Author: Gospel Folio Press

DAILY READINGS: Joshua 7:1-26; Isaiah 3:1-4:6; Luke 22:31-53

But Jesus said, Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. John 12:7 (NKJV)

Mary anointed the Lord’s feet with a costly ointment. Some objected to the waste. Yet, the Lord commended her selfless act of understanding. With the Sabbath approaching she knew there would be no opportunity to prepare His body for burial later. Lazarus and the disciples sat with the Lord and Martha served, but Mary worshipped. All had the same revelation and the same Saviour, but only Mary showed her appreciation. She teaches us that fellowship, service, and knowing God’s Word are not the same as worship fostered in self-abasing love. —W. A. H.

I love Thee, I love Thee Lord, as Thou dost know;
But how much I love Thee, my actions will show. —Author Unknown

DAILY READINGS: Joshua 5:13-6:27; Isaiah 2:1-22; Luke 22:1-30

I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you. Jude 2:1

Albania was once ruled by a notorious dictator. His name, Enver, was set in whitewashed letters, 100 meters high, into a mountainside near Albania’s oldest town. After his death, a disgruntled farmer, angered at a catalogue of broken promises, changed the first two letters around to change the word from “Enver” to “Never”—a message that bad times must never return. How thankful we should be that God’s promises can never be broken. —Brian Powlesland

His oath, His covenant, and blood, support me in the ‘whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay. —Edward Mote

DAILY READINGS: Joshua 4:1-5:12; Isaiah 1:1-31; Luke 21:5-38

And the Lord said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. Exodus 4:2

Moses had been commissioned by God for a daunting task, and immediately began to make excuses. God silenced Moses by asking him: “What is that in your hand?” Moses saw an ordinary shepherd’s staff, but, empowered by God it accomplished mighty acts as the “rod of God”. What ordinary things are you overlooking in your life? In God’s hands, the ordinary has the potential to do the extraordinary! —E. V.

Give of your best to the Master,
Give Him first place in your heart;
Give Him first place in your service,
Consecrate every part. —Howard B. Grose

DAILY READINGS: Joshua 3:1-17; Hosea 11:12-14:9; Luke 20:20-21:4

Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts; Which devour widows’ houses, and for a shew make long prayers. Luke 20:46-47 

The religious leaders wore long robes, offered long prayers, sounded loud trumpets, sat in high seats and demanded the chief rooms. They did all this because they loved to be seen. Yet, what people saw was not what they really were. They were hypocrites. It was all for a show. The Lord Jesus warned, beware. Beware indeed, for there’s a little Pharisee in all of us. —Rex Trogdon

May the mind of Christ, my Saviour, live in me from day to day,
By His love and pow’r controlling all I do and say. —Kate B. Wilkinson

DAILY READINGS: Joshua 2:1-24; Hosea 10:1-11:11; Luke 20:1-19

And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. Genesis 1:31
And all flesh died. Genesis 7:21
 
God created all things and declared it good. For Him to destroy that which had given Him pleasure shows us His hatred of sin. Then He provided a Saviour, the Lamb of God. The glorious end of the story is this: “And every creature…heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever” (Rev. 5:13). —M. Robins

And when I think that God, His Son not sparing,
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in:
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin. —Stuart K. Hine

DAILY READINGS: Joshua 1:1-18; Hosea 8:1-9:17; Luke 19:29-48

And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their [hypocrisy]. Galatians 2:13

One of the most devastating sins of a local assembly is sanctioned hypocrisy. The word means “to act the part in a play”. The actor pretends to be someone he is not. In the Christian life we are sometimes tempted or perhaps even coerced to “put on a show”. To confront it requires strong honest leadership. Paul was brave enough to challenge the status quo, even his senior brethren and correct it. May the Lord give us the courage and strength to be honest, sincere followers of Him. —Sid Halsband

May the mind of Christ my Saviour, live in me from day to day,
By His love and power controlling, all I do and say. —Kate B. Wilkinson

DAILY READINGS: Deut. 34:1-12; Hosea 6:4-7:16; Luke 19:1-28

Thou shalt not take the [mother] with the young. Deut. 22:6

God prohibited taking the brooding mother who stayed with her young, despite the danger of encroaching prey. Hers was self-sacrificing love. God rewarded the bird’s devotedness and she was spared. Yet we read, God “spared not his own Son” (Rom. 8:32) that through Him, He might spare every believer from everlasting punishment. He hasn’t spared us from sickness, loss, tragedy and pain. His purpose and will is that through such burdens, we may faintly reflect the self-sacrificing love of our great God and Saviour. Remember that absolutely nothing can happen to the believer but what is the perfect will of God. —Vernon Markle

If here on earth we often tread the path of sorrow,
We know that boundless joy awaits in God’s tomorrow. —Alfredo Colom

DAILY READINGS: Deut. 33:1-29; Hosea 4:1-6:3; Luke 18:15-43

For I know him (Abraham), that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord. Genesis 18:19

Three masons assessed their work as follows: one said he was laying bricks; the second said he was building a wall, while the third demonstrated genuine esteem for his work and said, “I am raising a great cathedral!” If you were asked as to your role as a father, what would you answer? “I’m the provider for my family,” or “I’m there when needed,” or would you say, “I’m seeking to raise a family for God?” Only as you lead by godly example and teach your children the way of the Lord will you raise “temples” for God. —Jim Comte

I am a man appointed by my Saviour,
To show His love in all I do and say. —Jack Hayford

DAILY READINGS: Deut. 32:15-52; Hosea 2:1-3:5 ; Luke 17:20-18:14

And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night. Revelation 14:11

Those who reject God and His offer of salvation will have no rest forever and ever—a most sobering thought. But this is the patience of the saints—that the grace of God gives them rest from working for their salvation, but they have an eternal rest and reward prepared for them. Until then let us labour to enter into that rest, and let us not be weary in well doing. —D. Pickup

Work, for the night is coming, work thro’ the sunny noon;
Fill brightest hours with labour, rest comes sure and soon.
Give every flying minute something to keep in store;
Work, for the night is coming, when man works no more. —Annie Coghill

DAILY READINGS: Deut. 31:14-32:14; Hosea 1:1-11; Luke 17:1-19

Unite my heart to fear thy name. Psalm 86:11

We speak of “undivided attention” in public settings. The audience cannot be listening to both the speaker and the person sitting next to them at the same time. The Scriptures tell us we cannot serve God and
mammon (Matt. 6:24d). Furthermore, we are told that a “double minded man is unstable in all his ways” (Jas. 1:8). And so it is here, the Psalmist links being taught by the Lord and walking in His truth with having a divided heart. Can we be effective for God with a divided heart? —N. C. Funston

Jesus, I my cross have taken, all to leave and follow Thee;
Destitute, despised, forsaken, Thou from hence my all shalt be.
Perish every fond ambition, all I’ve sought, and hoped and known;
Yet how rich is my condition. God and heav’n are still my own. —H. Lyte