Author: Gospel Folio Press

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 28-29; Isaiah 66; Romans 8:18-39

 

But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 1 Corinthians 11:28

Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread. Exodus 12:15

 

The Lord’s Supper is not the time or place for personal introspection. The preparation for the Passover feast required getting rid of leaven in the house for a week before the actual Passover. Leaven symbolizes sin and we need to prepare our hearts by dealing with our failures during the week prior to our remembrance feast. The examination comes first and then, “so let him eat.” —David M. McCulloch

Nothing between my soul and the Saviour,
So that His blessed face may be seen;
Nothing preventing the least of His favour,
Keep the way clear! Let nothing between. —Charles A. Tindley

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 26-27; Isaiah 65; Romans 8:1-17

 

And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen. 1 Samuel 4:10

 

What led to the worst loss of life in the history of Israel? God’s people engaged an enemy that feared God more than they did! The Jews believed that the Ark of the Covenant would save them from defeat (1 Sam. 4:3), instead of trusting the One who gave them the Ark. Religiosity always replaces the Lord with broken cisterns and empty wells. There are no “good luck charms” for believers. We are at war with a fierce enemy. With the Lord we can do all things (Phil. 4:13), and without Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). —Warren A. Henderson

 

Praise to the Lord, who over all things so wondrously reigneth,
Shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth! —J. Neander

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 25; Isaiah 63:15 to 64:12; Romans 7:7-25

 

But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. 2 Thessalonians 3:3

 

Believers possess extraordinary security in Christ. He prayed to His Father that they would be kept from the evil one (Jn. 17:15). The devil is cunning and well-practiced in causing men to stumble. But neither satanic guile nor force expressed through persecution, disrespect, or tribulations can shake the Christian’s standing. Our ultimate destiny is not in doubt: we shall be where He is in glory (Jn. 17:24). Our confidence stems from God’s faithfulness, omnipotence, and perfect love. —Keith Keyser

Since His love and mercy found us, we are precious in His sight;
Thousands now may fall around us, thousands more be put to flight,
But His presence keeps us safe by day and night. —Thomas Kelly

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Sam. 23-24; Isaiah 62 to 63:14; Romans 6:15 to 7:6

 

 

Jesus saith… Simon, son of Jonah, lovest thou me?… Feed my lambs.
He saith… Simon, son of Jonah, lovest thou me?… Feed my sheep.
He saith… Simon, son of Jonah, lovest thou me?… Feed my sheep. John 21: 15-17

 

Our Lord’s purpose here was not to hear Peter tell Him that he loved Him. Each time the Saviour responded “feed my lambs” or “feed my sheep,” He had a job He wanted Peter to do. There would be lambs and sheep in need of shepherding. It would be Peter’s love for his Lord that would motivate him, not his love for sometimes unlovable sheep. May our love for Him keep us serving. —Ken Gross

Channels only, blessed Master, but with all Thy wondrous power,
Flowing thro’ us, thou canst use us, every day and every hour.—M. Maxwell

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 21-22; Isaiah 61; Romans 6:1-14

 

 

But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased Him. 1 Corinthians 12:18

 

Walking along the roadside I noticed tiny flowers hugging the ground. Most passersby would not notice them but it didn’t matter; they just kept on sharing their beauty. Compared to a larger blossom they would appear insignificant yet they were beautiful. In a similar fashion, the Church is made up of large and small parts. Some may be hidden and unnoticed but each one is necessary. If you feel your talent or gift is of little value in contrast to others, remember each one has a specific place to fill. You may be the smallest part but you are just as important as the biggest flower of the bouquet. —E. M. Dyck

 

Go, labour on! ’Tis not for naught, thine earthly loss is heavenly gain;
Men heed thee, love thee, bless thee not; the Master praises, what are men?—Horatius Bonar

 

 

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 19:8 to 20:42; Isaiah 60; Romans 5:12-21

 

 

What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee. Psalm 56:3

Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid. Isaiah 12:2

 

As a boy, Psalm 56:3 hung in my room and was always a comfort to me. Several years ago I was reading this verse to a dear old sister and she said, “Jim, I know a better verse than that!” Grace then quoted Isaiah 12:2! C. H. Spurgeon said, “Doubt the eternal? Distrust the Omnipotent? Outrageous fear!” No matter what your situation in life, claim the promise of these verses and rest upon Him. —Jim Comte

In God I put my trust, I neither doubt nor fear,
For man can never harm, with God my helper near. —Psalter

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 18:6 to 19:7; Isaiah 59; Romans 4:23 to 5:11

 

 

Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that may lay his hand upon us both. Job 9: 33

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 2:5

 

In the midst of his trials, Job longed for a mediator between him and God. But in his days there was none. We thank God that now Job’s yearning has been found in the person of our Lord Jesus. Paul tells us that it is “the man” Christ Jesus. Our Lord is able to fill this place flawlessly for he is equally God and equally man. As well He has perfect understanding of our condition because he has walked the path of life here on earth. We praise God for our Mediator. —W. H. Burnett

 

With joy we meditate the grace, of our High Priest above,
His heart o’er flows with tenderness, His very name is love. —Isaac Watts

 

 

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 17:32 to 18:5; Isaiah 58; Romans 4:1-22

 

 

Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand. Isaiah 13:6

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Isaiah 40:1

 

How many have been crying in anguish in the recent horrible disasters that have struck this world! Our hearts go out to them. But the day of the Lord is coming upon all the inhabitants of the earth, and no aid will come from another place. Today is still a day of grace. Come to the Saviour before these events unfold. Meanwhile, let us who have been comforted by the Lord “comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God” (2 Cor. 1:4). —Tom Steere

O Jesus, Friend unfailing, how dear Thou art to me!
Are cares or fears assailing? I find my strength in Thee.—S. C. G. Kuster

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 17:1-31; Isaiah 56:9 to 57:21; Romans 3

 

 

When I saw… then I coveted… [I] took… [I] hid. Joshua 7:21

 

If Achan’s life was a parable, it would read something like this: he was tempted and drawn away by his own lust; his lust conceived and brought forth sin; by the time his sin was finished, he and his family were dead. What a miserable indictment! Just as the apostle James described (James 1:14, 15). No one forced Achan to look or lust; no one one made him carry or conceal. Yet he did and it ended in disaster. There are severe repercussions when it comes to dabbling in sin—both immediate and eternal. Don’t let its deadly process begin. —Norman Craig Funston

There’s a wideness in God’s mercy, Like the wideness of the sea;
There’s a kindness in His justice, which is more than liberty.—Frederick W. Faber

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 16; Isaiah 55 to 56:8; Romans 2

 

For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon… every high tower, and upon every fenced wall. Isaiah 2:12a, 15

 

The engineering skill of humanity is amazing. Buildings in some of the world’s biggest cities have gotten so tall that they now merit the name skyscaper. Most are built to withstand natural disasters as well—earthquakes and powerful winds. But in the day of the Lord, His power will cast these high towers to the earth! Oh, may the Lord cause our hearts to be fully consecrated to the almighty God, before whom everything is as dust! —Johannes Bruwer

A mighty Fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing,
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.—Martin Luther