Author: Gospel Folio Press

DAILY READINGS: 1 Samuel 6:1-7:17; Isaiah 48:1-22; 2 Corinthians 9:1-15

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Psalm 122:6

Hereford Cathedral is home to the world’s largest chained library of books and manuscripts. The treasures include a 13th century map of the world, called the “Mappa Mundi.” It shows Jerusalem as the centre of the world. Jerusalem was central to the objectives of the Lord. He felt compelled to go there to become the sacrifice for sin. The Gospel message spread out from Jerusalem. It will be there that the Lord will return in power and great glory. Like David we should pray for its peace and pray that its inhabitants recognise in the Man that was crucified there, the one who has made possible peace between God and man. —Brian Powlesland

Home to Zion we are bound, happy in the love of Jesus:
Peace abiding we have found, happy in the love of Jesus. —Jennie Wilson

DAILY READINGS: 1 Samuel 4:1-5:12; Isaiah 47:1-15; 2 Corinthians 8:1-24

Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. Psalm 119:67
It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. Psalm 119:71

Lord why did you allow that to happen to me? Have you ever asked that question? Affliction is never easy but it accomplishes God’s divine purpose in our lives. God uses affliction to preserve and protect us but also to prepare us. Some of God’s choicest saints have had to pass through incredible hardship in order to be fit to serve the Master effectively. These lessons are not learned from a textbook or in a Bible school but in wrestling with the Almighty! —Sid Halsband

Every joy or trial, falleth from above,
Traced upon life’s dial, by the Sun of love. —Frances Ridley Havergal

DAILY READINGS: 1 Samuel 3:1-21; Isaiah 46:1-13; 2 Corinthians 6:11-7:16

Whom having not seen, ye love. 1 Peter 1:8

Miriam Booth, the daughter of the founder of the Salvation Army, was a beautiful, brilliant, cultured woman who began her Christian work with great promise. However, disease laid hold of her and she was  brought to the point of death. When visited by a friend one day, the well-meaning friend remarked that it was a pity one so capable should be hindered by sickness from doing the Lord’s work. Whereupon Miriam replied, “It is great to do the Lord’s work, but it is greater to do the Lord’s will.” —W. Ross Rainey

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Thou art the Potter; I am the clay.
Mould me and make me after Thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still. —Adelaide A. Pollard

DAILY READINGS: 1 Samuel 2:1-36; Isaiah 44:24-45:25; 2 Cor. 5:11-6:10

How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?…But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. Psalm 13:1, 5

Sometimes it seems that God has gone. We may be stubbornly going our own way. Or perhaps we are unwell in health. Or other circumstances seem against us. But we can rest assured that God is still there and that He knows how we feel. He wants us to rediscover joy and sing to Him again. There is nothing like counting blessings to make us realise how fortunate we are! —G. Frear

Where are You, Lord, are You hearing me?
How long before Your face I see?
I trust Your mercy, help me rejoice,
So I can sing with heart and voice. —G. F.

DAILY READINGS: 1 Samuel 1:1-28; Isaiah 44:6-23; 2 Corinthians 4:7-5:10

In him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Col. 2:9

The Son of God was not a holy man to be revered. He was and is the fullness of deity. He became flesh through divine incarnation, the uniting of the Holy Spirit and a humble, faithful virgin. God clothed the fullness of His deity with human flesh and described Him as “my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 3:17). —Drew Craig

Full-orbed humanity; crowned with Deity.
Ecce Homo, Behold the man!
Ecce Deus, Behold thy God!
Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see,
Hail incarnate Deity.
At His feet we humbly fall;
Crown Him, crown Him Lord of all.—Author Unknown

DAILY READINGS: Ruth 3:1-4:22; Isaiah 43:1-44:5; 2 Corinthians 3:1-4:6

You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. John 13:13-14, NKJV

At the Passover meal on the eve of His crucifixion, the Lord stooped down and washed the disciples’ dirty feet. The disciples rightly referred to Jesus Christ as their “Teacher and Lord,” but notice Christ switched the order of these titles to “Lord and Teacher” to declare the right priority in which His disciples should relate to Him. If the disciples did not hold Him as Lord above all else they would ultimately fail in ministry for Him. This was the example of Christ; He willingly humbled Himself to serve others. This is our example too. —W. A. H.

Servants of God, in joyful lays, sing ye the Lord Jehovah’s praise;
His glorious Name let all adore, from age to age, forevermore. —James Montgomery

DAILY READINGS: Ruth 2:1-23; Isaiah 42:1-25; 2 Corinthians 2:1-17

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Joshua 1:8 

Although the world would disagree, this verse holds the formula for prosperity and success. It is a life founded on the Word of God. Meditation on it, obedience to it, and the speaking forth of it, will result in a prosperity of soul that this world could never offer. —E.V.

If I gained the world, but had no Saviour,
Would my gain be worth the life-long strife?
Are all earthly pleasures worth comparing,
For a moment with a Christ filled life? —Anna Olander

DAILY READINGS: Ruth 1:1-22; Isaiah 41:1-29; 2 Corinthians 1:1-24

Whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Romans 8:30

With God there are no loose ends. What He starts, He finishes. What He creates finds provision. What He promises, He fulfils. We can have full confidence that “he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6). What encouragement and relief! God started a work in us and He will finish it! Are you discouraged today, looking inward instead of upwards to your
Perfector? Trust God and embrace His promise that you are called, justified and glorified in Him! —Deborah Manera

The permanence of God’s character guarantees
the fulfillment of His promises. —A. W. Pink

DAILY READINGS: Judges 21:1-25; Isaiah 40:1-31; 1 Corinthians 16:1-24

So David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.” 2 Samuel 12:13, NKJV

Once David confessed his sin (Ps. 32:5) Nathan was able to tell him that the Lord had put it away. So, too, when we confess our sin and come to the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, He puts away our sin, (Rom. 3:20-26). Physical death is inevitable, but spiritual death (eternal separation from God) is not possible for those who are in Christ. Is He your Saviour? —Annette Baal

What can wash away my sins?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus. —Robert Lowry

DAILY READINGS: Judges 20:1-48; Isaiah 38:1-39:8; 1 Corinthians 15:35-58

When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. Luke 11:24

There is often great emphasis made with new believers, for them to put off old ways of living, without recommending new activities to replace them. In that vacuum, it becomes too easy for them to fall back into old habits, not having been shown new ones. One of the great helps we can be to young believers is to show them how to lead full and fulfilling lives. The old spirits will then have no vacancies to return to. —Rick Morse

Now none but Christ can satisfy, none other name for me;
There’s love and life and lasting joy, Lord Jesus, found in Thee. — Emma Bevan