Author: Gospel Folio Press

DAILY?READINGS: Ezra 3-4; Daniel 5; Revelation 1

 

Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. Matthew 9:38

 

Many already have been called and sent. Still there are those who, through our prayers, will hear that call to leave all and follow their Lord. But equally important are those who stay at home. They too must serve effectively. They must pray! Soon the final sheaf will be gathered in. There never was a more suitable day to pray, than today! —Drew Craig

Pray, pray for others needs,
For loved ones you may intercede,
Oh, bring each one for who you care,
Before the throne of grace in prayer. —Chas H. Gabriel

 

DAILY?READINGS: Ezra 1-2; Daniel 4; 3 John

 

To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. Isaiah 8:20

 

Daily we are bombarded by a multitude of voices all claiming to be experts in their given fields of study. Man is a highly opinionated individual and quite enamoured with himself, feeling he has all the answers to the issues of life. If man’s counsel is not in agreement with the principles of Scripture then we should ignore them. There is “no light in them.” We have access to a wonderful Counselor! May we enjoy the light of His Word today. —William Gustafson

 

‘Twas sovereign mercy called me and taught my opening mind;
The world had else enthralled me, to heavenly glories blind;
My heart owns none above Thee; for Thine own self I thirst;
This knowing, if I love Thee, that Thou didst love me first. —J. Conder

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Chronicles 36; Daniel 3; 2 John

 

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peacable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Hebrews 12:11

 

I made a swipe at a butterfly pest in my vegetable garden and hit a rosemary bush. As a result of the bruising, the plant diffused a lovely fragrance. So it is with God’s people. Deep sorrows bring forth sweet fragrance. It made me think of the two people in my life that I have admired greatly for their graciousness. What did they have in common? They both knew incredible suffering. Today, will life’s tragedies make you bitter or better? —J. Fleming

Flowers crushed beside the pathway, have a fragrance sweet and rare,
Their gracious scent will ease the trials, of others walking there.—J. Fleming

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Chronicles 35; Daniel 2:24-49; 1 John 5

 

Never man spake like this Man. John 7:46

A colt… whereon never man sat. Mark 11:2

A new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. John 19:41

 

There are times when we must bow and say, “What manner of Man is this?” (Matt. 8:27). He spake as never man spake; He sat where never man had sat. He lay where never man had lain. He is indeed unique, in His life, in His ministry, and in His death. What manner of man is this? —Jim Flanigan

O Lord, when we the path retrace.
Which Thou on earth hast trod,
To man they wondrous love and grace,
Thy faithfulness to God. —J. G. Deck

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Chronicles 34; Daniel 2:1-23; 1 John 4

 

And when they looked they saw the stone was rolled away for it was very great. Mark 16:4

 

The problem of rolling away the stone was very real to these women as they approached the sepulchre. However, the major lesson to learn is that they set out and did not remain at home, wondering. When the Lord sees our faithfulness and zeal to honour and serve Him, He will be able to remove obstacles. Set out in faith today wherever the Lord is leading you and do not fear. —Brian Russell

The Lord has Himself gone before,
He has marked out the path that I tread;
Tis as sure as the One I adore,
I have nothing to fear or to dread. —J. N. Darby

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Chronicles 33; Daniel 1; 1 John 3

 

Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet. Jeremiah 1:5.

For we are… created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

 

These verses remind us that God has a beautiful plan for our lives, laid down long before we were born. However it requires repentance of sin, and faith in Christ, in order to start fitting into that marvelous plan. If this is followed by a daily yielding of ourselves to His will (Rom. 6:13), we will indeed lead lives of fulfilment and joy, whatever our circumstances might be. —David Croudace

 

 

God holds the key of all unknown, and I am glad;
If other hands should hold the key, or if He trusted it to me, I would be sad.—Joseph Parker

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Chronicles 32; Ezekiel 48; 1 John 2:12-29

 

 

Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother. John 19:25

When Jesus therefore saw His mother… He said to His mother, Behold your Son! John 19:26

 

One can only imagine the feelings of Mary as she stood vigil at the cross while her beloved Son was so cruelly treated. But what great eloquence is in her silence. Not a word does she speak, for now she understands the words that she spoke at His birth, “My spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour” (Luke 1:47). For Him to be her Saviour, He must suffer, bleed and die. Did tears run down her cheeks as she gazed on her bruised Son? Most certainly. Her Son saw those tears too and in love He said to John, “Behold thy mother” (John 19:27). —Jim Comte

 

Love divine, all loves excelling, joy of heaven to earth come down;
Fix in us thy humble dwelling; all thy faithful mercies crown! —C. Wesley

 

 

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Chronicles 31; Ezekiel 47; 1 John 1 to 2:11

 

Thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. Genesis 2:17

If thou [punish] him with the rod, he shall not die. Proverbs 23:13

 

Eve saw that the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was good for food and would make one wise. Common sense and the devil said “Eat.” But the eating resulted in death. Citing various reasons, human wisdom today resists corporal punishment for children. But man’s ways are not God’s way. As parents, let us not rely on our common sense or on the wisdom of this world. Obey God’s Word; it is truth and directs us and our children into everlasting life. —D. Pickup

 

Your Word is a lamp for my feet, and a light for my pathway.
I will hide Your Word in my heart, and meditate on it each day. —L. Stein

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Chronicles 30; Ezekiel 46; John 21

 

 

Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against Thee. Psalm 119:11

 

Christians know that exaggerating, lying, gossiping, arguing, or any other negative habits are wrong. They may be ashamed and apologetic about it; tearfully confessing and resolving never to do it again. But they have no power and will never quit until they attend to what God’s Word says about it. Scripture will identify these things as an offense to our Father, not merely an embarrassment. Meditation on an appropriate verse puts the sword of the Spirit in the believer’s hand; a word from God for the moment of temptation. “It is written” has power for one born of the Spirit. —C. F. Anderson

 

O may I find my armour there; Thy word my trusty sword;
I’ll learn to fight with every foe, the battle of the Lord. —Edwin Hodder

 

 

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Chronicles 29; Ezekiel 45; John 20:19-31

 

 

The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments. 2 Timothy 4:13

 

In his parting charge to Timothy, Paul declared that he had fought a good fight, finished his course, and kept the faith. Yet, he was not satisfied to sit idle until Nero took his life. As long as God granted him breath, he wanted to study God’s Word (likely “the parchments” of our verse) in order to encourage himself and edify others. Until God’s work for us is complete we are immortal and invincible, and when it is finished, we, like Paul, will rejoice in Christ’s presence. —Warren A. Henderson

Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me. —Henry Lyte