Author: Gospel Folio Press

DAILY READINGS: Joshua 4 to 5:12; Isaiah 1; Luke 21:5-38

Therefore the princes said unto the king, We beseech thee, let this
man be put to death: for thus he weakeneth the hands of the men
of war that remain in this city, and the hands of all the people,
in speaking such words unto them: for this man seeketh not the
welfare of this people, but the hurt. Jeremiah 38:4

Besieged by Babylonian armies, the princes convinced Zedekiah
that Jeremiah’s preaching was discouraging the people and that he
deserved death. With the king’s consent, innocent Jeremiah was cast
into a pit where he sank in the mire. If you are proclaiming God’s
truth, expect opposition and persecution. As Paul says, it is a “token”
of a believer’s salvation (2 Thess. 1:5). —Warren Henderson

Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay. —James H. Sammis

DAILY READINGS: Joshua 3; Hosea 11:12 to 14:9; Luke 20:20 to 21:4

He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the
firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence.
Colossians 1:18

Though small, the word “all” is a mighty one. This verse is the climactic
statement of a number of “alls” that Paul challenged the Colossians
with. He prayed that they would have all wisdom and spiritual
understanding; walk worthy of the Lord to all pleasing; strengthened
with all might; unto all patience and longsuff ering. He continues and
says that all things were created by Him and for Him and by Him all
things consist. In Him, all fullness dwells. He reconciled all things to
Himself. Is He all and all to us? —Duncan Maxwell

All that I want is in Jesus. He satisfi es, joy He supplies;
Life would be worthless without Him;All things in Jesus I fi nd.—H. D. L.

DAILY READINGS: Joshua 2; Hosea 10 to 11:11; Luke 20:1-19

Then said the LORD unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz,
thou, and Shearjashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the
upper pool in the highway of the fuller’s fi eld. Isaiah 7:3

During this meeting, King Ahaz received the sign of the virgin birth
of the coming Messiah. The place where this occurred is interesting
as it gives a gentle picture of the work of the coming Immanuel
(7:14). Water fl owed from an upper pool down to a place of cleansing—
the fuller’s fi eld. So was our Saviour, the conduit who carried
this promised blessing from heaven, “Though your sins be as scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson,
they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18) —Tom Steere

Such was Thy grace, that for our sake, Thou didst from heaven come down;
With us of fl esh and blood partake, and make our guilt Thine own. —J. G. Deck

DAILY READINGS: Joshua 1; Hosea 8-9; Luke 19:29-48

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died
for the ungodly. Romans 5:6

What is the diff erence between a sinner and a believer? The sinner
follows the mind of the fl esh. He pursues the desires of his own sinful
heart and is in a state of spiritual death. However, the believer is
one who is governed by the mind of the Holy Spirit, resulting in life
and peace. He has spiritual life and is interested in spiritual things.
He is justifi ed, thus he has peace with God. Are you a sinner? You
can become a believer today. —Robert E. Surgenor

Jesus came Himself and sought me;
Sold to death, He found and bought me;
Then my blessed freedom taught me
Peace, peace, is mine. —J. Denham Smith

DAILY READINGS: Deut. 34; Hos. 6:4 to 7:16; Luke 19:1-28

Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake
in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were
there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD
will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the
LORD said. Josh. 14:12

As he said these words to Joshua, Caleb was eighty-fi ve years old. He
could say that he had wholly followed the Lord throughout his life.
Now in old age he was ready for another batt le. Following the Lord
in faith and obedience all of those years left him spiritually vital in old
age. What a man! He is an example for us today. —Donald Norbie

Make us Thy mountaineers; we would not linger on the lower slope.
Fill us afresh with hope, O God of hope,
That undefeated we may climb the hill,
As seeing Him who is invisible. Let us die climbing. —Amy Carmichael

DAILY READINGS: Deut. 33; Hos. 4 to 6:3; Luke 18:15-43

There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had
spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass. Joshua 21:45
Heaven and earth shall pass away: but My words shall not pass
away. Luke 21:33

As the details of the book of Joshua draw to a close with the conquering
of the land basically complete, Israel is here reminded of
the faithfulness of God as stated in chapter one, “I will be with thee;
I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee (vs. 5). Dear saint, the Saviour is
the same today as He was yesterday. He never fails; trust Him; rest
on Him. He abideth faithful (2 Tim. 2:13). —W. H. Gustafson

God has been faithful, he will be again.His loving compassion, it knows no end.
All I have need of his hand will provide. He’s always been faithful to me
—S. Groves

DAILY READINGS: Deut. 32:15-52; Hos. 2 to 3 ; Luke 17:20 to 18:14

Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confi rm the feeble knees. Say
to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your
God will come…he will come and save you. Isaiah 35:3, 4

Where we live there are some macrocarpa trees. Some years ago,
one of these trees split in half. Half crashed to the ground and soon
died. The other half fell against another tree and continues to grow
to this day, supported by that tree. There are many struggling, hurting
Christians who would be greatly supported by a word of encouragement
from us. Pray that the Lord will open our eyes to the
needs of individuals who cross our path today and that He will use
us to strengthen the hands that are weak. —J. Fleming

Give me, O Lord, a heart of grace, a voice of joy, a shining face,
That I may show, where’er I turn, Thy love within my soul does burn.—J. M.

DAILY READINGS: Deut. 31:14 to 32:14; Hos. 1; Luke 17:1-19

Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble;
thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.
Psalm 32:7

We have been delivered and so the Christian’s life should be full of
songs—songs of deliverance. Heaven will be fi lled with singing (Rev.
5:9). Christianity was heralded into the world on the wings of the
angel’s praise (Lk. 2:13), and because of Calvary, multiplied millions
have been enabled to sing redemption’s song who otherwise would
have remained in the misery of their sins. The world sings many
songs, but only a believer in Christ can sing a true song of deliverance.
If you have no Saviour; you have no song. —W. Ross Rainey

I have a song that Jesus gave me, it was sent from heaven above;
There never was a sweeter melody, ‘tis a melody of love. —E. M. Roth

DAILY READINGS: Deut. 30 to 31:13; Amos 9; Luke 16

Why is thy heart grieved? Am I not bett er to thee than ten sons?
And she was in bitt erness of soul and prayed to the LORD.
1 Samuel 1:8, 10

Elkanah, Hannah’s husband, meant well with his comments, but did
not understand. We do not read that Hannah snapped back at him,
but rather prayed and wept to the Lord. It is very easy for others not
to appreciate our particular predicament. But our Lord always does.
Take it to Him. Not only does He understand but He is the only One
who can bring peace. —Brian Russell

Thy love O Saviour dries our tears;
Expels our griefs, and calms our fears;
Sheds light and gladness o’er the heart,
And bids each anxious thought depart.—Anon.

DAILY READINGS: Deut. 29; Amos 7-8; Luke 15:11-32

He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the
world knew Him not. John 1:10

Dr. A. Gaebeline says this about an old Latin inscription which
means, “the God-man”. “The inscription presents the eternal Word,
as though speaking of Himself, the Word made fl esh, and declares:
‘I am what I was—God. I was not what I am—man. I am now called
both, God and Man.’” What a wonderful thing Christ’s coming is! It
brought a glory within range of human perception that had never
been seen before. He is the brightness, or eff ulgence, the out-shining
of God’s character, the glory of the One and Only. Jesus is God! Oh I
learn to worship! —Les Rainey

Didst Thou not in person twine, the natures human and divine,
That God and man might be, henceforth one, inseparably? —C. Wesley