Author: Gospel Folio Press

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 8:20 to 9:29; Job 11-12; Matt. 6:1-18

Behold, He cometh … even so, Amen.    Revelation 1:7
Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.    Revelation 22:20

 

The book of Revelation opens and closes with the promise of our Lord’s coming. In response to the opening promise John says, “Even so.” It is a prayer for the Lord to come. He closes his prayer saying, “Amen.” At the close of Revelation the Lord declares, “Surely I come quickly.” John reverses the order of his words, but it is not just a turn of phrase. He responds first with passion saying, “Amen,” then he prays, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” Is the coming of the Lord your passion and prayer?     —Rex Trogdon

O Lord Jesus, how long, how long ere we shout the glad song?
Christ returneth–Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Amen. Hallelujah! Amen.
—H. L. Turner

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 7:11 to 8:19; Job 9-10; Matt. 5:21-48

He reserveth wrath for His enemies.    Nahum 1:2
Thy fierce wrath goeth over me,…    Psalm 88:16

 

The beloved apostle Paul appreciated the truth that, “When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son” (Rom. 5:10).  Such reconciliation was only possible through the substitutionary death of the Lord Jesus Christ. All the pent up wrath for the enemies of God swept in its fierceness over His holy soul at Calvary. Now the reconciled enemies, such as you and me, are the sons of God, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.    —Arnot P. McIntee

The wrath, the wrath, the awful wrath, that Jesus bore for me,
When bearing my sins heavy load, He died on Calvary.
—Author Unknown

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 6 to 7:10; Job 8; Matt. 5:1-20

 

That I might know Him,…    Philippians 3:10

 

The desire to know Him brings the believer to new heights.  Moses desired to know Him (Ex. 33:13) and was put into the cleft of the rock and covered there with His hand. Paul was “caught up to the third heaven” and heard unspeakable things (2 Cor. 12:2). We are called to “comprehend … what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God” (Eph. 3:18-19).    —Tom Steere

It passeth knowledge, that dear love of Thine!
Lord Jesus! Saviour! Yet this soul of mine,
Would of that love, in all its depth and length,
Its height and breadth, and everlasting strength,
Know more and more. —M. Shekleton

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 4-5; Job 6-7; Matt. 4

 

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all they that do His commandments …     Psalm 111:10

 

Solomon told his sons to listen to his instructions. More important for us today, is that we listen to our heavenly Father’s words as recorded in the Scriptures. If we hide it in our hearts, we will not sin against Him. It will be a lamp to show us where we stand and a light to show us our way. God’s Word is absolutely true and dependable, giving great peace. May God help us to enjoy it today.    —G. Frear

 

Precious Bible! What a treasure, does the Word of God afford?
All I want for life or pleasure, food and med’cine, shield and sword:
Let the world account me poor, having this I need no more.
—J. Newton

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 3; Job 4-5; Matt. 3

 

My days are swifter than a weavers shuttle.    Job 7:6

An English church leader publicized the merits of a slower pace of life by handing out egg timers at a busy railway station. He asked passers-by to accept “a gift of time” and to spend three minutes a day in quiet contemplation. Many people did not even have the time to stop, let alone accept. Many Christians are living frantically busy lives too. Can we slow down and spend even a few minutes a day in contemplation? To thank God for our blessings. To pray for wisdom and help. To pray for the preacher and the teacher and for saints in need. To read a short portion of God’s Word and to meditate on it. Let the shuttle slow down and take time to be holy.    —Brian Powlesland

Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always, and feed on His word. —Ira D. Sankey

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 2:4-25; Job 2:11 to 3:26; Matt. 2

 

I Jesus … the bright and morning star.    Revelation 22:16

Sailors in days of old knew that they could always rely on the morning star for guidance. It was a solid light­—never twinkled, flashed or faded. It had an enduring glory. We are told it was an effective guide and preceeded a moderating of the weather. It has been described as a star of exquisite gentleness and appeared just before the breaking of a new day. The apostle John links this star beautifully to our Lord Jesus and His return. This title reminds us too of Hebrews 13:8. “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday and today and for ever.”    —Drew Craig

Jesus, our only joy be Thou, as Thou our prize wilt be;
Jesus, be thou our glory now, and through eternity.
—Bernard of Clairvaux

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 1:1 to 2:3; Job 1:1 to 2:10; Matt. 1

And Esau said, I have enough.    Genesis 33:9

And Jacob said … I have enough.    Genesis 33:11

 

21 years before this moment, an unbridled desire to attain wealth and possessions sundered the relationship of two brothers. When they reunited with embraces and tears, both could say to the other­—I have enough. But the years were gone—forever lost to hatred, bitterness and regret. May God help us to determine this year, what is truly valuable in life and put it first: maintaining relationships, ministering to others, honouring God and doing His work. Not a minute can be regained once it has passed. Don’t let temporal, ultimately inconsequential things rob us of what is truly valuable.     —S. McEachern

Master, forgive, and inspire us anew;
To live with eternity’s values in view.
—Lucy R. Meyer

 

 

DAILY?READINGS: Esther 9-10; Malachi 3:7 to 4:6; Rev. 22:6-21

 

 

I was by the side of the great river Hiddekel… Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man. Daniel 10:4,5

 

The great river Hiddekel originally sourced out of Eden (Gen. 2:14). Centuries later its tempestuous waters flowed on, a metaphor for the stormy history of men and nations. Daniel was distressed about the future and God gave him this glorious image. Over the unpredictable river of time stands a divine Man. History is His story and He reigns supreme above it all. All these years later, the stream of time is flowing into a new year. Still He stands above the volatile affairs of humanity. His sovereign purposes will be accomplished and He will see our little vessel safely to the other shore. —S. McEachern

I sing of mercies that endure, forever builded firm and sure,
Of faithfulness that never dies, established changeless in the skies.—Author Unknown

 

 

DAILY?READINGS: Esther 7-8; Malachi 2:10 to 3:6; Rev. 21:9 to 22:5

 

 

He is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend. Song of Solomon 5:16

This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Matthew 3:17

He hath made us accepted in the beloved. Ephesians 1:6

 

It is easy to understand how the Father was well pleased with His Beloved Son. But the miracle of grace is that we have been accepted in the Beloved and now call Him our Beloved. Can it be, that all the moral perfections that the Father sees in His Son are seen in us? “In the Beloved” is a place of eternal security. It is a place of rejoicing and communion. May we draw near in communion today, offering worship to Him who has brought us to this place. —Milton Haack

Accepted in the Well-beloved, and clothed in righteousness divine,
I see the bar to heaven removed; and all Thy merits, Lord, are mine.—Charles Wesley

 

DAILY?READINGS: Esther 5-6; Malachi 1 to 2:9; Rev. 20:7 to 21:8

 

Neither… neither… neither… nor… neither. Acts 24:12-13

As he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled. Acts 24:25

 

There is no more powerful asset nor destructive liability to Gospel testimony than a believer’s life. As Paul gave defense before Felix, he could state with a clear conscience—in the presence of many eye witnesses—that he had not done that which he was accused of. His life was an asset to the Gospel message. His violent accusers were disarmed, and the hired orator was speechless. Perhaps we are not really so timid about preaching Christ as Saviour to others, as we are ashamed that we don’t reflect Christ as Lord ourselves. —Rick Morse

 

Bold shall I stand in Thy great day; for who aught to my charge shall lay?
Fully absolved through these I am from sin and fear, from guilt and shame.—Nikolaus L. von Zinzendorf