Author: Gospel Folio Press

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 21; Psalms 62-63; Acts 11:19-30

In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. John 14:2

 

Though one may enjoy traveling the world wide, invariably the wanderer concludes there is no place on earth like home. The anticipation grows stronger as the journey nears the end. Is it not exceedingly more so for the Bride of Christ? As she comes to the end of life’s road—she rejoices that she will soon be in her eternal dwelling place and with Him for evermore. —E. MacLelland

Home, where the Bridegroom takes the purchase of His love;
Home, where the Father waits to welcome her above;
Praise God, I’m going Home. —Author Unknown

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 20:18-26; Psalms 60-61; Acts 11:1-18

 

For by Him were all things created… And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist (are held together). Col. 1:16-17

 

Our God is the Maker and Maintainer of the universe—the Organiser and Controller. The galaxies in their appointed places; the planets in their orbits; the oceans in their mighty valleys; the rivers rushing to the seas; the mountains arching to the sky, are all a testimony to Him! As for us, “In Him we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28). He is not taken by surprise as the events of history unfold nor at the advances of science and learning. He is there behind it all in His sovereign majesty and to us, His own, we are secure in His keeping. —Drew Craig

Great God of wonders! All Thy ways display Thine attributes divine;
But the bright glories of Thy grace, above Thine other wonders shine.—Samuel Davies

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 20:1-17; Psalms 59; Acts 10:34-48

There were added unto them… souls. Acts 2:41b

 

Our Lord saves souls, not statistics. Each Christian in the Body of Christ is a precious and unique individual—some more unique than others! That He has predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:29), while maintaining our individuality is a marvelous work that only God can do. It is also a work of His grace that individuals can serve together in unity, if they purpose to do His will. One body with many members. If God’s people would labour together, the world has not seen the work that could be done! —Rick Morse

Dear Saviour! When before Thy bar,
All tribes and tongues assembled are,
Among Thy chosen will I be,
At Thy right hand, complete in Thee. —Aaron R. Wolfe

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 19; Psalms 58; Acts 10:24-33

 

And the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time. Jonah 3:1

 

Jonah had been disobedient. He had refused to carry out God’s commission to preach the message of impending doom to the Ninevites. How did God react to Jonah’s disobedience? He could have ended his service permanently in the violence of the storm or in the belly of the great fish. But our God is a pardoning God, and we read “The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time.” God was prepared to salvage Jonah from his disobedience and to give him a second chance in His service. We see this again in the apostle Peter who failed miserably and yet the Lord recommissioned him to lead the great Gospel surge beginning at Pentecost. He is a God of grace. —W. H. Burnett

Who is a pardoning God like Thee?
Or who has grace so rich and free? —Samuel Davies

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 18; Psalms 56-57; Acts 10:1-23

All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

 

God created man as a special creature, for His own glory. But all have sinned. In fact, all humans possess a sin nature and thus deprive God of His glory. For this cause God judges sin and sinners. To restore to God His glory, man must be spiritually born again and come forth with a new re-created nature in Christ. After such re-creation, the saved sinner is expected to walk in newness of life, glorifying God. May God help us to walk as we should. —Doug Kazen

The Lord will perfect that which doth concern me,
Expecting me to show Him on my part;
A trust intelligent and full of interest,
In all these purposes of His great heart. —W. A. Iverson

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 17; Psalm 55; Acts 9:32-43

 

Such mighty works are wrought by His hands. Mark 6:2

He could there do no mighty work. Mark 6:5

 

Many people knew what the Lord could do (vs. 2) but only a few sick folk were healed that day (vs. 5). Instead of believing what they knew to be true and being blessed, they chose their own reasoning, and were impoverished. We, as believers, know what He has done with His hands—especially when they were nailed to a cross on our behalf! Psalm 111:7 says, “The works of His hands are verity and judgment.” In truth and judgment, He brought salvation and consequently God has made Him to have dominion over the works of His hands (Psalm 8:6). Let us thank Him today for His mighty work. —E. N.

Before Thy throne my Surety stands,
My name is written on His hands. —Charles Wesley

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 16; Psalm 52-54; Acts 9:1-31

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you. Philippians 1:3

 

Thankfulness should be characteristic of the Christian life. Those who have been redeemed and forgiven by the Lord’s precious blood ought to exhibit gratitude towards God and their fellow man. Furthermore, we ought to thank the Lord for our fellow saints. Paul especially appreciated their fellowship in the Gospel, which they expressed through their gifts, prayers, and preaching. Speaking about the believers to our Father before the throne of grace will increase our interest in and care for each other in everyday life. —Keith Keyser

Where all the saints of every clime shall meet,
And each with all, shall all the ransomed greet,
But oh, the height of bliss, our Lord, shall be,
To owe it all, and share it all, with Thee. —James G. Deck

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 15; Psalm 51; Acts 8:5-40

 

Take up the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines; for our vines have tender grapes. Song of Solomon 2:15

 

Little Emma watched her mother wash grapes. Suddenly she asked if she might taste an unwashed grape “to see if it’s poisonous.” One taste might not have made Emma sick but when we consider a nibble at sin, one little taste may lead to another until it becomes habitual. It is by the attractiveness of sin we are tempted and drawn away by our lust. “Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (James 1:15). —E. M. Dyck

Yield not to temptation, for yielding is sin;
Each vic’try will help you some other to win;
Fight manfully onward, dark passions subdue,
Look ever to Jesus, He’ll carry you through. —Horatio R. Palmer

 

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 14:5-31; Psalms 49-50; Acts 7:30 to 8:4

 

Tomorrow shall be as this day and much more abundant. Isaiah 56:12

 

This expresses the optimistic expectation of the worldling as he looks ahead, yet, invariably, he is disappointed. Tomorrow indeed has the possibility of being better than today but then, again, it may be much worse. Neither they nor we can know what tomorrow will bring. Each must wait in doubt and perhaps apprehension to see what transpires. As believers, however, we are confident that all our tomorrows are in God’s hands and so we wait in confident expectation that all will be well. And in the end we know it will be. —Roy Hill

Once in the gloomy grave He lay, but, by his rising power,
He bore the gates of death away: Hail! Mighty Conqueror. —C. M.

 

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 13 to 14:4; Psalms 47-48; Acts 7:1-29

The LORD did not set his love upon you… because ye were more in number than any people… But because the LORD loved you. Deuteronomy 7:7-8

 

God loved Israel simply because He loved them! As believers we can apply these words to ourselves. There was and still is nothing good in me which could ever cause God to show me mercy, but He loved me just because He loved me. He loved me in spite of my sin and rebellion! He loved me enough to give His own dear Son to die for me! As we meditate on such amazing love, our only response should be the words of 1 John 4:19, “We love Him because He first loved us.” —David Croudace

 

The love that Jesus had for me, to suffer on the cruel tree,
That I a ransomed soul might be, is more than tongue can tell. —J. E. Hall