Author: Gospel Folio Press

DAILY?READINGS: Deut. 31:14 to 32:14; Hosea 1; Luke 17:1-19

 

 

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Ephesians 2:8

 

Someone has said there will be three wonders in heaven. First to meet someone whom I thought would never be there. He did so many things I assumed were not the actions of a Christian and he didn’t belong to the fellowship I consider Biblical. Secondly to miss seeing someone whom I thought would be there. He was such a good living friend and neighbour and went to church regularly. Apparently, he was religious but lost. Thirdly the wonder of wonders that I am there. After reflecting on a life of failure, I have to conclude; it is nothing but the grace of God. —Milton Haack

 

Wonderful grace of Jesus, greater than all my sin;
How shall my tongue describe it, where shall its praise begin?—H. Lillenas

 

 

 

 

DAILY?READINGS: Deut. 30 to 31:13; Amos 9; Luke 16

 

 

Behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. Revelation 2:10b

 

Ightham Mote is a medieval manor house in Kent. In one room is a Latin motto “Loyal Au Mort” meaning “Faithful unto Death”. For some believers the cost of being faithful is easy. Others experience the testing terms of our verse. Let us pray for those who are persecuted for their faith that they remain true. May it be that those less tried may be faithful to the Lord in other ways. —Brian Powlesland

Brethren in Jesus, let us be faithful,
Faithful to Him who is guiding our ways;
True in allegiance and loving obedience,
Till in His glory, hosannas we raise.—Sankey’s 500

 

DAILY?READINGS: Deut. 29; Amos 7-8; Luke 15:11-32

 

 

The Lord saveth not with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s. I Samuel 17:47

 

This was the secret of David’s success with Goliath—God was his giant not the Philistine. Later on though, we find David running from Saul, “sore afraid” (1 Sam. 21:12) of Achish, king of Gath, entrusting his parents to the king of Moab, fleeing from one cave to another in a search for refuge. And this day, I too will find myself feverishly searching for one refuge after another unless I say with David, “Unto Thee O Lord, do I lift up my soul… I trust in Thee” (Ps 25:1-2). —M. MacMullen

I want to scale the utmost height,
And catch a gleam of glory bright,
But still I’ll pray til heaven I‘ve found,
Lord plant my feet on higher ground. —J. Oatman Jr.

 

 

 

DAILY?READINGS: Deut. 28:38-68; Amos 5-6; Luke 14:25 to 15:10

I was chargeable to no man… I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you. 2 Corinthians 11:9

 

Paul set an example that we’d all do well to notice and imitate. Very few of us need any vocational training to be selfish. Many of us can admit to thinking of our various associations from a purely selfish viewpoint—assessing their value as to what we get from them. The biological definition of an organism that takes more from its environment than it gives is a “parasite”. The local body of Christ can often suffer from such a problem, so that honest introspection and self-examination is needed to ask, “Is it I, Lord?” —Rick Morse

All for Jesus, all for Jesus! All my being’s ransomed pow’rs:
All my tho’ts and words and doings, all my days and all my hours. —M. D. James

 

 

I waited patiently for the Lord… He brought me up… out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock and established my goings. Psalm 40:1-2

 

We once lived on a dirt road which became almost impassable when soaked by rain. On one trip home, the wheels rolled up so much mud we couldn’t go any further. Sometimes we feel unable to go on spiritually. William MacDonald wrote, “There are the bogs of sickness and sorrow. We seek guidance, yet we seem to be in a dark dungeon. We sometimes founder in the morass of bereavement, loneliness or discouragement.” Prayers fall flat but we must learn to wait. In His time, He will pull us from despair and give hope to carry on. —E. M. Dyck

Hushed be my heart and still, fear I no future ill;
Only to do Thy will, my will shall be. —Charles S. Robinson

 

DAILY?READINGS: Deut. 28:1-37; Amos 3-4; Luke 14:1-24

DAILY?READINGS: Deut. 26:16 to 27:26; Amos 1-2; Luke 13:22-35

 

 

He took the fire in his hand, and a knife. Genesis 22:6

 

Sacrifice was to be offered on the mountainside and the intended victim was Isaac, Abraham’s “only” son! At this place, far away from the comforts and safety of home, Isaac carried the wood and Abraham the fire and the knife. It must have been comforting for Isaac to note that these two items of sacrifice and death were carried safely in his father’s hands and not in those of any servant. We too may take courage in that the fire and the knife of our experience are in our heavenly Father’s hands. Thus fear and dread are diminished and whatever the outcome, He is in control and will do what is best for us. —Roy Hill

 

Our times are in Thy hand; why should we doubt or fear?
Our Father’s hand will never cause His child a needless tear. —W. Lloyd

 

 

 

DAILY?READINGS: Deut. 25 to 26:15; Jonah 3-4; Luke 13:1-21

 

 

And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon. Exodus 40:35

And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear Him. Mark 9:7

 

God used a cloud to cover and prevent entrance to His presence in the Old Testament. But in the New Testament a cloud was used to reveal the glory of His Son and point people to Him. The difference is Calvary. As Christ gave Himself on the cross, the veil of the temple was torn from the top to the bottom, making a way for us to enter the holiest in heaven without a cloud between. —Tom Steere

Without a cloud between, to see Him face to face,
Not struck with dire amazement dumb, but triumphing in grace.—A. Midlane

 

DAILY?READINGS: Deut. 23:9 to 24:22; Jonah 1-2; Luke 12:41-59

 

 

Ye turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God; and to wait for His Son from heaven. 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10

 

The Thessalonians had turned to God from idols, but this was not the end of the story. The apostle also taught them to live in expectancy of the coming of the Lord and so they were continually waiting “for His Son from heaven.” What a moment that will be when He comes to rapture His church, and to complete the final act of our salvation, the redemption of our bodies. This anticipation should grip our hearts and govern our daily lives—the Lord might come today. —W. H. Burnett

What a day that will be, when my Jesus I shall see,
When He takes me by the hand,
Leads me through the Promised Land.
What a day, glorious day, that will be!—Jim Hill

 

DAILY?READINGS: Deut. 22 to 23:8; Joel 3; Luke 12:22-40

 

 

He shall feed His flock like a shepherd; He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. Isaiah 40:11

 

I was walking up the hill on an uneven path towards my henhouse when my little companion said, “Please Grandma, will you hold my hand?” Later, as we climbed through gorse and scrub she asked, “Grandma, will you carry me?” How wonderful it is to know that we are held in the hand of Almighty God and that when times become too difficult, He will carry us if we allow Him to do so. —J. Fleming

 

Fear not, the path ahead is rough, but let me take your hand;
You may not see the way to go, you may not understand.
Yet hold my hand and trust in me, for I am always near,
And I will lead you through the dark and lonely days you fear.—J. Fleming

 

 

 

DAILY?READINGS: Deut. 20-21; Joel 2; Luke 12:1-21

 

 

And the prophet Isaiah said unto him (Hezekiah), thus saith the Lord, set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. And Hezekiah wept sore. 2 Kings 20:1, 3

 

 

Hezekiah begged for his life. This was obviously contrary to the will of God. During the extra 15 years granted to him, Manasseh was born, and after his father’s death, he virtually undid all the good works of Hezekiah. Only God can see what the future holds. Sometimes we are bereft through the loss of a loved one, and we naturally despair. Rest assured that the Father knows what He is doing, and it is always for the best (Rom 8:28). —Brian Russell

Lead forth my soul, O Christ, one with Thine own,
Joyful to follow Thee through paths unknown. —L. Larcom