Author: Gospel Folio Press

DAILY READINGS: 1 Samuel 14; Isaiah 52:13 to 53:12; Romans 1:1-17

Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me.  Genesis 42:36

Jacob’s life had been filled with burdens and loss—many of them the result of his own sinfulness. But now he had come to perhaps his lowest point. The cumulative effect of all he had endured finally cracked his resolve. Perhaps you understand his pain. He felt that he could not endure any more. God brought Jacob very low in order that He might reveal His divine superintendence over his life, and to restore him to his beloved Joseph. Are we willing to give up all, for the joy of being drawn closer to our Saviour? —M. Robins
 
One there is above all others, well deserves the name of Friend;
His love is beyond a brother’s, costly, free, and knows no end. —J. Newton

DAILY READINGS: 1 Samuel 13; Isaiah 52:1-12; 2 Cor. 12:14 to 13:14

They did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.      Luke 9:17

Of the thousands that were present that day, not one went away hungry. Christ more than met their need. May we learn this simple lesson, that whatever our need or circumstance, there is One in the glory who can not only meet it but exceed it. To Him be all glory and honour.  —John M. Clegg

While here alas! I know but half His love,
But half discern Him, and but half adore;
But when I meet Him in the realms above,
I hope to love Him more, praise Him more,
And feel and tell amid that host divine,
How fully I am His and He is mine. —J. Quarles

DAILY READINGS: 1 Samuel 11-12; Isaiah 51:9-23; 2 Cor. 12:1-13 

Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more.     Numbers 22:18

For all his faults and sinfulness, at the end of his life, Balaam at last recognized the truth of holding to God’s word. His words should be taped to every pulpit in North America, indeed, the world. The peer pressure to curse Israel was mounting, yet he refused to be swayed by men or money from what God had said. Too often our messages from God are encumbered with our extra thoughts, cultural or traditional biases or the world’s current fashion. By adding to the message, we take away from the truth.                        —Craig Funston

I hide Your Word within my heart , to keep me safe from sin;
For where Your truth is in control, no lie can enter in. —Claire Cloninger

DAILY READINGS: 1 Samuel 9:15 to 10:27; Isaiah 50 to 51:8; 2 Cor. 11 

When He had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on High.  Hebrews 1:3b

The meaning of the word “purge” is to cleanse of impurities. In an industrial environment, to accommodate maintenance activities, testing is done to determine if there are safe levels of toxins. Not all the impurities are removed, just enough to not be harmful. In the spiritual realm even one sin is harmful enough to put us in Hell. But Christ died to cleanse us from all unrighteousness! (1 John 1:9) Have your sins been purged? If not, they can be today!  —C. Tempest

Would you be free from the burden of sin?
There's power in the blood, power in the blood;
Would you over evil a victory win?
There's wonderful power in the blood. —Lewis E. Jones

DAILY READINGS: 1 Samuel 8 to 9:14; Isaiah 49; 2 Cor. 10

And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities. Acts 26:11

Here is the testimony of the apostle Paul as he stood before Agrippa. How it must have pained the apostle to tell such things. He did not relate them to glorify himself, but rather to glorify the Lord who had delivered such a wretch as he. Centuries later a man who had inflicted untold misery and death upon countless men and women in his slave ship, was gloriously converted, and it was he who wrote the words of the hymn which we so often relate to our own condition, “Amazing Grace.” —W. H. Burnett

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me,
I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see. —John Newton

DAILY READINGS: 1 Samuel 6-7; Isaiah 48; 2 Corinthians 9 

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.  Psalm 32:1

All have sinned. Sin separates us from God. Separation from God results in eternal destitution and judgment for the sinner. But transgression forgiven assures us of God’s satisfaction and our eternal life. Sins forgiven, or not forgiven; eternal life, or eternal death—those are the clear-cut issues that face you today. Blessed is the person who knows Christ as his Saviour; for that person’s transgression is forgiven and his sin is covered. —Doug Kazen

There is forgiveness, God doth say, thro’ the blood, thro’ the blood,
Both sin and guilt are put away, thro’ the blood, thro’ the blood. —John Burridge

DAILY READINGS: 1 Samuel 4-5; Isaiah 47; 2 Corinthians 8 

For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer. Psalm 109:4

It’s a painful experience, when in return for love and help, some believers not only do not reciprocate the kindness, but become your accusers. What is the answer? Tell it to the Lord, and treat them as before. We can defend ourselves and complain bitterly, but, at the end of the day the accusers will remember your complaints rather than feel shame for their actions.  —Brian Russell

When your heart was filled with anger,
Did you think to pray?
Did you plead for grace, my brother,
That you might forgive another,
Who had crossed your way? —Mary Ann Kidder

DAILY READINGS: 1 Samuel 3; Isaiah 46; 2 Corinthians 6:11 to 7:16 

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.  Romans 12:1-2

A receptive heart—touched by the mercies of God. A yielded body—presented as a living sacrifice. A separated life—not being conformed to the world. A transformed mind—knowing God’s good and perfect will. Such are the elements that compose our reasonable service. What of you? —Jim Paul

Oh I delight in His command, love to be led by His dear hand,
His divine will is sweet to me, hallowed by blood stained Calvary.—Anon.

DAILY READINGS: 1 Samuel 2; Isaiah 44:24 to 45:25; 2 Cor. 5:11 to 6:10 

This is love, that we walk after His commandments. This is the commandment, that, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.  2 John 6

John does not say that love is an overwhelming emotion–though in contemplation of Christ’s death for us, we can experience this.  John states that the expression of love is in walking according to God’s commandments. The wonderful thing about keeping God’s commandments is that in our obedience He reveals Himself to us giving us an even greater desire to follow Him. May we be faithful in all things to the Lord and show our love for Him.  —Baylor Crawford

Once earthly joy I craved, sought peace and rest;
Now Thee alone I seek, give Thee what is best.
This all my prayer shall be: more love, O Christ, to Thee. —E. Doane

DAILY READINGS: 1 Samuel 1; Isaiah 44:6-23; 2 Corinthians 4:7 to 5:10

Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.  Revelation 2:4

These words to the Church at Ephesus are sharp, but were inspired by a heart of infinite love. They are not the earthquake, nor the fire, nor the whirlwind, but the “still small voice” speaking the truth in love. His message is a mingling of rebuke and consolation; the severity and love of a father’s rod and a mother’s tears. The heart of this complaint is a pure, fiery gem set in fine gold. Before His words of censure, He recounts their good deeds and faithful service.  With such loving commendation, the censure following is received with thanksgiving. How do we admonish others? —Milton Haack

Love sent my Lord to the cross of shame,
Love found a way, O praise His holy Name! —Avis Christiansen