Author: Gospel Folio Press

DAILY READINGS: 2 Samuel 3; Micah 6; Romans 11:13-36

As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfi
ed, when I awake, with Thy likeness. Psalms 17:15

David realised that there is another world which he would enter after
death. Although he had sinned grievously, aft er deep repentance
(Ps. 51) he was able to say, “Blessed is he whose transgressions are
forgiven” (Ps. 32:1). We, too, are faced with the same reality. Aft er
death what? Are we cleansed from our sins by faith in Christ? If so
we are happy now and assured of a blessed future. —Drew Craig

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine,
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood. — Fanny J. Crosby

DAILY READINGS: 2 Samuel 2; Micah 4:9 to 5:15; Romans 11:1-12

Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule
in judgment. Isaiah 32:1

Thoughout the centuries, many diff erent monarchs have reigned
in many diff erent nations, yet not one of their reigns could be described
as truly righteous. David and Solomon were two great kings
of Israel yet even they were imperfect. The millenial reign of Christ
will be in marked contrast to what has gone before. He will be the
only King of whom it can be said His reign is truly righteous and
perfect. How we long for that day. —John M. Clegg

Jesus shall reign where e’er the sun,
Doth its successive journeys run,
His kingdom stretch from shore to shore,
Til moon shall wax and wane no more. —Isaac Watts

DAILY READINGS: 2 Samuel 1; Micah 3 to 4:8; Romans 9:30 to 10:21

For which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren.
Hebrews 2:11b
Wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for He hath
prepared for them a city. Hebrews 11:16b

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. Romans 1:16a We’ve
been brought into an amazing family through faith in our Lord Jesus
Christ. Our Saviour, whom we call “Lord” is not ashamed to call us
brethren. Our heavenly Father is not ashamed to be called our God.
With the Father and the Son not ashamed of us, we should never be
ashamed to own His name and to share the good news with others.
Have you told anyone about your wonderful family lately? Don’t be
ashamed. —Rex Trogdon

I’m not ashamed to own my Lord, Or to defend His cause;
Maintain the honor of His Word, The glory of His cross.—Isaac Watts

DAILY READINGS: 1 Samuel 30-31; Micah 1-2; Romans 9:1-29

The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God…
because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14

William Wilberforce and William Pitt , one time Prime Minister of
Britain, were brilliant men. Wilberforce was concerned about Pitt ’s
soul, and persuaded him to go with him to hear Richard Cecil, a
great gospel preacher. Cecil preached a powerful message and Wilberforce
was enthusiastic. Leaving the building Pitt remarked, “I
have not the slightest idea what that man has been talking about.”
Don’t become discouraged by a lack of response as you witness
to your unsaved family and friends. Be patient, and hope in the
Lord—it is His Spirit who will open the eyes of their understanding.
—Robert E. Surgenor

With rapture swell the song again, of Jesus’ dying love;
’Tis peace on earth, good will to men, and praise to God above. —P. P. Bliss

DAILY READINGS: 1 Samuel 28-29; Isaiah 66; Romans 8:18-39

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who
hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in
Christ. Ephesians 1:3

Are you looking for a “second blessing”? In Christ, you have already
been blessed (note the past tense) with “every” spiritual blessing the
moment you were saved. The problem is that we do not spend time
reading His Word and meditating on all that we have in Christ. It
is all ours, but like the fruit in our garden, it needs to be picked,
eaten and enjoyed. Indeed, if you have Christ, you have everything.
—David Croudace

Spoken by a lonely woman; dying on a garret fl oor,
Having not one earthly comfort, “I have Christ! What want I more?”
—Author unknown

DAILY READINGS: 1 Samuel 26-27; Isaiah 65; Romans 8:1-17

How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? How shall I deliver thee, Israel?
How shall I make thee as Admah? How shall I set thee as Zeboim?
Mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled
together. Hosea 11:8

What turmoil there was in the heart of God. He viewed His loved
people with their feet fast in the fett ers of sin aft er generations of
decadence and departure from God. His holinesss was aggrieved
yet He could not give them up or abandon them. How thankful we
are that His heart yearns for us in the same fashion. In spite of our
failures, His heart is with us and it is His desire to deliver us. We can
only say, “Amazing love, how can it be?” —Les Rainey

And can it be that I should gain, an interest in the Saviour’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain—for me, who Him to death pursued?—C. W.

DAILY READINGS: 1 Sam. 25; Isa. 63:15 to 64:12; Rom. 7:7-25

I must work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is day: the
night cometh, when no man can work. John 9:4

Mankind’s labour was because of sin (Gen. 3:23). Yet God in His goodness
brought something positive out of it, in that our enjoyment of the
good of our labour is His gift , given to every man (Eccl. 3:13). God’s
spiritual gift of eternal life though, is given only to those who trust in
Him. He alone could do the labour needed to give us this gift . And
so He worked in the day to show us the Father, then He worked during
unnatural darkness to bear the awful penalty for our sin. Finally,
at the break of day, He demonstrated that His work was completed,
when He rose triumphant over death. —Tom Steere

In glory bright above, Thou art exalted, Lord;
And we, who know Thy love, unite with glad accord. —H. J. Vine

DAILY READINGS: 1 Sam. 23-24; Isa. 62 to 63:14; Rom. 6:15 to 7:6

Yet if they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they were
carried captives, and repent, and make supplication unto thee in
the land of them that carried them captives, saying, We have sinned,
and have done perversely, we have committ ed wickedness;
1 Kings 8:47

Conviction and repentance lead to forgiveness. Solomon reminded
Israel that should they sin against the Lord, that if they came to
an end of themselves and turned to Him, forgiveness would be extended.
Perhaps a reader today fi nds themselves captive in a backslidden
condition and far from the place of fellowship with God.
Repent and the Lord will restore you too. —W. H. Gustafson

If Thou dost mark our sins, who then shall stand?
But grace and mercy dwell at Thy right hand. —C. H. Purday

DAILY READINGS: 1 Samuel 21-22; Isaiah 61; Romans 6:1-14

Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and
understanding. Proverbs 23:23

Are you a truth seeker? Then study the Word of God. Jesus said concerning
the Bible, “Thy Word is truth” (Jn. 17:17). Buy the truth as it
is revealed to you. Pay whatever price to gain it. Make it your own
and obey it. Give it away freely. But do not sell it. Do not give it up.
Happiness comes from obeying the Bible. In these days of confusion
and compromise we must never sell the truth. —Donald Norbie

O teach me, Lord, that I may teach
The precious things Thou dost impart,
And wing my words that they may reach,
The hidden depths of many a heart. —Frances R. Havergal

DAILY READINGS: 1 Samuel 19:8 to 20:42; Isaiah 60; Romans 5:12-21

They rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the
LORD, and returned…and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and
the LORD remembered her. 1 Samuel 1:19
Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his
words fall to the ground. 1 Samuel 3:19

Elkanah and Hannah rose early in the morning to worship the Lord.
God honoured them with a son they named Samuel. Dear Christian
parents, if we hope to raise children to follow and serve the Lord,
we must set the standard high. May we as parents, grandparents,
or great-grandparents, show our dear ones, by example, that we are
enjoying God and wish them to do the same. —Arnot McIntee

Happy the home where prayer is heard, and praise is wont to rise;
Where parents love the sacred Word, and all its wisdom prize.—Henry Ware