Author: Gospel Folio Press

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

There was a man … and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil. Job 1:1 NKJV

We need fathers like Job! As to others, he was blameless in his character and upright in all his dealings. As to God, he stood in awe and shunned evil. He was well respected in his community, honoured in his home, but above all he was a worshipper of God, even after he suffered tremendous loss (vv 20–22). Are we men who are honoured by our families, respected by our fellow workers, and true worshippers of God? —Jim Comte

I am a man appointed by my Saviour,
to show His love in all I do and say.
His Holy Spirit is my source of power,
to live and point to Christ the way. —Jack W. Hayford

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

Who is my neighbour? Luke 10:29

Justifying himself, a lawyer posed this question to the Lord. In Christ’s illustrative response, a man made a downward journey, away from God’s presence, toward the cursed city (Josh. 6:26) of Jericho. An act of violence left him near death. Callously a priest and a Levite passed by. Then came a Samaritan, rejected by the Jews, (John 4:9; 8:48) and radiated love for the dying stranger. The rejected one “had compassion”, (Luke 10:33) treated his wounds,
lifted him to sit in his place, fully paid for his care, and promised to return to complete the recovery. Don’t you love this “Samaritan” and long for His return? —David W. Oliver

He saw me ruined by the fall,
Yet loved me, not withstanding all. —Samuel Medley

Deuteronomy 34:1-12; Hosea 6:4-7:16; Luke 19:1-28

But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; My steps had nearly slipped. Psalm 73:2 NKJV

Asaph was confident of the goodness of the Lord to those who are pure in heart. But the prosperity of the wicked caused his faith to waver. He was tempted to tell others there is no point in living a godly life, but then he entered the sanctuary of God (v 17) and his theological stability was restored. Brothers and sisters, amid life’s perplexities and storms, head for the heavenly sanctuary and remind yourself of the character and promises of God. You will
discover for yourself that “God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (v 26). —David Wilson

How often when trials like sea billows roll,
Have I hidden in Thee, O Thou Rock of my soul. —W. O. Cushing

Deuteronomy 33:1-29; Hosea 4:1-6:3; Luke 18:15-43

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 1 John 2:1

Here is God’s perfect standard for His people and His gracious provision in the event of failure. So what should sinning saints do? First confess, acknowledging the specific thing you have done against the Lord. Then appeal to our Advocate. The Lord sympathizes with our weaknesses because He was “in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15). Then trust His promise, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). —Sid Halsband

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive, wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe, O Lamb of God, I come, I come! —C. Elliott

Deuteronomy 32:15-52; Hosea 2:1-3:5 ; Luke 17:20-18:14

And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him. Mark 2:14

This was Matthew’s (Levi) call, and he immediately followed his Lord. Subsequently we see his hospitality. “Jesus sat at meat in his house” (v 15). We then see his quiet humility. Luke writes that Matthew left all, and followed Him and made Him a great feast in his own house (Luke 5:27-29). But Matthew makes no reference to the great feast. The humility of Matthew is seen in his silence about his own service. He emulated the One he followed. Do we have a
need to advertise when we do acts of service? —Lloyd Cain

Take my love; my Lord, I pour at Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for Thee. —F. R. Havergal

Deuteronomy 31:14-32:14; Hosea 1:1-11; Luke 17:1-19

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son … Hebrews 1:1-2

Sometimes we may ask others to repeat themselves or may even write to an author for clarification. Similarly, may we humble ourselves before Scripture, remembering that God breathed these words to communicate His Son to us. Let us ask the Father each day for the Spirit to open up our understanding of His Word so that we may grow in our knowledge of His Son. —George T. Ferrier

O could I know and love Him more,
And all His wondrous grace explore,
Ne’er would I covet man’s esteem,
But part with all, and follow Him. —Richard Burnham

Deuteronomy 30:1-31:13; Amos 9:1-15; Luke 16:1-31

Death and life are in the power of the tongue. Proverbs 18:21
The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. James 3:6

Inflammatory speech is common today, as uncontrolled tongues both cause and spread wildfires. As our verse says, we can effectively kill with our tongues by speaking evil of others. Thankfully, the opposite is also true. With a tongue of blessing, we can praise God, share the Gospel, lift others up in prayer, and encourage. With so much fire in our world, let us use our tongues to put some of it out rather than adding more fuel. —David Petterson

Loving words will cost but little,
Journeying up the hill of life,
But they make the weak and weary,
Stronger, braver for the strife. —Author Unknown

Deuteronomy 29:1-29; Amos 7:1-8:14; Luke 15:11-32

The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:14

God the Son took on human form and looked like other men. Isaiah said, “When we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him” (Isa. 53:2). But the disciples beheld His glory, that of the only Son of the Father, “full of grace and truth”. How could this possibly be? Because “in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily” (Col. 2:9). They saw the very life of God in a human form. Now, we have the very life of the Lord Jesus indwelling us and as
we walk in the Spirit, His life will be seen through us! —Ray Jones

O for a thousand tongues to sing, my great Redeemer’s praise,
The glories of my God and King, the triumphs of His grace. —C. Wesley

Deuteronomy 28:38-68; Amos 5:1-6:14; Luke 14:25-15:10

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. Hebrews 9:27

The 1960s saw the rise of a cult named “I am”, which flourished in the Chicago area. The woman who founded the movement said that all who followed her teaching would not experience death. A good number of people believed her. Today her religious organisation has ceased, because in February 1971 she died. She attempted to violate the edict of Scripture that as humans we are mortal and have an appointment with death to be followed by judgment. She did not appreciate that Christ alone gives us hope beyond the grave! —Paul Young

We give eternal praise, to God the Father’s love,
For all our blessings here, and better hopes above. —Isaac Watts

Deuteronomy 28:1-37; Amos 3:1-4:13; Luke 14:1-24

He put forth his hand, and touched him … Luke 5:13

A famous British children’s author and poet became ill with Covid–19, spending 48 days in intensive care. During his recovery, he watched many different people provide medical care and in appreciation wrote a poem to praise their work called “These Are The Hands”. The Lord frequently reached out to bless people, to comfort and heal, like He did to this leper and also to give reassurance to people like Thomas who was invited to “reach hither thy hand … and be not faithless, but believing” (John 20:27). If we ask for help, He will reach out to us. —Brian Powlesland

He touched me, Oh, He touched me: and oh the joy that floods my soul!
Something happened and now I know, He touched me and made me whole.