Author: Gospel Folio Press

DAILY READINGS: Gen. 47:28 to 48:22; Psalms 26-27; Matt. 26:57-75

And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up: and, as
His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the sabbath day,
and stood up to read. Luke 4:16

Good habits are very important in life. In times of stress and difficulty
they keep one doing the right things. Jesus was habitual in His
attendance at the synagogue. A man was asked if he was going to
prayer meeting. He replied, “Oh, I made that decision thirty years
ago!” Have you made the decision always to be at the regular meetings
of your local assembly, if possible? Your presence there will
strengthen your faith and strengthen the church as well. Follow
Jesus’ example. Make it your habit of life. —D. L. Norbie

Here, O our Lord, we see Thee face to face;
Here would we grasp with firmer hand, thy eternal grace. —Horatius Bonar

DAILY READINGS: Gen. 46 to 47:27; Psalm 25; Matt. 26:31-56

And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants
wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the
spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the
rulers were behind all the house of Judah. Nehemiah 4:16

At a recent outreach that blanketed our town with Gospel literature,
we practiced Nehemiah’s strategy. Some did the work on the
streets and doors while others battled in prayer. Just as two feet are
needed for effective progress and balance, so evangelism needs both
knockers and kneelers, a balance of time before men with time before
the Lord. —M. MacMullen

Lord, lay some soul upon my heart, and love that soul through me;
And may I nobly do my part, to win that soul for Thee. —Mark Weaver

DAILY READINGS: Gen. 45; Psalms 23-24; Matt. 26:1-30

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible
things, as silver and gold…but with the precious blood of Christ, as
of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 1 Peter 1:18-19

The blood of Christ is precious because of its infinite value to God
and to the redeemed. It is precious because it will never lose its
power in cleansing the vilest of sinners. Never depreciate the value of
the precious blood. What a great dishonour we bring to God and to
the Lamb when we limit its value, its effectiveness and its atonement!
He could give no more than when He sacrificially shed His precious
blood for you, for me and for the whole world!
—Jim Comte

Precious blood, whose full atonement, bringeth us to God!
Precious blood, our song and glory, praise and laud! —Frances R. Havergal

DAILY READINGS: Gen. 44; Psalm 22; Matt. 25:31-46

I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master’s
brethren. Genesis 24:27b

Abraham’s servant had been charged with a difficult assignment—
“Find Isaac a wife”. He needed to convince a young woman
to travel to a place she’d never been, marry someone she didn’t
know, and live in a land she’d never seen! Facing such a daunting
task, the servant prayed for guidance and direction. His journey
proved successful, and he rejoiced, knowing it was God who had led
him. Wise is the Christian who first seeks, then commits to the
Master’s way. It’s here we learn what trusting God is all about, and
it’s here we’ll experience His divine interventions! —D. Manera

I have held many things in my hands, and have lost them all;
But whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess. —M. Luther

DAILY READINGS: Gen. 43; Psalms 20-21; Matt. 25:1-30

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Col. 3:2

“They that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh”
(Rom.8:5). They walk “according to the course of this world” (Eph.
2:2). The sinner’s mind is governed by what his sinful nature desires
instead of by God. His lifestyle proves this. His understanding is
darkened. How different for the child of God! He is a new creation in
Christ. His mind has been changed. He thirsts after righteousness
and uses his mind to meditate upon divine things. Is this the practical
experience of our Christian life? —R. E. Surgenor

May the mind of Christ my Saviour,
Live in me from day to day.
By His love and power controlling,
All I do and say. —Kate B. Wilkinson

DAILY READINGS: Gen. 41:50 to 42:38; Psalm 19; Matt. 24:29-51

I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.
Psalms 3:5
I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only
makest me dwell in safety. Psalms 4:8

When do you read Choice Gleanings and have your quiet time
with the Lord? Whether it is in the morning or evening, here are two
verses to remind us of the Lord’s presence. He gives us strength for
the day before us and sleep for the night ahead. His word can bid us
good morning and His grace can bless us each night. —Rex Trogdon

He’s waiting for us to awaken;
He’s watching us all through the night;
Our care He fully has taken,
So pray before morning’s first light. —Unknown

DAILY READINGS: Gen. 41:1-49; Psalm 18:30-50; Matt. 24:1-28

O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon His name: make known
His deeds among the people. Psalms 105:1
Seek the LORD, and His strength: seek His face evermore.
Remember His marvellous works that He hath done; His wonders,
and the judgments of His mouth. Psalms 105:4-6

When calling on the Lord, do we remember to give thanks and to
meditate on His marvellous works? To call upon Him with our
requests, without including these other acknowledgements is to see
Him as a mere dispenser of blessings and misses the point of what
having a relationship with Him means. —Tom Steere

Lord, accept our adoration, for our sins Thou once wast slain;
Through Thy blood we have salvation; soon shall share Thine endless reign!
—S.P. Tregelles

DAILY READINGS: Gen. 40; Psalm 18:1-29; Matt. 23

And sin when it is finished bringeth forth death. James 1:15

Sin is a word not heard much these days, even in evangelical
circles. Many say it is demeaning and harmful to call anyone a sinner.
Others will use it in a Gospel message as there it is directed towards
the lost who need a Saviour. But, to speak of sin in the context of
believers is resisted. Christian liberty is cited and God’s grace. But the
Scriptures reveal that sin always has consequences and it almost
always touches more than just the one who sins. Paul, in writing to
the Ephesians, reminds them that they have been chosen to be holy
and without blame. The secret to such a life is found in the words of
the hymn below. —C. Tempest

Take time to be Holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in him always, and feed on His word. —W. Longstaff

DAILY READINGS: Gen. 39; Psalm 17; Matt. 22:15-46

And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing
mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the
earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I
am the LORD: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for Me.
Isaiah 49:23

As this present evil age concludes, the Christian who loves their
Lord often feels alone, as did the remnant in Isaiah’s day. "Behold, I
was left alone” (Is. 49:21). As we wait for the Saviour’s return, we can
be dejected by the ridicule and rejection we experience. Yet that first
glimpse of His face, that first note of His voice, and that first warmth
of His touch, will instantly wipe it all away forever. —Rick Morse

O what a lonely path were ours, could we, O Father see,
No home or rest beyond it all, no guide or help in Thee. —E. Denny

DAILY READINGS: Gen. 38; Psalms 15-16; Matt. 21:33 to 22:14

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus…and they stripped
Him, and put on Him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a
crown of thorns, they put it upon His head, and a reed in His right
hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked Him, saying,
Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon Him, and took the
reed, and smote Him on the head. Matthew 27:27-30

The despised representative of the Roman government was presented
a crown of gold when he first entered Jerusalem! But the King
of Kings was mocked with a crown of thorns; a sceptre made of a
flimsy reed, and spittle for anointing oil! Meditating on this should
cause me to crown Him King of all I have and am. —D. Croudace

King of my life I crown Thee now, Thine shall the glory be;
Lest I forget Thy thorn crowned brow, lead me to Calvary. —J. E. Hussey