Author: Gospel Folio Press

While attending a funeral in the small village of Emley, in West Yorkshire, England. I noticed a tombstone dated 1823. The inscription read: “Dear friends do not mourn at my decease, But strive with Christ to make your peace. Life is uncertain but death is sure, Death gave the wound but Christ the cure.” If you've not received God's gift, may you do so today. —John M. Clegg

The Scriptures are God’s word. Thus Peter says “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God,” (1 Pet. 4:11). Ezra gave an excellent display of biblical preaching. He read the text clearly, explained its meaning, and applied it to his audience. Today there is a great need for men to prepare themselves for expository preaching. Human opinions and traditions are commonplace. Many men are overly occupied with this world, and so neglect personal Bible study. In this era of ignorance, many cry out for faithful, consecutive Bible teaching. We must return to being people of the Book. —K. R. Keyser

Pure gold was replaced by “brass”, yet it was still guarded as though it was genuine! Is my life like that? My first love for the Lord has been replaced by a false, hypocritical life! "Remember"—what it was like to be motivated by love for Him, "repent" and "start afresh."
—David Croudace 

The Lord Jesus lovingly bids those who profess to be His to partake of His Supper—to remember Him. We gladly obey His gentle invitation, do we not? In the light of all He did for us at the Cross, there is surely a moral compulsion for us to respond in obedience to His call. It is our privilege to remember our Lord Jesus Christ and show forth His death, till He come. If we are able to gather regularly with the Lord’s people and remember Him in the Lord’s Supper, we must. —Mark Fenn

A life without the fruit of the Spirit testifies to a life without the fellowship of the Son. A fair show of leaves there may be, but without Him, no fruit! Nothing to glorify the Father who loves us. Nothing to magnify the Son who died for us. Nothing to satisfy the needy around us. Nothing to justify the life behind us. May God preserve us from such barreness! —J. B. N.

The joy of the Lord does not depend on circumstances. It is the condition of our heart and our communion with the Lord that counts. Philippians is sometimes called the “Joy Book,” yet Paul's experience at Philippi seemed anything but joyful. He and his companion were unjustly put in a horrible prison, their backs bleeding and their hands and feet in stocks. Yet they rejoiced that the Lord was with them, listening to their songs and prayers. They rejoiced in their opportunity to witness to their jailor. They rejoiced to see his salvation and also that of his family. If we look, we too will find many reasons for joy today.—Milton Haack

Only the perfect Man could say “I am meek” and remain so. If other men said it there would, paradoxically, be a tinge of arrogance or pride in their meekness. But meekness is one facet of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:23), and our Lord Jesus bore that fruit in its fullness. Paul could say, “I beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ,” (2 Cor. 10:1), and he urges that meekness upon us who love the Saviour (Col. 3:12). —Jim Flanigan

How can God conclude this when many people appear decent and upright? Scripture says, "For the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart,” (1Sam. 16:7). "There is none righteous, no, not one," (Rom. 3:10). How then can we be made right with God? "Cast away from you all your transgressions…make you a new heart, and a new spirit: for why will ye die?” (Ezek. 18:31). Dear unsaved one, why not confess your iniquities today, and turn to Christ to receive a new heart, and the gift of eternal life. —W. H. Burnett

Here from Elisha’s grave a light shines forth like the afterglow of the setting sun. Contact with the mortal remains of the prophet brought a dead man back to life and enabled him to stand up for all to see. Similarly if our lives are truly lived for God, it may be that, even after we ourselves are at home in heaven, something we once said or did down here could eventually bring some needy soul to new life in Christ and enable them, in the power of that life to stand up for Him. —W. P. M.

These days we can live such busy lives that time is often at a premium for the things of God. Make sure that if you receive some special word from the Lord in the Scriptures, that you write it down in a way which will benefit you and others in the daily round of life. Make your notes brief and to the point, so that he that is rushing along can read them, be spoken to and blessed. May the Lord bless this calendar this year. —Brian Russell