Author: Gospel Folio Press

DAILY READINGS: 2 Samuel 6:1-23; Nahum 1:1-15; Romans 13:1-14

And when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart. 1 Kings 10:2

The word “commune” means to “converse intimately.” What an immense privilege we have to commune with the God of the universe! It is one we often sadly neglect. He desires an intimate relationship with us. He wants to be our confidante. He invites us to draw near to Him (Heb. 10:22). Don’t hesitate to cast all your cares on Him, because He does care for you (1 Pet. 5:7). When was the last time you communed with the Lord? —E. V.

How long has it been since you talked with the Lord,
And told Him your heart’s hidden secrets?
How long since you prayed? How long since you stayed,
On your knees, ‘til the light shone through? —Mosie Lister

DAILY READINGS: 2 Samuel 4:1-5:25; Micah 7:1-20; Romans 12:1-21

Behold, a woman…who was a sinner…brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Luke 7:37-38

What is the Lord seeking for? He is seeking for sinners (Luke 19:10) and He is seeking for worshipers (John 4:23). You cannot be a worshiper of God until you have come to Him as a sinner. This woman recognized her sin and it was reflected in her appreciation of the Saviour. Simon’s lack of appreciation showed that there remained a great spiritual problem in his heart. Who am I like? —Sid Halsband

What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. —Lowry

DAILY READINGS: 2 Samuel 3:1-39; Micah 6:1-16; Romans 11:13-36

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. John 14:12

What does Jesus mean? How is this possible? Verses 13 & 14 perhaps answer our questions. “Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (John 14:13). Keep in touch with Jesus. Keep your eyes open to the needs of those around you and the work of the Holy Spirit in others lives. Then pray as Jesus would pray. Let us work the works of Him that sent us. —D. Pickup

Lord, lay some soul upon my heart, and love that soul through me;
And may I humbly do my part, to win that soul for Thee. —Leon Tucker

DAILY READINGS: 2 Samuel 2:1-32; Micah 4:9-5:15; Romans 11:1-12

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6 

Righteousness is doing what is right, doing what God intended us to do. As a thirsty man in a desert craves for water to quench his parched lips, so the people of God should hunger and thirst for righteousness to quench their parched souls. The pursuit of righteousness is really a seeking after Christ as He is our Righteousness. The closer we draw to Him the more like Him we will be and the longings of our heart will then be truly satisfied. —Paul Young

Seek ye first the kingdom of God,
And His righteousness,
And all these things shall be added unto you,
Hallelu, Hallelujah. —Karen Lafferty

DAILY READINGS: 2 Samuel 1:1-27; Micah 3:1-4:8; Romans 9:30-10:21

Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to usward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. Psalm 40:5 

Verses 5-11 and verse 16 in this Psalm contain wonderful expressions for us to meditate on and give back to God in the Lord’s Supper. He came. He delighted to do the Father’s will. He preached righteousness.
He suffered in sacrifice for our sins and one day soon we will see Him and rejoice to praise and worship Him face to face. We love the Lord and thus when meeting to remember Him we should say continually:
“The Lord be magnified” (Ps. 35:27). —Carl Knott

Great the joy when Christians meet, Christian fellowship, how sweet.
When, our theme of praise the same, we exalt Jehovah’s name. —Author Unknown

DAILY READINGS: 1 Samuel 30:1-31:13; Micah 1:1-2:13; Romans 9:1-29

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. John 14:27

When the Armstrong-Aldrin Apollo flight entered space, it took as its motto, “We come in peace for all mankind.” Before leaving for planet earth, these men of space left a plaque bearing the words of their motto
near the moon’s Sea of Tranquility. Before leaving earth for glory, the Prince of Peace left not a plaque of empty words, but the full realization in the hearts of men that He had given them eternal peace. —Arnot P. McIntee

I may sing, with Christ beside me,
Tho’ a thousand ills betide me;
Safely He hath sworn to guide me:
Peace, peace is mine. —Joseph Denham Smith

DAILY READINGS: 1 Samuel 28:1-29:11; Isaiah 66:1-24; Romans 8:18-39

Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass. Psalm 106:20

Israel’s creation of the golden calf degraded the living God’s glory. By making it, the people lowered themselves to animal level and began committing unrestrained acts of bestial lust (a principle later described in Rom. 1:20-25). The Lord was “their glory.” Only in rightly appreciating Him could they live morally beautiful lives. His beauty is incomparably lovelier than anything that human hands can fashion. We are made to worship our Creator and any alteration of His attributes by man inevitably leads to a diminishing of our dignity and well-being—our glory is connected with His. —Keith Keyser

Thou art in heaven our all, our all on earth art Thou;
Upon Thy glorious name we call, Lord Jesus, bless us now! —H. Bonar

DAILY READINGS: 1 Samuel 26:1-27:12; Isaiah 65:1-25; Romans 8:1-17

And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. Matthew 17:8

Moses and Elijah, two of the greatest prophets of the Old Testament, had been on the mount of transfiguration with the Lord. Yet now these two men disappear from sight. The best of men are only men at their best. Who can be compared with the incomparable Lord? —John M.Clegg

Join all the glorious names,
Of wisdom, love and power;
That mortals ever knew,
That angels ever bore;
All are too mean to speak His worth,
Too mean to set our Saviour forth. —Isaac Watts

DAILY READINGS: 1 Samuel 25:1-44; Isaiah 63:15-64:12; Romans 7:7-25

As the deer panteth for the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. Psalm 42:1

Psalm 42 and 43 are plaintive cries from the depths of the heart. David was alone and longing for God during this time of spiritual drought. Count the “whys,” “whens,” and “wheres,” of the struggling psalmist. Psalm 42 was a great favourite of the early Christians who were hunted in the catacombs. Inscribed on those dark, damp walls are many deer, expressing that they too were in deep anguish, feeling forsaken, yet their hearts still beat with hope! Three times (42:5, 11; 43:5), David challenges his faith and cries “Hope in God.” Thank God we have a blessed hope. Perhaps today! —Jim Comte

O child of God, there is for thee a hope that shines amid the gloom,
A gladsome hope that you shall see thy Lord, for He will surely come. —T. D. W. Muir

DAILY READINGS: 1 Sam. 23:1-24:22; Isaiah 62:1-63:14; Romans 6:15-7:6

My times are in thy hand. Psalm 31:15
I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me. Psalm 23:4

How many times do we ask the question, “Does God care about me?” Or, “Where is God in the situation I am facing?” We know from His Word, that He is fully aware of our circumstances. Whether it is in our daily struggles or walking through the dark valley of death, He is with us. We are always, “near to the heart of God.” —Bob Cretney

There is a place of full release, near to the heart of God;
A place where all is joy and peace, near to the heart of God. —Cleland B. McAfee