Author: Gospel Folio Press

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

And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. Habakkuk 2:2

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

Great God, we sing that guiding hand,
By which supported still we stand;
The opening year thy mercy shows,
Let mercy crown it till it close. —P. Dodderidge

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

Then He took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. Luke 18:31

The Lord Jesus revealed to His disciples the purpose of their journey to Jerusalem but they couldn’t fully grasp the significance of all that was before Him. They wanted a conquering King, rather than a suffering Saviour. But He must suffer and shed His precious blood. It was all part of the purposes of God for our salvation. On this Lord’s day will you remember Him in the breaking of the bread and the drinking of the cup? —James Comte

Death and the curse were in our cup – O Christ, ‘twas full for Thee;
But Thou hast drained the last dark drop, ‘Tis empty now for me.
That bitter cup love drank it all up; Now blessing’s draught for me.
—Anne Cousins Ross

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

The joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off. Nehemiah 12:43b

Joy! So real and compelling that it echoed and rolled off the hills of Jerusalem. How it must have attracted those who heard it! How it must have blessed those who were a part of it! This joy was a crescendo note, begun by two choirs that had walked different paths around Jerusalem but who had found fullness of joy in the same place—God’s presence. We will all walk different paths this year, in pastures green and on mountains high, but also through valleys dark and waters deep. No matter the experience, true joy will always be found in the same place—His presence. Come to that place often. Rest and remain. The joy you find there will be your strength—just when you need it—and echo even to those afar off. —S. McEachern

My God, the Spring of all my joys, the Life of my delights,
The Glory of my brightest days; Comfort of my darkest nights! —I. Watts

DAILY READINGS: Esther 9-10; Malachi 3:7 to 4:6; Rev. 22:6-21

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD,
thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Jeremiah 29:11

As we look back on the past year we are filled with thanksgiving
for God’s goodness and faithfulness. Sometimes we are not always
faithful to God but His patience and love for us is limitless. No matter
how far we stray, God has a plan for our lives and He wants to
bless us beyond measure. As we look to the year ahead, now is a
good time to ask God to forgive the sins of the past and look to Him
for guidance for the future. He has wonderful things in store for
those who love Him! —C. A. F.

Great is Thy faithfulness, great is Thy faithfulness,
Morning by morning, new mercies I see. —Thomas O. Chisholm

DAILY READINGS: Esther 7-8; Malachi 2:10 to 3:6; Rev. 21:9 to 22:5

And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he
said, A rod. Exodus 4:2

Nyamuzala and Nyalute lost their husbands and in their old age
were sent back to their relatives. They knew Christ but no-one else in
that village of darkness did! Leaning on their sticks they spent their
days staggering to each house, individually telling every person the
Gospel. Today there is an assembly of God’s people there. Are we
using what God has given us to further His kingdom? Moses used a
shepherd’s crook. David used a sling. Paul handed his life over to the
Lord and was executed! What is in your hand? Have you given it to
God? —David Croudace

Take my love, my God I pour at Thy feet it’s treasure store;
Take myself and I will be ever, only, all for Thee. —F. R. Havergal

DAILY READINGS: Esther 5-6; Malachi 1 to 2:9; Rev. 20:7 to 21:8

For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus
Christ, and Him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:2

The Apostle Paul saw the cross of Christ as central to all that he
was and did. Everything that he had been, a privileged and passionate
Jewish zealot, now counted for nothing. For him to live was
Christ and to die would be gain. His Lord’s death, burial and resurrection
was the sum total of his life and hope for the future. He now
knew through revelation that all the hatred and sinning of the old
Saul was crucified and buried with Christ and that on the Damascus
Road he had been raised through amazing grace to walk in newness
of life. Do we have his determination? —Drew Craig

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness,
I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus name.—E. Mote

DAILY READINGS: Esther 3-4; Zech. 13:7 to 14:21; Rev. 19:11 to 20:6

Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet My people
have forgotten Me days without number. Jeremiah 2:32

A bride is not likely to forget her bridal dress on her wedding day,
nor is a mother likely to disregard her nursing child (Isa. 49:15), yet
God bemoans the fact that His people often forget Him. Busy-ness,
materialism, education, entertainment, careers, and even good ministries
can displace our affection for the Lord. Keep first things first—
don’t neglect daily quiet times with the Lord. The first day of forsaking
the Lord can easily become “days without number” and He feels
the loss of each and every one. You will too. —Warren Henderson

In the stillness of Your presence, I hear Your voice serene and mild,
The pure delight of time with Thee; of privileged saints, reconciled. —W. H.

DAILY READINGS: Esther 2; Zechariah 12 to 13:6; Revelation 19:1-10

Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
Matthew 24:42

The weakness of the church today is attributable to many things,
not the least of which is worldliness. Horatious Bonar (1808-89) said
many years ago, “I looked for the church, and I found it in the world;
I looked for the world, and I found it in the church.” Imagine what
his reaction would be if he were here today! Occupation with worldly
things so consumed Noah’s generation that the flood came upon
them in swift judgment. In our time it is possible that a similar occupation
with worldliness and materialism may so grip us that we fail
utterly in our Christian service. Let it not be so! —W. Ross Rainey

Take the world, but give me Jesus, all its joys are but a name;
But His love abideth ever, thro’ eternal years the same. —Fanny Crosby

 

DAILY READINGS: Esther 1; Zechariah 11; Revelation 18

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting
life. John 3:16

He was a Maori brother who stood by the side of his son’s open
coffin and began speaking with deep sadness in his voice. “Some
years ago,” he said, “my son left home. I missed him so much. How
much more I will miss him now, but, what did it cost God to give His
Son?” It cost Him everything. As we gather to His person today, may
we give Him our heartfelt worship and love. —J. Fleming

As the angels sang from the radiant skies,
That a child, a Son was given,
What did the Father feel that day,
As He looked to earth from heaven?—J. Fleming

DAILY READINGS: Nehemiah 13; Zechariah 9-10; Revelation 17

Where is He that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen His
star in the east, and are come to worship Him. Matthew 2:2

The search by the wise men for the new born King reveals four different
responses to the Lord’s birth. With the people, it was ignorance.
They did not know the answer to the question. With the chief
priests it was indifference, since they knew the prophecy and place of
His birth, but failed to act. With Herod it was irritation. He was troubled
with the news of the One who would eventually expose his evil
nature. But with the wise men it was interest, demonstrated by their
diligence in traveling a great distance and their devotion in bringing
Him treasures. What is your response? —Mark Kolchin

Seek with the wise men seek, and ye shall find,
Seeking all the world He came, Saviour of mankind. —B. Winslow