Author: Gospel Folio Press

DAILY READINGS: Judges 21:1-25; Isaiah 40:1-31; 1 Corinthians 16:1-24

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. Luke 9:23 

If we truly desire to follow after Christ it will involve a cost. Many are not prepared to pay it today. It will involve denying ourselves, and setting aside our own interests. It will involve taking up our crosses daily, going forth, and enduring the mockery and jeering of the world around us. It will involve following Him and living our lives by His example. “That [we] may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death” (Phil. 3:10). —Ken Gunnell

So, while here my cross I’m bearing
Meeting storms and billows wild,
Jesus for my soul is caring,
Naught can harm His Father’s child. —Mary E. Servoss

DAILY READINGS: Judges 20:1-48; Isaiah 38:1-39:8; 1 Corinthians 15:35-58

The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish. Proverbs 10:3

Our gracious, heavenly Father has made every provision for our souls to be fed. Psalm 23 is replete with descriptions of His rich provision. Green pastures, still waters, restoration and His presence with us, are all available in abundant supply from our Shepherd. There’s no need for our souls to feel famished. He promises that those who seek Him shall not lack any good thing (Ps. 34:10). —E. V.

The King of love my Shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack since I am His,
And He is mine forever. —Henry W. Baker

DAILY READINGS: Judges 19:1-30; Isaiah 37:8-38:1-22; 1 Corinthians 15:1-34

And I bowed down my head, and worshipped the Lord. Gen. 24:48

The posture of worship in the Scriptures often involves the worshipper prostrated on the ground (Gen. 24:26, 52; Matt. 2:11). While we do not have to act that way physically, the attitude of our heart, soul and spirit should be prostration—paying homage and reverence to God. He is Spirit and they that worship Him must do so in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). Our approach before Him should reflect this reverent attitude, taking care not to be careless or irreverent. Worship is not for our enjoyment but for His pleasure. —K. C. Ung

O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!
Bow down before Him, His glory proclaim;
With gold of obedience, and incense of lowliness,
Kneel and adore Him: the Lord is His name! —J. S. B. Monsell

DAILY READINGS: Judges 17:1-18:31; Isaiah 36:1-37:7; 1 Corinthians 14:1-40

For thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands. Psalm 92:4
And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish thou the works of our hands. Psalm 90:17

As we consider the wonders of our God’s creatorial handiwork we rejoice at His glory and power. However, those same hands were nailed to a tree, as He suffered for our sins. With what joy we triumph in the victory of Calvary! Today, those mighty, caring hands are able to strengthen our hands in His service. —Pete Smith

May His beauty rest upon me, as I seek the lost to win,
And may they forget the channel, seeing only Him. —Kate Wilkinson

DAILY READINGS: Judges 16:1-31; Isaiah 35:1-10; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

The goodness of God endureth continually. Psalm 52:1
I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever. Psalm 52:8

Amidst an evil, turbulent and uncertain world, we find certainty, stability and peace in our Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, He is our Rock and our Refuge. We are safe and secure in Him forever. And more than that, we experience His grace and goodness on a daily basis. Praise Him for His goodness and wonderful works to the children of men. —D. Pickup

How oft in the conflict, when pressed by the foe,
I have fled to my Refuge and breathed out my woe;
How often, when trials like sea-billows roll,
Have I hidden in Thee, O Thou Rock of my soul. —William Cushing

DAILY READINGS: Judges 14:1-15:20; Isaiah 34:1-17; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31

Preach the word. 2 Timothy 4:2

To a young preacher who insisted it was essential to preach relevantly to the times, the man of God gave this advice. “Young man don’t preach to the times. Go and preach to broken hearts and you will preach relevantly and to the eternities.” The Word of God, preached in the enabling power of the Spirit of God, will still accomplish that which He pleases and shall prosper in the thing whereto He sends it.  —Arnot P. McIntee

I love Thy Word, O God;
That tells me of Thy Son;
Of His redemption on the cross,
For needy sinners won. —J. Harold Gwynne

DAILY READINGS: Judges 13:1-25; Isaiah 33:1-24; 1 Corinthians 11:2-34

Let all those who seek You rejoice. Psalm 70:4 (NKJV)

There are blessings, and then there are blessings! David prays for a “blessing” upon three groups trying to: eliminate him (v. 2a), hurt him (v. 2b) and intimidate him (v. 3). Then he turns to his friends and prays
for a blessing upon them in the experiences of life—that they might find joy (v. 4). David’s prayer for his friends should be a prayer for our friends. One, that they may experience the things they seek for, and two, once obtained, that they might enjoy the things they seek for. The key? Seeking God and loving His salvation! —N. C. Funston

Who can cheer the heart like Jesus,
By His presence all divine?
True and tender, pure and precious;
O, how blest to call Him mine. —Thoro Harris

DAILY READINGS: Judges 11:29-12:15; Isaiah 32:1-20; 1 Cor. 10:14-11:1

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:6

Hebrews 11 has rightly been called, “God’s Hall of Fame.” The people listed here had triumphant faith, even when circumstances dictated otherwise. Their faith was never a matter of good luck or coincidences. They trusted amidst all of life’s challenges. Sometimes we may say, “This was a circumstance beyond my control!” But, in the life of the believer there is never “happenstance.” Every circumstance is ordained by God if we daily walk by faith. “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7). —Jim Comte

Faith, mighty faith, the promise claims, and looks to God alone;
Laughs at impossibilities and cries it shall be done. —Charles Wesley

DAILY READINGS: Judges 10:6:1-11:28; Isaiah 31:1-9; 1 Cor. 9:24-10:13

To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. Revelation 2:7

Salvation is relational. It is more than a creed or organization. Knowing the Son of God as one’s Saviour and Lord brings eternal life. “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3). Beginning in this world for those who receive Him, this incorruptible, glorious life continues eternally. He endured the cross, an accursed tree, so that we might feed on this blessed tree of life forever. —Keith Keyser

True tree of life! of Thee I eat and live;
Who eateth of Thy fruit shall never die;
’Tis Thine the everlasting health to give,
The youth and bloom of immortality. —Horatius Bonar

DAILY READINGS: Judges 9:1-10:5; Isaiah 30:1-33; 1 Corinthians 9:1-23

Greater love hath no man. John 15:13

What love is this? Outside Jerusalem around 2,000 years ago the Lord laid down His life, not only for friends but also for those who were His enemies. The love displayed by the Lord on that occasion cannot be measured or calculated. We simply praise and thank Him today for that love displayed to each and every one of us. —John M.Clegg

The love that Jesus had for me,
To suffer on the cruel tree,
That I a ransomed soul might be,
Is more than tongue can tell. —Jane E. Hall