Author: Gospel Folio Press

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 13-14; Job 16-17; Matt. 8:1-27

Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus. Hebrews 3:1

 

What wonderful titles for our Lord Jesus! He is the Apostle—one sent from God to man. He came to die for sinners that they might be redeemed but now He has risen again and ascended back to the Father in heaven. Now, He is our High Priest—one that goes from man to God. He returned to heaven with all the value of His precious blood and He ever lives there to represent those who have trusted Him. Thus He keeps us forever more (Heb 7:25). Oh may we appreciate Him more fully, our Apostle and High Priest. —Harold G. Smith

 

There is a name I love to hear, I love to sing its worth;
It sounds like music in my ear, the sweetest name on earth. —Frederick Whitfield

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 11:27 to 12:20; Job 15; Matt. 7:7-29

Prepare to meet thy God. Amos 4:12

Although these words were spoken to Israel, the solemn message holds true today. “Behold now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). Hear the dying words of Cardinal Borgia: “I have provided in the course of my life for everything except death, and now alas, I am to die unprepared.” How different were the words of of D. L. Moody: “I see earth receding; heaven is opening, God is calling me.” What will your dying words be? —E. MacLelland

Oh, to be without a Saviour! With no hope or refuge nigh;
Can it be, O blessed Saviour, one without Thee dares to die?—F. M. Davis and R. F. Beveridge

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 10 to 11:26; Job 13-14; Matt. 6:19 to 7:6

Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and to give His life a ransom for many. Matthew 20:28

The Lord Jesus is the perfect model of service. Think of the pattern of His life as He prepared for the greatest event of all time—the redemption of mankind. He lived thirty years in obscurity and was reared in a working class family in Nazareth. And then, in the three years of His public ministry, did anything change? He owned no home, no bed. He had no money! But just as the foxes and the birds were in the safe keeping of His heavenly Father, so was He. Then finally on to the ultimate service, His sacrifice and death to fulfil His Father’s will and save us! —Drew Craig

He saw me ruined in the fall, yet loved me not withstanding all;
He saved me from my lost estate, His loving kindness, O how great.—Samuel Medley

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 8:20 to 9:29; Job 11-12; Matt. 6:1-18

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 1 Thessalonians 4:13

When the Lord called our mother home we felt conflicting emotions. While we suffered great loss we knew that she experienced great gain. Even in mourning, we celebrated her joy in His presence. We miss loved ones who have departed, but rejoice that God has ended their suffering. Though the separation is real, it is only temporary. We have a certain hope that we shall see them again. —George Ferrier

We shall meet to part no more, some bright golden morning,
At the gates of glory where our loved ones stand;
Songs of vict’ry fill the skies in that hour of greeting,
Endless days, endless praise, when we see His face. —N. Clayton

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 7:11 to 8:19; Job 9-10; Matt. 5:21-48

Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Jude 1:24-25

If you are downcast, reflect quietly upon these good words! Consider how strong is the One to whom you belong. How glorious are His plans for you! View with awe His total supremacy and marvel at His love and grace. Thus fortified, step out in faith upon the unknown way. Remember, He is able to keep you! —George Hall

Unto Him who hath loved us and washed up from sin,
Unto Him be the glory forever! Amen! —Philip. P. Bliss

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 6 to 7:10; Job 8; Matt. 5:1-20

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities. Hebrews 4:15a

People with broken hearts are everywhere. Here are five comforts from the One who is the heart Healer. First, He feels and knows by experience what you are going through, for He is “touched with the feeling of our infirmities” (Hebrews 4:15). 1 Peter 5:7 reminds us that He cares for us. Luke 4:18-19 assures us that He shares with us in our distress. Isaiah 53:4 says that He bears our griefs and carries our sorrows. Best of all, He repairs our broken hearts (John 14:1, 27). One day He will wipe away every tear and there will be no more heartaches or heartbreaks! —Rex Trogdon

O yes, He cares; I know He cares, His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary, I know my Savior cares.­—Frank E. Graeff

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 4-5; Job 6-7; Matt. 4

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers… Psalm 8:3

One can almost see David, going out and looking up into the crystal clear Palestinian sky, contemplating the shining glory of the stars and feeling overwhelmed. What a great, majestic God he has! We too, need to stop, consider and contemplate God’s creation around us. Look at the beauty of a rose, fragrant and lovely. Consider your own body, so marvelously designed and constructed. Look up at the stars, marvel and worship. —Donald L. Norbie

I sing the mighty power of God,
That made the mountains rise,
That spread the flowing seas abroad,
And built the lofty skies. —Isaac Watts

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 3; Job 4-5; Matt. 3

As thy days, so shall thy strength be. Deuteronomy 33:25

Each morning, God promises new strength for the day. This is not physical strength, but divine grace to face the challenges that are ahead. For the youth, physical strength increases as he grows older. For the elderly, strength decreases. But God’s strength does not fluctuate with age. To both the youthful and the elderly (Isa. 40:29-31), the Lord promises, “They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength” (Isa. 40:31). Yes, “He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength” (Isa. 40:29). Such is the sufficient grace of God to meet every person’s need, including yours, this day. —K. C. Ung

God of our strength from day to day, direct our thoughts; guide our way;
O may our hearts united be, in sweet communion, Lord, with Thee. —Fanny J. Crosby

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 2:4-25; Job 2:11 to 3:26; Matt. 2

A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow. Proverbs 25:18

“Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” This common saying is sadly untrue. What is said can be deeply painful. How we should watch our words—whether in speech or in writing, because slander and libel, especially among believers, can sever family and church relationships, and crush an individual’s spirit. When the Lord cried, “Reproach hath broken my heart and I am full of heaviness,” this applied to what was said to Him, as well as His physical suffering. —Brian Russell

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee, thou wilt find a solace there. —C. Scriven

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 1:1 to 2:3; Job 1:1 to 2:10; Matt. 1

So Manoah took a kid with a meat offering, and offered it upon a rock unto the LORD: and the angel did [a wonderful thing]… when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar. Judges 13:19-20

It was a simple gift. Yet in light of God’s transcendence and incomprehensibility, how could a young goat and a bit of flour mean anything? But it was from the heart and the astonishing happened—as the fire blazed, the angel entered the flame and ascended with the offering. As we offer heart-felt worship, the Spirit of God enters the flame, takes our feeble offerings and enriches them with the person of Christ. The feeble becomes infinite and a sweet savour to God.—S. McEachern

To all of our prayers and praises, Christ adds His sweet perfume,
And love the censer raises, its odours to consume. —M. Bowley