Author: Gospel Folio Press

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

 

 

Remember how short my time is: why hast Thou made all men in vain? Psalm 89:47

 

The psalmist is pleading with God to turn from chastening the Jews. He reminds God that his time on the earth is brief and that he longs to see Israel receive Messianic blessing rather than God’s wrath. The next Psalm answers the appeal: “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Ps. 90:12). We often have no control over life’s circumstances, but we are in full control of how we respond to them. Through prayer and God’s Word may we learn to make each day count for eternity. —Warren A. Henderson

 

Looking upward every day, sunshine on our faces;
Pressing onward every day, toward the heavenly places. —M. Butler

 

 

 

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

 

How amiable are Thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord. Psalm 84:1-2

 

For some reason it appears that the psalmist was unable to attend the services of God. There are saints today in the same situation—for various reasons they are not able to be at assembly gatherings as in days gone by. Their cry is, “How amiable is God’s house.” The word “amiable” means “loveable, dear,” or, “beloved.” Those of us who are well able to attend, do we feel this way? Often we find many reasons not to be there. May we like David and shut-in saints, appreciate anew how dear the gathering of God’s people is. —Robert E. Surgenor

Gathered to Thy name, Lord Jesus, losing sight of all but Thee,
O what joy Thy presence gives us, calling up our hearts to Thee.—C. A. Wellesley

 

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

 

Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not the chastening of the Almighty. Job 5: 17

My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him. Hebrews 12:5

 

Chastening is not something that we would volunteer to have in our lives, but there are times when God chastens for various reasons. It may be that we are straying from the path and need to be corrected. Or it could be that the Lord chastens to deepen our spiritual lives, and bring us closer to Himself. This should give us comfort when it comes upon us, knowing that it comes from a loving Father’s hand who has our best interests in mind. —W. H. Burnett

 

Faint not Christian though thy God, smite thee with the chastening rod,
Smite He must with Father’s care, that He might his love declare.—James H. Evans

 

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

 

Faith working through love. Galatians 5:6

 

Paul fought against a legalism which taught that works would help save you. It is Christ and His death for the sinner that saves and that alone. But Paul was also firm in his teaching that saving faith is living and life changing. Works do not save but saving faith works. So what kind of faith do you have? Is it a vital force in your life, forming you into a godly person and motivating you to service for Him? —Donald L. Norbie

Father of spirits, this my sovereign plea,
I bring again and yet again to Thee.
Fulfill me now with love, that I may know,
A daily inflow, daily overflow. —Amy Carmichael

 

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

 

 

This do in remembrance of Me. 1 Corinthians 11:24

 

Today we come to another remembrance of the Lord Jesus on this His day. It is a time when heaven’s desire and our longing unite that we might give Him His rightful, preeminent place in worship. As the fragrance of our Saviour points us to heaven, may it separate us increasingly from earthly ties, as we go forth to Him. —Mark Fenn

Grateful incense this, ascending,
Ever to the Father’s throne;
Every knee to Jesus bending,
All the mind in heaven is one. —J. N. Darby

 

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

 

 

Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am that they may behold My glory. John 17:24

 

In this prayer to the Father, our Lord reveals a deep longing of his heart. He wanted His own to be with Him in glory. Only He knew what would have to be endured before the results of that desire could come to pass. He would experience the rejection of mankind and separation from his Father in order to make that eternal fellowship possible. He so greatly desired for us to be with Him that He became a sacrifice like no other. Do we long to be with Him? —Ken Gross

Oh, Jesus, Lord, who loved me like to Thee?
Fruit of thy work, with Thee, too, there to see
Thy glory, Lord, while endless ages roll,
Myself the prize and travail of Thy soul. —J. N. Darby

 

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

 

Without faith it is impossible to please Him. Hebrews 11:6

 

“If I only had more faith.” This is a noble aspiration, but there is something better then great faith. It is a great Saviour. The object of faith is of the utmost importance. Most of us desire more faith, but faith the size of a mustard seed can remove mountains if it is faith in Him (Math. 17:20). Paul wrote, “Ye are all the children of God by faith” (Gal 3:26). Even with small faith I am as much a child of God as the heroes of the faith. However, let us not be content with weak faith, but like the apostles ask our Lord to “increase our faith” (Luke 17:5). —Milton Haack

My faith has found a resting place, not in device or creed;
I trust the ever living One, His wounds for me shall plead.
I need no other argument, I need no other plea,
It is enough that Jesus died, and that He died for me. —Eliza Hewitt

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Samuel 22; Jeremiah 6; Ephesians 1:1-14

 

 

He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. Proverbs 16:32

He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls. Proverbs 25:28

 

Having a short temper is no fun; none of us can remember making a wise decision when we were angry. There is always damage; there are always regrets. The ones we wanted to hurt walked away laughing, or the ones we cherish crawled away crying. A hair-trigger temper needs to be ruled and subdued. Acquiring this rule over one’s temper is a badge of divine strength, not an admission of weakness. —Rick Morse

 

Open my mouth, and let me bear, gladly the warm truth everywhere;
Open my heart, and let me prepare, love with Thy children thus to share.—Clara H. Scott

 

 

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Samuel 21; Jeremiah 5; Galatians 6

 

 

I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest Me to do. John 17:4

 

Of all the patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and preachers that have served the Lord through the centuries, only the Lord Jesus perfectly glorified His Father on the earth. At their best, the saints resemble Christ (Acts 4:13). Sometimes, however, they are deceived and speak like the Lord’s adversaries (Mt. 16:23). “For in many things we offend all” (James 3:2). In contrast, Christ spoke the Father’s words, did His works, and completed His mission. Only He could say: “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (Jn. 14:9). —Keith Keyser

 

And oh, ’tis joy the path to trace, by Thee so meekly trod,
Learning of Thee, to walk in grace and fellowship with God. —J. G. Deck

 

 

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Samuel 20; Jeremiah 4:3-31; Galatians 5:10-26

 

 

His truth endureth to all generations. Psalm 100:5

 

Pilot was a thoughtful and capable man. Yet he asked in anguish of spirit, “What is truth?” He was unable to see the personal reality of truth standing before him. Now, more than ever, in man’s world, truth is elusive. Man’s great and expensive quest in science seeks to answer the question: What is real? Yet his quest has led him only to greater depths of folly – to evolution, to confusion as to the origin of life, and to doubts about the origin of the universe, and to a host of other ideas that are far from absolute. But God’s truth is absolute. And, it is unchanging; for it endures to all generations. The foundation for personal wisdom lies in knowing God. Doug Kazen

Leave to His sovereign sway, To choose and to command;
So shalt thou, wondering, Own his way How wise, how strong his hand.—Gerhardt Wesley