Author: Gospel Folio Press

DAILY READINGS: Nehemiah 12; Zechariah 8; Revelation 16

And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was
Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the
consolation of Israel: and the Holy Spirit was upon him. Luke 2:25
Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace. Luke 2:29a

You can almost see the tears well up in faithful old Simeon’s eyes
as He holds the long awaited Saviour in his arms. He holds a babe,
yet He is the Ancient of Days! He is the child born, the Son given and
the eternal One. This is the “Desire of all nations” that Haggai prophesied
about. (Haggai 2:7) His longing eyes had seen God’s salvation,
and he was ready to go “home.” What a hope the Saviour brings at
this Christmas season. “O come let us adore Him.” —Jim Comte

Come, Thou long expected Jesus, born to set Thy people free.
From our fears and sins release us; let us find our rest in Thee. —C. Wesley

DAILY READINGS: Nehemiah 10-11; Zechariah 7; Revelation 15

And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our
God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord. Ps. 40:3

Despite life’s experiences, which we know drag us down at times,
a Christian who acknowledges his Lord for all his benefits, with an
attitude of praise, is a great witness. It is lovely when a non-Christian
questions your cheerful demeanour—it’s an open door for witnessing
to the One who does all things well. —Brian Russell

I will sing of my Redeemer,
And His wondrous love to me;
He from death to life has brought me;
Son of God with Him to be. —P. P. Bliss

DAILY READINGS: Nehemiah 9; Zechariah 5-6; Revelation 14

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good
works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16

While driving my grandson home, we saw a bright “thumb-nail”
moon. He asked why the moon was that shape. I explained that the
moon only reflects the light from the sun. It does not have any light
of its own. Since the sun was on one side of the earth and the moon
on the other, the world was blocking some of the sun’s rays so that
the moon was not shining to its fullest. We are to reflect the light
from our Sun, the Son of God. How much of the world is blocking
our reflection of Him? —Paul Booker

O let your light shine steadily on, that all the world, beholding,
May glorify your Father above, and praise His boundless love.
—Fanny Crosby

DAILY READINGS: Nehemiah 8; Zechariah 4; Revelation 13

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the
joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame,
and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb. 12:2

The devil wants us to look within for assurance of heaven. Have
you lived a good enough life to think you will go to heaven? What
about that outburst of temper yesterday? Or when you looked with
longing at someone who was not your wife or husband? Trusting in
our goodness is to fail. Living faith is not trusting in self but trusting
in Christ and His promises. To look within for assurance is to be filled
with doubt. "Looking away from all else unto Jesus” is the force of the
passage. This will give one assurance and joy. —Donald L. Norbie

Christ has for sin atonement made, what a wonderful Saviour!
We are redeemed! The price is paid! What a wonderful Saviour!—Anon.

DAILY READINGS: Nehemiah 7; Zechariah 2-3; Revelation 12

He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly.
Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. Revelation 22:20

The Lord is coming. Not only is He coming, we also want Him to
come, do we not? We are not looking for business success to make
our retirement easy. We are not looking for politicians to make our
lives down here more comfortable. Yes, we must labour in the Gospel
and seek the welfare of the Lord’s people. But over and beyond these
activities is the blessed, certain hope of the Lord’s coming. “Even so,
come Lord Jesus.” —Mark Fenn

My Father’s house on high, home of my soul how near!
At times to faith’s far seeing eye the golden gates appear! —J. M.

DAILY READINGS: Nehemiah 6; Zechariah 1; Revelation 11

All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come
upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth
himself unto the LORD, he shall be holy, and shall let the
locks of the hair of his head grow. Numbers 6:5

The Nazarite was to be different in the sight of men. So too godly
Christians are to be different in the eyes of the world. We are ambassadors
of Christ. We are children of God. We are joint-heirs with Christ,
the possessors of unsearchable riches. Our kingdom is not of this
world. Our reserved inheritance is in heaven. We are not just different—
we are vastly different. Worldliness is absent and immodesty is
not present. What you do see is Christ! May it be so. —R. E. Surgenor

Heirs of God, joint-heirs with Jesus, long ere time its race began;
To His name eternal praises, O what wonders love hath done! —John Kent

DAILY READINGS: Nehemiah 5; Haggai 2; Revelation 10

But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: Thou art
my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God. Ps. 40:17

“A penny for your thoughts,” is a fitting expression for one who is
poor and needy. And what thoughts his penny affords, to find the
Lord is thinking about him! What kind of thoughts? Isaiah says they
are “higher than ours” (Isaiah 55:9), while the psalmist says that they
are “very deep” (Ps. 92:5), “precious and innumerable as the sand”
(Ps. 139:17-18). Surely we might ask, “What is man that Thou art
mindful of him?” Yet daily He proves that He is. —Rex Trogdon

Oh, the peace forever flowing,
From God’s thoughts of His own Son!
Oh, the peace of simply knowing,
On the cross that all was done! —A. P. Cecil

DAILY READINGS: Nehemiah 4; Haggai 1; Revelation 9

My sons, be not now negligent: for the LORD hath chosen you to
stand before Him, to serve Him, and that ye should minister unto
Him, and burn incense. 2 Chronicles 29:11

Ahaz had reigned 16 years in Jerusalem, and he did not honour the
Lord. Then Hezekiah came to the throne, with a desire to please the
Lord. The temple had to be cleansed. The priests had to be sanctified.
The sacrifices had to be resumed. It was a lot of work! But God is particular.
The road to recovery is not an easy one. There are no shortcuts
for God. Negligence will not do. If you would be revived, you
need to begin the cleansing process today. —Doug Kazen

My Master, lead me to Thy door; pierce this now willing ear once more:
Thy bonds are freedom; let me stay with Thee to toil, endure, obey. —Anon.

DAILY READINGS: Nehemiah 3; Daniel 12; Revelation 8

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Phil. 4:13

The context of this well-loved verse is actually a paragraph on the
subject of contentment. Paul is writing from a prison cell and says he
has learned how to be content, no matter what his circumstances.
What is the secret to contentment? It is not about having all our plans
in order, assurance of our next paycheque, etc. It is facing and accepting
life’s hard times and good times through Christ’s strength. Our
circumstances are immaterial. He is all in all. We need Him for every
detail of life. —Dennis Easton

Day by day, and with each passing moment,
Strength I find, to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear. —Karolina W. Sandell-Berg