Author: Gospel Folio Press

DAILY READINGS: 1 Chronicles 7; Ezekiel 10; John 2:23 to 3:21

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he
loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us
together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved). Ephesians 2:4, 5

This chapter has a sad beginning but a happy ending. It starts with
a dark description of the lost estate of each one who is outside of
Christ. But it ends with God indwelling each one who trusts Christ as
Saviour. Between start and finish, God’s mercy and love shine forth.
Because of His great love toward us, He has saved us. Love is the
basis and motivation for everything He has given to us and made us.
Thank God for His infinite and unconditional love. May we live in
the fullness of it today. —B. Crawford

Hark! the voice of love and mercy, sounds aloud from Calvary;
See, it rends the rocks asunder, shakes the earth, and transforms me.—Anon.

DAILY READINGS: 1 Chronicles 6; Ezekiel 8-9; John 2:1-22

For Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in
mercy unto all them that call upon Thee. Psalms 86:5
For Thou art great, and doest wondrous things: Thou art God alone.
Psalms 86:10
But Thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering,
and plenteous in mercy and truth. Psalms 86:15

Three divine attributes are presented here, all found in our Lord
Jesus Christ. He is good—the good Shepherd who gave His life for
the sheep (John 10:11). He is great and He wrought a great salvation
(Heb. 2:3) He is gracious, always ready to forgive, full of compassion
and plenteous in mercy and truth (John 1:17). —Milton Haack

That Man of Calvary has won my heart from me,
And died to set me free, blest Man of Calvary! —R. M. Ramsey

DAILY READINGS: 1 Chronicles 4:24 to 5:26; Ezekiel 7; John 1:19-51

And the evening and the morning were the third day. Genesis 1:13

God has a purpose for each day. We may not like His purpose or
understand it, but He’s using our experiences to make us more like
Him. Perhaps our day brings a lesson in patience, or forgiveness or
submission to His will. Perhaps He’s unsettling our plans—so our
hope and our faith and our trust will only be in Him! Whatever your
day—recognize that God has ordained it to be part of His plan. By
trusting Him you’ll know a peace that passes understanding—a
peace that others may find their hope in too! —Deborah Manera

I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year,
Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.
He replied, Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God.
That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.—Anon.

DAILY READINGS: 1 Chronicles 3 to 4:23; Ezekiel 5-6; John 1:1-18

The woman saith unto Him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with,
and the well is deep: from whence then hast Thou that living
water? John 4:11

She was right. The well was deep and He had nothing to draw
with. Nothing to draw water with, that is. But the Lord Jesus was
aiming for more than water. He was reaching to meet her deepest
need. For that He used something else to draw with. He used
Himself. When He had finished drawing at Jacob’s well He had
drawn this woman and many of the Samaritans. Today, the need is
deep as well, but the Lord Jesus is still drawing sinners to Himself.
—Rex Trogdon

Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord, to the cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to Thyself now glorified.—Anon.

DAILY READINGS: 1 Chronicles 2; Ezekiel 3:16 to 4:17; 2 Timothy 4

Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they
came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared,
and certain others with them. Luke 24:1

It was early on the first day of the week, resurrection morning, and
the disciples came to their Saviour’s empty tomb. Some came with
prepared spices. “Certain others also came.” I wonder if they were
equally prepared? Or did they miss that precious privilege and leave
that joyous honour to others? Two types of disciples will meet at the
Lord’s Supper this morning to worship our risen Lord. Will you and
I be among “the prepared” or “the others”? The joy of worship is in
being prepared. —Arnot McIntee

Have you read how He looked to Heaven and said, ’Tis finished; ’twas for thee?
Have you ever said, I thank Thee, Lord, For giving Thy life for me? —T. D.

DAILY READINGS: 1 Chronicles 1; Ezekiel 2 to 3:15; 2 Timothy 3

The Lord is…longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should
perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

God’s judgment is coming. Some may scoff at such a thought.
Others are indifferent and live only for the moment. All the while
God’s longsuffering continues. Why? Because He is waiting for as
many as possible to turn to Him and repent of their sins. He is waiting
for you. But one day, and it could be soon, the door will close.
Have you trusted Him? He’s waiting for you, but not for much
longer! —L. Richard

What do you hope, dear brother,
To gain by a further delay?
There’s no one to save you but Jesus,
There’s no other way but His way. —G. F. Root

DAILY READINGS: 2 Kings 25; Ezekiel 1; 2 Timothy 2

When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and
two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels
weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are
hid in the earth in the midst of my tent. Joshua 7:21a

Achan is living proof of James 1:14, 15. He was tempted and
drawn away by his own lust. His lust conceived and brought forth
sin. By the time his sin was finished, he and his family were dead.
What a miserable indictment! No one forced him to look or lust. No
one made him carry or conceal. There are severe consequences when
it comes to dabbling in sin. Sin has both immediate and eternal consequences.
Keep yourself from it. —N. Craig Funston

There’s a wideness in God’s mercy, like the wideness of the sea;
There’s a kindness in His justice, which is more than liberty. —F. W. Faber

 

DAILY READINGS: 2 Kings 24; Lamentations 4-5; 2 Timothy 1

And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought
them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods
of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves
unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger. Judges 2:12

Some move rapidly, some progress slowly, but one thing is constant
about infections—they spread. The decay of society is a constant
danger and we must guard our thinking, so it does not become
infected with the mind of this age. Daily immersion in God’s Word
and daily contact with Him through prayer are the only things that
can vaccinate the Christian against such infections. Heaven’s prescription!
—Rick Morse

What has stripped the seeming beauty, from the idols of the earth;
Not the sense of right or duty, but the sight of peerless worth!—Anon.

DAILY READINGS: 2 Kings 23; Lamentations 3; 1 Timothy 6

And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four
beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been
slain. Revelation 5:6a

Among all the animals of sacrifice which typify the Lord, the one
treasured above all others is the Lamb. Whether on the tree or the
throne, the Lamb pictures as well as preaches the message of the
Bible—man’s total ruin and God’s perfect remedy embodied in the
Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. No wonder the
perfection of worship is realized in heaven in three doxologies; the
work of the Lamb (5:9); the honour of the Lamb (5:11-12); and the rule
of the Lamb (5:13-14). —Les Rainey

Lamb of God! Our souls adore Thee, while upon Thy face we gaze;
There the Father’s love and glory, shine in all their brightest rays.—J. Deck