Author: Gospel Folio Press

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

 

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 15; Isaiah 54; Romans 1:18-32

 

Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold… but with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot. 1 Peter 1:18-19

 

The highly-prized treasures of this world are worthless as far as securing our release from the tyranny of sin and Satan. In God’s scale of values, it is only the blood of Christ which has redemptive worth. Let each of us today ask; how highly do I value Christ’s precious blood? —George Hall

I am redeemed—but not with silver,
I am bought—but not with gold;
Bought with a price—the blood of Christ,
Precious price of love untold!—James M. Gray

 

 

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 14; Isaiah 52:13 to 53:12; Romans 1:1-17

 

I will not be brought under the power of any. 1 Corinthians 6:12

 

 Things that other Christians are free to do, not wicked in themselves, can be a snare to you. Anything that grips and holds your interest, influencing your decisions more than the Word of the Lord, has you under its power. A harmless game, fought out on a handset or on a playing field too easily can become an obsession. We may say we can stop any time but we don’t. Food is a necessity but we may habitually snack. We have to work but may become slaves to our occupation. In this world we cannot be true disciples without discipline. —C. F. Anderson

Midst this world’s confusion, speak, O Lord to me,
Guide me with thy counsel, let me follow thee. —Alfred. P. Gibbs

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 13; Isaiah 52:1-12; 2 Cor. 12:14 to 13:14

 

 

The high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity. Isaiah 57:15

The place, which is called Calvary. Luke 23:33

 

Eternity and Calvary are two profound subjects. Together they are central to the theme of every Gospel message. The idea of Calvary arose in eternity, in the heart of God. Mankind will be divided into two classes in eternity because of Calvary. What you do with the Man of Calvary now determines where you will spend eternity. For the believer, eternity will be spent with the Man of Calvary. For those who reject the love of Calvary a lost eternity awaits. —Milton Haack

I am redeemed, O praise the Lord;
My soul from bondage free,
Has found at last a resting place,
In Him who died for me. —Fanny J. Crosby

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 11-12; Isaiah 51:9-23; 2 Cor. 12:1-13

 

Then Ruth… said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes that thou shouldest take knowledge of me seeing I am a stranger? Ruth 2:10

 

Recently, a young girl chose these verses for her baptism as a testimony to her unsaved family. It has been suggested that Ruth here poses one of two unanswerable questions in the Bible. Let us follow Ruth’s example and bow in worship at the feet of the One who took knowledge of us when we were strangers and showed us His amazing grace. —M. MacMullen

The love of God! O power divine! Tis wonderful to see;
The miracle of grace performed within the heart of me.
I believe in miracles I’ve seen a soul set free,
Miraculous the change in one redeemed by Calvary. —C. Buck