Author: Gospel Folio Press

DAILY READINGS: Gen. 10 to 11:26; Job 13-14; Matt. 6:19 to 7:6

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep
His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God
shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing,
whether it be good, or whether it be evil. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

The great and wise preacher, having surveyed and found to be
vanity, all that pertains to time; reaches the conclusion that the
whole valid duty of man lies in respect for God, and in the keeping
of His commandments. Why? Because God will subject every
human work—good or ill—to His divine judgment. Are you prepared
to see all of your works and attitudes judged by your eternal
and unchanging God? —Doug Kazen

Though evil waxes worse, and many hearts grow cold,
Help us to cleave unto Thy name, Thy faithful Word to hold. —Unknown

DAILY READINGS: Gen. 8:20 to 9:29; Job 11-12; Matt. 6:1-18

Then took he Him up in his arms, and blessed God. Luke 2:28a

Simeon took the baby Jesus into his arms and exulted with joy and
wonder. Life now was full for him. He was ready to die. John Bunyan
wrote, “Oh, it is a goodly thing to be on your knees with Christ in our
arms, before God.” If one has Christ in his arms he is ready to live
and ready to die. —Donald L. Norbie

Lord Jesus, I love Thee; I know Thou art mine;
My Rock and my Fortress, my Surety divine.
My gracious Redeemer, my song shall be now.
Tis Thou who art worthy, Lord Jesus, tis Thou.
—Wm. R. Featherstone

DAILY READINGS: Gen. 7:11 to 8:19; Job 9-10; Matt. 5:21-48

Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation. Ps. 5:1

How is my daily prayer life? This psalm is a pattern. Prayer takes
thought and is never hurried. Prayer is hallowed. Remember you are
in communion with the Highest. Mornings are best for placing the
unknowns of the coming day into His hands (vs. 3). As to place and
length, we can know His presence anywhere and He is not looking
for long speeches, just sincerity in what we do say (vs. 7). Come with
expectation and steadfastness and His Spirit will bear you up. Be
Thou my guide and companion all the way O Lord. —Les Rainey

O how praying rests the weary!
Prayer will change the night to day;
So when life seems dark and dreary,
Don’t forget to pray. —Mary A. Kidder

DAILY READINGS: Gen. 6 to 7:10; Job 8; Matt. 5:1-20

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried
about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and
cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. Eph. 4:14

In Alnick Castle gardens, in Northumberland, is a large stone
shaped like a fish. It bears the inscription “Only dead fish swim with
the stream”. How easy it is today to be tossed about by opinions and
dragged into ways which are not God honouring. We need to stand
our ground for God; swim against the stream; show ourselves alive
unto Him and willing to fight the good fight. —Brian Powlesland

Firmly stand for right with a motive pure,
With a true heart bold and a faith e’er strong;
Tis the Rock alone giveth triumph sure,
O’er the world’s array of wrong. —Unknown

DAILY READINGS: Gen. 4-5; Job 6-7; Matt. 4

And all His acquaintance, and the women that followed Him from
Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things. Luke 23:49

A department store near us recently held its “Grand Opening”.
Thronging crowds waited 10 to 12 hours to be first inside. Through
His substitutionary death on Calvary, Jesus opened wide the gates of
heaven, yet so many have no interest and stand afar off. God loves us
and is not willing that anyone should perish. He offers salvation
freely to anyone who will receive Jesus Christ as their Saviour. Will
you accept His offer today? —Jerry Proctor

Salvation, salvation vast, full and free:
Thro’ the precious blood of the Son of God,
Who was slain on Calvary. —Unknown

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

His own righteousness, it sustained Him. Isaiah 59:16b
My own fury, it upheld Me. Isaiah 63:5b

God looked forward to the day when man would be saved
through Christ. Two things sustained and upheld Him. His view of
the perfect righteousness of Christ fulfilling His own righteousness
and secondly that the awful penalty for sin would be fully paid in His
own Son. “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and
peace have kissed each other” (Psalm 85:10). His provision and love
are beyond measure! —Don MacMullen

My need and Thy desires, are all in Christ complete;
Thou hast the justice truth requires, and I Thy mercy sweet.
—J. B. Monsell

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

And He (Jesus) said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto
Thee; take away this cup from Me, nevertheless not what I will, but
what Thou wilt. Mark 14:36
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son
into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Galatians 4:6

The cross was the bitter cup that lay before Jesus when He asked
that it be removed. But only according to the will of His “Abba,
Father.” But this was not the Father’s will, and thus we can cry Abba,
Father too. Our Saviour accepted His Father’s will and went on to the
cross. Great blessing came from it. In that same assurance, no matter
what we may face in 2010, we can go on as well. —Tom Steere

Abba, Father, we who know Thee, gather ’round the throne of grace:
Here we see Thy love and glory, shining in the Saviour’s face!—G. Frazer

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

It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because His
compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy
faithfulness. The LORD is my portion saith my soul; therefore will
I hope in Him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for Him, to
the soul that seeketh for Him. Lamentations 3:22-25

On the edge of consuming fire, His mercies rescued us. Before the
first ray of sun leaps the horizon, His compassions are new. In life’s
bitterest moments, He never fails. Great is His faithfulness. He is our
soul’s portion—closer than a brother. We lift our eyes to the heavens
and smile. Our hope lies beyond the farthest star. Could He be any
better to us? Wait for Him. Seek for Him. And see. —S. McEachern

All my hope on God is founded; He doth still my trust renew,
Me through change and chance He guideth, only good and only true.—R.B.

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

I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do,
forgett ing those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto
those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the
prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Phil. 3:13-14

As we look to the year ahead, may we fi x our eyes on the prize of
the high calling of God. As for the fi nished year may we forget those
unprofi table things that are behind. But there are some good things
we must not forget—His ways in dealing with us to teach us lessons
(Ps. 25:4), and the works that He performed to benefi t us (Ps. 103:1-5).
Let us take these treasures from times past and use them to make our
lives shine bright for His glory in the year ahead. —K. C. Ung

Look to the Lord’s great strength; remember all His deeds.
His judgments are in all of the earth; He is the Lord indeed. —S. H. Peterson

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

And the LORD, He it is that doth go before thee; He will be with
thee, He will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither
be dismayed. Deuteronomy 31:8

Sometimes we feel that we have come to a complete stand still. The
storm within rages and we feel like heaven has steeled itself to our
needs. The verses of scripture that comforted in times past are silent
to us now. Ah, look away! Look away to the Lord Jesus, the master
of the stormy sea and hear His compelling voice, “Peace be still! It is
I, be not afraid!” (Mk 4:39; Mt. 14:27). —L. Pell

Come, O Lord, like morning sunlight, making all life new and free;
For the daily task and challenge, may we rise renewed in Thee.
Come, O Lord, like mountain breezes, freshening life in vale and lea;
In the heat and stress of duty, may our souls fi nd strength in Thee.—M S. L