Author: Gospel Folio Press

2 Chronicles 7:1-22; Ezekiel 32:1-32; John 11:55-12:19

Thus saith the Lord God; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen…yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come. Ezekiel 11:16

God had scattered His people far and wide. But in His mercy and grace He promised that He Himself would be a holy place to Whom they could flee! How precious is this? Are you alone, possibly far from home, isolated from family, friends, fellowship, unable to join the Lord’s people in worship? Well, here is a wonderful promise: the Lord Himself will be your sanctuary! The Lord who is all knowing, totally able, and ever present has promised to be your place of worship and fellowship! —Ray Jones

There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God,
A place where sin cannot molest, near to the heart of God.  —Cleland B. McAfee

2 Chronicles 6:12-42; Ezekiel 30:20-31:18; John 11:28-54

And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. John 9:1-3

A great comfort for a believer experiencing a health crisis is the confidence that God is using it for His glory. It may be by healing. God can and does heal, but sometimes He gets the most glory by supporting the believer through their trial, so that His own works might be manifest in them. Rest assured, child of God, there is a real purpose for the things you are going through. —Sid Halsband

Oh love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in Thee.
I give Thee back the life I owe, that in Thine ocean depths, its flow,
May richer, fuller be. —George Matheson

2 Chronicles 5:1-6:11; Ezekiel 29:1-30:19; John 11:1-27

Light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light. John 3:19

The striking contrast between darkness and light was exemplified when Jesus came into this dark world. Men hated Him because the light of His presence exposed their evil deeds. Paul reminds the Ephesians that they too were once in darkness, but now are light in the Lord. He then challenges them, and us, to “walk as children of light” (Eph. 5:8). Is this being clearly demonstrated in each of our lives? God help us to “show forth the praises of him who hath called
you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Pet. 2:9). —E. V.

The whole world was lost in the darkness of sin,
The light of the world is Jesus.  —Philip P. Bliss

2 Chronicles 3:1-4:22; Ezekiel 28:1-26; John 10:19-42

Without Me you can do nothing. John 15:5 NKJV

After we have been abiding in Christ for a long time, we may be tempted to feel stronger than we really are. If we feel this way, we are headed for certain failure. Of ourselves, we are weak branches, but in Christ, we have all the strength we need to bear fruit and glorify God. Our weakness is our strength. God will remind us of our weakness even if He has to bring us very low to do it. Even if we are bearing only a little spiritual fruit, this itself is evidence that we are abiding. The Lord then continues His work in us so that we will bear “much fruit”. —David A. Dunlap

I’ve never seen a fruit-bearing Christian,
that was not a student of the Bible.  —D. L. Moody

2 Chronicles 1:1-2:18; Ezekiel 27:1-36; John 10:1-18

Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. Luke 10:39

Mary appears on only three occasions in the New Testament— always at Jesus’ feet! She sat down to learn the Word at Jesus’ feet, while Martha was cumbered with much serving (Luke 10:39-42). When Lazarus died, she wept at Jesus’ feet and Jesus wept with her (John 11:32-35)! And then He raised Lazarus to life (John 11:39-44). Finally, when Jesus visited Lazarus, she was at His feet to anoint them with her very costly ointment to welcome and worship Him. Let us ever be ready to learn His Word, weep for others and worship at His feet! —K. C. Ung

Mary, led by heav’nly grace,
Chose the meek disciple’s place.
At the feet of Jesus, is the place for me,
There a humble learner, would I choose to be. —Philip P. Bliss

1 Chronicles 29:1-30; Ezekiel 26:1-21; John 9:18-41

If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed. John 8:36

The freedoms we enjoy as citizens are founded upon the sacrifice of those who fought and died for our nation. Today is set aside to remember them and we find ourselves grateful and humbled. Naturally, as we think of sacrifice and freedom, it turns our heart to the ultimate sacrifice, that of the Lord Jesus who gave His life to give us freedom from sin and death and a lost eternity. There never seems to be an end of earthly wars, but the battle for our soul’s freedom was won once and for all when our Saviour cried, “It is finished”. And now we are free indeed. —S.  McEachern

My chains are gone; I’ve been set free, my God, my Saviour has ransomed me,
And like a flood His mercy reigns, unending love, amazing grace. —C. Tomlin

1 Chronicles 28:1-21; Ezekiel 24:1-25:17; John 9:1-17

Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. John 12:3 NKJV

What is our house (heart) filled with? Does the perfume of worship and the essence of a relationship with God  emanate from us? Do thanksgiving and gratitude and praise season our conversations? Is the peace of God a  constant force within, that others take note of? Let’s make it our one ambition and heart’s desire to cultivate a life that emits the fragrance of Christ in all we do and say. Amen! —Deborah Manera

The only true Christian,
is a practicing Christian. —A. W. Tozer

1 Chronicles 26:1-27:34; Ezekiel 23:1-49; John 8:31-59

I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts. Psalm 119:94

“I am Thine” is a simple, but profound acknowledgment of divine ownership, and the first of three elements in this verse. It encompasses many glorious truths. There are seven reasons (at least) why believers can rest in the security of belonging to the Lord. We are His by right of: Creation (Psa. 139:13-18); Redemption (Isa. 43:1-4); Inheritance (Eph. 1:18); Discovery (Matt. 13:45-46); Labour (Isa. 53:11); Conquest (Heb. 2:14-15) and Entrustment (John 17:6).
Understanding this precious relationship will produce reliance by faith (save me) and impress upon the believing heart a sense of responsibility to seek His precepts. —Phil Coulson

I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice, and it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith, and be closer drawn to Thee.  —Fanny Crosby

1 Chronicles 24:1-25:31; Ezekiel 22:1-31; John 8:12-30

Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Psalm 67:3-4

What a wonderful God we have! As we read His Word, we will be stimulated to praise Him for His blessings to us. We may not always understand His doings, but we can always trust Him to do what is right and for our ultimate good. —G. Frear

God be praised in all the earth, as we sing His utmost worth.
May I daily praise His Name, and all His people do the same.
Then we all will gladly sing, to Him our great and Holy King;
God will all His people bless, as they in turn their sins confess.  —G. F.

1 Chronicles 22:1-23:32; Ezekiel 20:45-21:32; John 7:31-8:11

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. 1 Corinthians 6:20

Once captives in sin’s slave-market, Christians were emancipated through Christ’s redemptive sacrifice (Eph. 1:7). The incalculable value of that blood-price elicits obedience from every recipient of this divine grace. God’s incomparable gift moves us to separate from the world’s impurity and falsehood; instead saints embrace a holy life, mirroring the True Vine’s character (John 15:1-8). Being delivered from shame and death, we now desire to glorify our redeeming God. The Cross’s logic demands holiness. —Keith R. Keyser

A sacrifice to God in life or death are we;
Then keep us ever, blessed Lord, Thus set apart to Thee.
Bought with a price, we’re not our own,
We died, we live to God alone! —H. K. Burlingham