him face to face; 
Then with our Saviour, Master, Friend,
The glad eternity we’ll spend, and celebrate His grace. —L. Mason

DAILY?READINGS: Num. 22:39-23:26; Prov. 20 to 21:11; James 4:13-5:20

 

Jesus … saith unto His mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith He to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.    John 19:26-27

 

On a day when people of the world think of their mothers, it becomes us too to remind ourselves that in the midst of His anguish on the cross the Lord Jesus thought of His mother. He ensured that she would have a home to stay in as He was about to leave for His heavenly home. It manifests to us the depths of our Saviour’s selfless love. Even in His hour of deepest woe, His heart was moved with the needs of others. What a Saviour we have come to worship today.    —K. C. Ung

 

I will sing of Jesus’ love, sing of Him who first loved me;
For He left bright worlds above, and died on Calvary. —F. E. Belden

DAILY?READINGS: Numbers 22:1-38; Proverbs 19; James 3 to 4:12

 

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.    Isaiah 55:8

 

Consider how contrary to our thinking are God’s ways. Regarding fame, God says, “He that is the greatest among you shall be your servant … and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted” (Matt. 23:11-12). Regarding wealth, it is written: “There is he that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches” (Prov. 13:7). And regarding our soul’s salvation the most blessed contradiction of all—we must be made white in the blood of the Lamb (Rev. 7:14). “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow” (Isa. 1:18).    —D. Pickup

 

Are you washed in the blood, In the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? —E. A. Hoffman

DAILY?READINGS: Numbers 21; Proverbs 18; James 2

 

And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.    Isaiah 46:4

 

Dear aged saint, sometimes the golden age is not so golden. Do you feel lonely, worry about your physical ailments, your financial distress and an uncertain future? Place your burdens at the feet of the one who is called the Ancient of Days, (Dan. 7:9). He understands (Ps. 139:2); He cares (1 Pet. 5:7); He is able (Eph. 3:20). He has made you. He will bear and carry you and deliver you today.    —Robert Gentile

 

Our times are in Thy hand;
Father, we wish them there!
Our life, our souls, our all,
We leave entirely to Thy care. —W. Lloyd