Author: Gospel Folio Press

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

 

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Sam. 19:9-43; Jeremiah 3:6 to 4:2; Gal. 4:21 to 5:9

 

 

And they that handle the law knew Me not: Jeremiah 2:8

 

How disastrous when a preacher or teacher of the Bible does not personally know the Lord. Because of their sinful behaviour the Corinthians were told to examine themselves to see whether they really knew Christ (2 Cor. 13:5). We are told, “If any man is in Christ he is a new creature, old things have passed away… all things have become new” (2 Cor 5:17). In the light of these Scriptures is the Spirit witnessing with my spirit, that I am a child of God? (Rom. 8:16). If not, I need to return to Christ and put my faith in Him alone. —David Croudace

Jesus I will trust Thee, trust Thee with my soul;
Guilty, lost and helpless, Thou canst make me whole.
There is none in heaven or on earth like Thee,
Thou hast died for sinners, therefore Lord for me. —M. J. Walker

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Sam. 18 to 19:8; Jeremiah 2 to 3:5; Gal. 4:1-20

 

 

Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He hath put Him to grief: when thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin. Isaiah 53:10

 

Seven hundred years before the event was accomplished, the prophet Isaiah answers the question as to how sinful humanity can be reconciled to a holy and righteous God. It was by the bruising and putting to death of His beloved and only Son. The amazing thing is that God was pleased to do it! This underlines the divine estimate of sin and the enormity and eternal consequences of it to humanity. Heaven is robbed of its best to save earth’s worst. This is inexpressible love! —Drew Craig

Love, the source of all my blessing; love that set itself on me;
Love, that gave the spotless Victim; love told out at Calvary.—R. D. Edwards

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Samuel 16-17; Jeremiah 1; Galatians 3:15-29

 

 

He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust. Psalm 91:4

 

In Boaz’s first conversation with Ruth he notes that she has come to trust “under the wings” of the God of Israel. Ruth had come to Bethlehem hungry and widowed—but seeking acceptance from Israel’s God. “Thy God my God” (Ruth 1:16). Later Ruth requests that Boaz spread his skirt (same word as “wing”) over her and Naomi counsels her to “Sit still… until thou know how the matter will fall” (Ruth 3:18). Today, I choose to trust under the wings of the Lord God—not to peek out from under His feathers to see if He is getting matters settled. My Boaz will also “not be in rest, until He have finished the thing this day” (Ruth 3:18).—M. MacMullen

 

Every need His hand supplying, every good in Him I see;
On His strength Divine relying, He is all in all to me. —Thoro Harris

 

 

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Samuel 15; Zephaniah 3; Galatians 3:1-14

 

 

And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all. Revelation 18:14

 

Our generation has had it easy for many years. We have been able to buy all that our hearts desired. But God says it is coming to an end. We can see it all around us. Debt swelling. Jobs disappearing. Pensions in jeopardy. Suddenly people feel that their future is precarious. But still they have not desired the “fruit of the Spirit” (Gal. 5:22) nor “the peaceable fruit of righteousness” (Heb. 12:11). Even believers need to “bring forth therefore fruits fit for repentance” (Matt. 3:8) so that we have that which is lasting and incorruptible. —M. Robins

 

Give us Thy grace to rise above, the glow of this world’s warming fires;
Let God’s great love put out the love, of gold, and gain, and low desires.—Author Unknown

 

 

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Samuel 14; Zephaniah 2; Galatians 2

 

Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable (unstable), that thou canst not know them. Proverbs 5:6

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58

 

Living in a constantly changing world, it is difficult for us to grasp a never changing God, yet that is what the Word teaches us. He is the same, yesterday, today, forever (see Heb. 13:8). “I am the Lord, I change not” (Mal. 3:6). As Paul charges us, may we strive through His grace to be unmoveable, always abounding in His work. —William Gustafson

 

Most heartily I trust in Thee; Thy mercy fails me never.
Dear Lord, abide; my Helper tried, Thou crucified, from evil keep me ever.—H. C. Sthen

 

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Samuel 13; Zephaniah 1; Galatians 1

 

 

Lord, thou knowest all things. John 21:17

Who knew no sin. 2 Corinthians 5:21

 

The mind of the Lord is unique and so different from our own. First, as Peter confessed, He knows all things. How true! The Lord is omniscient. He knows all about each one of us. He knows about our problems, heartaches and tears and He knows too when we rejoice. Secondly the apostle Paul reminds us that never a sinful thought passes through His holy mind. His thoughts are utterly pure and they are full of a pure desire for our good. —John M. Clegg

May the mind of Christ my Saviour, live in me from day to day;
By His love and power controlling, all I do and say.—Kate B. Wilkinson