Author: Gospel Folio Press

1 Chronicles 21:1-30; Ezekiel 20:1-44; John 7:12-30

And the Lord was with Joseph. Genesis 39:2

It wasn’t Joseph’s fault that he was sold as a slave, wrongly accused and imprisoned. He had lived righteously before God and man. Yet the actions of others, including his own brothers, caused him great sorrow and pain. We too may have good repaid with evil from those closest to us. But God reminds us He is with us through our pain. His love and faithfulness will never leave us. God used men’s evil intent to bring redemption, restoration and salvation to a
family and nation. He can do the same for us. —Deborah Manera

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide;
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, Oh, abide with me. —Henry Lyte

1 Chronicles 19:1-19; Ezekiel 18:1-19:14; John 6:41-7:11

When we were still without strength… Romans 5:6 NKJV
[When] we were still sinners… Romans 5:8 NKJV
When we were enemies… Romans 5:10 NKJV

These three statements remind us of our lost estate when our Saviour laid down His life for us. We were without strength, helpless in and of ourselves and He became our Helper. We were still sinners, with sin-sick souls and He became our Healer to make us whole. We were enemies, and He became our Friend to reconcile us through His death on the cross. Yes, we remember our shame and guilt. Better yet, we remember our Saviour who gave Himself
for us. —Rex Trogdon

Guilty, vile and helpless we; spotless Lamb of God was He;
Full atonement! Can it be? Hallelujah! What a Saviour!  —Philip P. Bliss

1 Chronicles 17:1-18:17; Ezekiel 17:1-24; John 6:22-40

They came as grasshoppers (locusts) for multitude… Judges 6:5

The Midianite army invaded and subdued Israel for seven years. The army was like a plague of locust invading the settlements of God’s people and seemed utterly invincible. They were a mounted force attacking on camels and they cleared the land like locusts, taking everything including crops and animals, leaving Israel impoverished, fearful and helpless. Eventually just 300 men led by Gideon defeated this huge force. God brought greatness out of smallness
and chose insignificant Gideon to be a victorious warrior. Today devastating enemies like secularism and atheism are overrunning society but God is always ultimately victorious. —Paul Young

An army of ordinary people, a kingdom where love is the key,
A city, a light to the nations, heirs to the promise are we.  —Dave Bilborough

1 Chronicles 16:1-43; Ezekiel 16:35-63; John 6:1-21

I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. Psalm 34:1

It is easy to be thankful when things are going our way and running smoothly. However when things are not going as well, we may find it more difficult to give thanks. David wrote some of his sweetest psalms when going through dark trials and tribulations. He looked to God and gave thanks in every situation. May we learn this lesson and praise to His glory be continually in our mouths. —John M. Clegg

Praise Him! Praise Him! Never ceasing,
Ye who prove God’s boundless grace;
Have we asked and He has answered?
Thankful hearts to heaven raise,
He is worthy, to receive His children’s praise. —George F. Trench

1 Chronicles 15:1-29; Ezekiel 16:1-34; John 5:24-47

Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord. Exodus 14:13
Their strength is to sit still. Isaiah 30:7
Be still, and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

Have you ever been told, “Take time to smell the roses”? We anxiously rush from one thing to another and are never at rest. We are constantly distracted by our cell phones, iPads, computers, and TV, things which, sadly, often control us! One old preacher said, “Jesus said, come apart and rest awhile, because if you don’t come apart, you’ll soon find you’ve come apart!”. Set aside time daily to stand still, sit still and be still, to enjoy sweet commune with your Lord and precious truths from His Word. Put away the distractions and enjoy the sweetness of His presence! —Jim Comte

Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret with Jesus alone. —William D. Longstaff

1 Chronicles 13:1-14:17; Ezekiel 14:1-15:8; John 5:1-23

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Prov. 1:7

Faith in God is a fundamental principle for effective living, for understanding the times and having a right attitude toward God, people and life. It enables one to live in an honourable and wise way. Others then should be able to discern our values, standards and priorities. Our conduct, speech, reverence for God and respect for others, reveal what we have really learned. —Gaius C. Goff

Lord, give me faith!—to live from day to day,
With tranquil heart to do my simple part,
And, with my hand in Thine, just go Thy way.
Lord, give me faith!—to trust, if not to know;
With quiet mind in all things, Thee to find,
And, child-like, go where Thou would have me go. —John Oxenham

1 Chronicles 12:1-40; Ezekiel 13:1-23; John 4:31-54

The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory. Psalm 64:10

David had many enemies over the years. At times he could not be sure who to trust. No wonder he depended on the Lord so much. He is the only One who is ever trustworthy! And David knew that one day God would give his enemies righteous judgment. David’s task was to continue to live righteously before the Lord himself. God will take care of the rest. —G. Frear

O to be like Thee! blessed Redeemer;
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.  —Thomas Chisholm

1 Chronicles 10:1-11:47; Ezekiel 12:1-28; John 4:1-30

Remember me, O my God, for good. Nehemiah 13:31

Nehemiah closes his book with this very brief prayer. Such prayers permeate the book as a whole and teach us that he was a man who was truly in touch with God. The fact that his story is recorded on the pages of Scripture shows that this prayer was answered positively. God remembered him for good and so do we! If we should be called home before the rapture how will we be remembered? Will we, like Nehemiah, be remembered for our communion with and devotion to the Lord? —Philip A. Kaye

Remember me,
O my God, for good,
May I have lived
Just as I should. —Philip Kaye

1 Chronicles 8:1-9:44; Ezekiel 11:1-25; John 3:22-36

He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied. Isaiah 53:11

Helen Spurrell, in her translation of the Old Testament, renders this statement: “He shall be satisfied in the contemplation of the travail of His soul.” “His soul”, all that He is in Himself—was the penalty exacted to satisfy divine justice (Isa. 53:10) and, as He “poured out his soul unto death” (Isa. 53:12), who can fathom how awful was
the pain endured? Wonderfully, as He contemplates “the travail of his soul”; you and I with all the redeemed, are the prize enjoyed. We are thankful today for such a marvelous salvation. —Phil Coulson

Praise the Savior, ye who know Him,
Who can tell how much we owe Him? —T. Kelly

1 Chronicles 7:1-40; Ezekiel 10:1-22; John 2:23-3:21

Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business? Luke 2:49 NKJV
Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit. Luke 23:46 NKJV

Our Lord lived His life between these two statements. They are His first and last recorded words. They centre on the Father’s will. To do the Father’s will was why He came down from heaven (John 6:38), how He lived on earth—it was His daily food (John 4:34a), and what He always did in life—those things that pleased the Father (John 8:29). His goal in life was to finish His work (John 4:34b), and when He did, He used His last breath to commend His spirit into the Father’s hands. —Rex Trogdon

Without a hope, this world was sunk in sin and shame until,
The Saviour came to do the Father’s will. —Helen Griggs