Author: Gospel Folio Press

DAILY READINGS: 2 Kings 3:1-27; Jeremiah 36:1-32; Hebrews 8:1-13

Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers. Proverbs 17:6

Becoming grandparents is a real joy and adds a new dimension to your life. However it is important that our children and grandchildren see in us examples to look up to. It has been one of the greatest privileges of my later years when grandchildren ask to come and see us to seek advice in their temporal—and even better—their spiritual lives. We must make sure we older ones are spiritual helps not hindrances. —Brian Russell

May the word of God dwell richly in my heart from hour to hour;
So that all may see I triumph only through His power. —Kate Wilkinson

DAILY READINGS: 2 Kings 2:1-25; Jeremiah 35:1-19; Hebrews 7:1-28

Mighty men of valour, famous men, and heads of the house of their fathers…mighty men of valour…men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do. 1 Chronicles 5:24; 12:30, 32

Men like this are needed today. Men of spiritual might, strong in the Lord. Men of spiritual valour, willing to stand for God’s truth. Men who will contend earnestly for the faith and not degrade it, reduce it or deny it. Men who understand the times we live in, who believe firmly in the soon-coming of the Lord and who have spiritual wisdom to know what to do. Not crowd followers or crowd pleasers, but faithful men of God. Where are these men today? —Carl Knott

Stand up, stand up for Jesus! Ye soldiers of the cross;
Lift high His royal banner, it must not suffer loss. —George Duffield Jr

DAILY READINGS: 2 Kings 1:1-18; Jeremiah 34:1-22; Hebrews 5:11-6:20

O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Psalm 95:1

Haydn, the great composer, was once asked why his church music was so cheerful. “When I think upon God,” he replied, “my heart is so full of joy the notes dance and leap from my pen.” David, when occupied with the Lord, had the same joyful and exciting experience. Let us think upon our beloved Lord today, and with Haydn and the Psalmist be joyful people of God. —Arnot P. McIntee

Lord Jesus, the crucified, how Thou art mine;
Though once a lost sinner, yet now I am Thine;
In conscious salvation I sing of His grace,
Who lifts now upon me the smile of His face. —F. Bottome

DAILY READINGS: 1 Kings 22:1-53; Jeremiah 33:1-36; Hebrews 4:14-5:10

And who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? Esther 4:14

A young woman who desired to serve as a missionary felt compelled instead to help raise four motherless children. No doubt she poured her heart into caring for those little ones—as all four became missionaries. Our desires may not materialize as we think and we may spend our life doing obscure things in unseen places. But if we take our passion for God and apply it to where He leads, the results will surprise us! A life that changed diapers and wiped runny noses received a fourfold return on her investment! May this become our experience. —Deborah Manera

Let God have your life;
He can do more with it than you can. —D. L. Moody

DAILY READINGS: 1 Kings 21:1-29; Jeremiah 32:26-44; Hebrews 4:1-13

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20
We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.Rom. 8:28

A thankful Christian is a happy Christian! Cultivating a thankful spirit is not always easy. Paul gave instruction on when and what to be thankful for. When? “Giving thanks always.” But he also said give thanks “for all things.” Now that can be challenging! It’s easy to be thankful for nice things but what about the difficult things? We can be thankful for “all things” when we remember that “all things” work together for our good. —Sid Halsband

O Thou whose bounty fills our cup, with every blessing meet!
We give Thee thanks for every drop, the bitter and the sweet.—J. Crewdson

DAILY READINGS: 1 Kings 20:1-43; Jeremiah 32:1-25; Hebrews 3:1-19

For he is not a man, as I am…Neither is there any [mediator] betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both. Job 9:32-33
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 2:5

Job clearly understood that there needed to be someone to mediate between him and God, but he didn’t know who that could be. Unlike Job, we not only know who that Mediator is, but we know He did all that was necessary to mediate the problem of our sins. We were God’s enemies, separated from Him, but that issue has been satisfied and God offers “peace with [Him] through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1). Have you asked to be right with God? —Ken Gross

God’s almighty arms are round me; peace, peace is mine.
Judgment scenes need not confound me; peace, peace is mine.—J. D. Smith

DAILY READINGS: 1 Kings 19:1-21; Jeremiah 31:1-40; Hebrews 2:1-18

Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment. John 7:24 (NKJV)

The Lord warned His disciples not to permit their feelings or a superficial examination of the facts to guide their decisions. Solomon warned: “He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him” (Prov. 18:13). “He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him” (Prov. 18:17). The first appearance of things is usually not the fullness of the matter and a
wise person does not grip a one-sided story. Deception is of the devil and God is truth. In the matter of judging others, let us be exceedingly careful and honour the Lord. —W. A. H.

As he of old deceived the world and into sin and death was hurled,
So now he subtly lies in wait to ruin school and Church and state. —Philipp Melanchthon

DAILY READINGS: 1 Kings 18:1-46; Jeremiah 30:1-24; Hebrews 1:1-14

It was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement. Acts 3:10
For the man was above forty years old. Acts 4:22

This man sat at that gate during most of our Lord’s public ministry while the Lord could have healed him. Why didn’t He? God’s timetable did not include it. But healing would eventually come to him and with it a wonderful testimony to the gospel. Our life, individually, is planned according to His sometimes inscrutable yet always perfect, divine will. Our part is to be ever watchful, praying for His guidance. He will do the right thing at the right time for us. —Vernon Markle

Lo, the night is waning fast, the breaking morn is near;
And Jesus comes, with voice of love, Thy drooping heart to cheer. —C. & F. Jouard

DAILY READINGS: 1 Kings 17:1-24; Jeremiah 29:1-32; Philemon 1:1-25

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true…whatsover things are of good report…think on these things. Philippians 4:8

A magazine had an article about a person so frustrated by limited success with his garden that he had considered giving it up and said he would “cultivate his mind” instead. Somebody quoted a little couplet to him, “Your mind is a garden, your thoughts are the seeds, The harvest can either be flowers or weeds.” Christians are exhorted to think on things which are honest and lovely so that such thoughts will take form as virtuous acts of kindness or as words fitly spoken that will be worthy of praise. —Brian Powlesland

Sow blessings, and blessings will ripen, sow hatred and hatred will grow;
Sow mercy, and reap sweet compassion, you’ll reap whatever you sow. —Ella Lauder

DAILY READINGS: 1 Kings 15:33-16:34; Jeremiah 27:1-28:17; Col. 4:2-18

It is finished. John 19:30

This sixth saying of Christ from the cross is actually one word in the Greek: tetelestai. It has been described as “an ocean in a drop of speech.” What did He finish? His revelation of God the Father was completed (John 1:18). The goal of His incarnation was reached (John 4:34). His sufferings were ended (1 Pet. 3:18). The Old Testament sacrifices were fulfilled (Heb. 10:11-12). The Father’s will was fulfilled (John 4:34). Satan was defeated (Gen. 3:15). Redemption was accomplished (Heb. 10, 14). —W. Ross Rainey

Lifted up was He to die,
“It is finished,” was His cry;
Now in heaven exalted high;
Hallelujah! What a Saviour! —Philip P. Bliss