Author: Gospel Folio Press

Genesis 40:1-23; Psalm 18:1-29; Matthew 23:1-39

So will I choose their delusions, and bring their fears on them; because, when I called, no one answered, when I spoke they did not hear; but they did evil before My eyes, and chose that in which I do not delight. Isaiah 66:4 NKJV

How beneficial and God-glorifying life is when we base our choices on what delights God. God delighted in exercising steadfast love, justice, and righteousness (Jer. 9:24). The living Word, His beloved Son, whose delight was to do the Father’s will, provided many practical examples of these virtues for our learning. May our lives never veer from the path of the One who pleased Him in all things and said, follow Me! —David J. Reed

Change my heart, O God, make it ever true;
Change my heart, O God, may I be like you. —Eddie Espinosa

Genesis 39:1-23; Psalm 17:1-15; Matthew 22:15-46

His banner over me was love. Song of Solomon 2:4
Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain. Isaiah 13:2
We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners. Psalm 20:5

In the battle at Calvary, love was victorious! For truly, “Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it” (Song 8:7). We are now invited to lift up our personal banner of appreciation — our love for Him! This Lord’s Day morning, let us rejoice once more in the victory found in the finished work of the cross. Let us gather in His name and extoll the worthy One! —Pete Smith

As gathered to Thy precious name, Thy table we surround,
Thy death, Lord Jesus, to proclaim, O may our praise abound.  —D. Russell

Genesis 38:1-30; Psalms 15:1-16:11; Matthew 21:33-22:14

Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. John 4:14 NKJV

Christ’s promise here was given at a well to a sinful Samaritan woman. But He is still offering water to spiritually thirsty souls. His water is life-giving, for He said that it would “spring up into everlasting life”. He was not describing physical water which merely sustains life, but a water that gives life. His water is lifelasting (and beyond) for He promised that those who drink it “will never thirst” again. And His water is life-changing, for this woman’s testimony led many others to come to Christ also. If you are thirsty, come to Christ for a drink. – David Petterson

I came to Jesus, and I drank of that life-giving stream;
My thirst was quenched, my soul revived, and now I live in Him. —H. Bonar

Genesis 37:1-36; Psalms 11:1-14:7; Matthew 21:1-32

Fear ye not, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. Ex. 14:13

Israel faced a desperate situation, with the Red Sea before them, and the formidable armies of Egypt behind them. Contrary to human thinking, the instruction given by Moses was to “stand still” and wait on the Lord. So often when facing severe trials in our lives, we tend to devise our own solutions. May we learn to “stand still” and find peace from trusting in our God. —Willie H. Burnett

For they that wait upon the Lord
Shall renew their strength,
They shall mount up with wings,
They shall mount up with wings as eagles,
They shall run and not be weary;
They shall walk and not faint. —J. McGranahan

Genesis 36:1-43; Psalms 9:1-10:18; Matthew 20:17-34

That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work. Colossians 1:10

I was at a “celebration of life” and the speaker asked how our hyphen was doing. Gravestones usually say something like 1950 – 2025. What does the hyphen mean? That is the span of our entire life or our “hyphen years”. We should be using this time to bear fruit for our Lord and Saviour. Do we make choices each day to “walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing”? We never know when eternity will start for us. It could be sooner than we realize. Ask yourself each morning, how will I use my hyphen today for God’s glory? —Virginia Strout

May I do each day’s work for Jesus,
With eternity’s values in view. —Alfred B. Smith

Genesis 35:1-29; Psalms 7:1-8:9; Matthew 19:16-20:16

And the servant said to him, “Perhaps the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land” Genesis 24:5 NKJV

Bible characters were no different from us, in that they too, asked “what if” questions. When told to lead the Israelites, Moses asked God, “What if they don’t believe me?”. Abraham’s servant asked about Isaac’s future wife, “What if the young woman refuses to come with me?”. Joseph’s brothers asked, “What if Joseph bears a grudge against us?”. All of them wondered what would happen if circumstances went awry. Dear believer, remember God has a perfect way forward in spite of our doubts. —Sid Halsband

The debt that Christ for me has paid,
Would God another mind have made,
To claim again from me? —A. M. Toplady

Genesis 33:18-34:31; Psalms 4:1-6:10; Matthew 19:1-15

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Mark 1:1 NKJV

Mark’s opening verse focuses on the identity of the Lord Jesus. Many people, including the disciples, were often confused about Him. To build his case, Mark records three testimonies to the unique Sonship of the Lord Jesus. The Father testifies at His baptism, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (1:11). The Father corrects
the disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” (9:7). But the climax of the gospel is the centurion’s confession, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!” (15:39). Mark wants his readers to arrive at the same conclusion. —David Wilson

Only the Son of God can be the Christ, The King of glory. —R. C. Chapman

Genesis 32:1-33:17; Psalms 1:1-3:8; Matthew 18:15-35

A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” John 4:7 NKJV

A beloved brother in Christ, Arnot McIntee, taught me a valuable lesson about sharing the gospel. Arnot was to speak at our chapel one Sunday. It was a holiday weekend and many of the people from the chapel were away. I apologized to Arnot that our numbers were down. He said, “Bob, how many were at the well in Samaria when the Lord spoke to her?” I said, “One”. He said to me, “With the Lord’s help, I prepare a message and let the Lord bring the people.”
I realized numbers aren’t important. I should always be ready to share the gospel (1 Peter 3:15). A lesson well learned! – Bob Cretney

Lord, send me anywhere; Only go with me.  –D. Livingstone, Frank Garlock

Genesis 31:1-55; Job 42:1-17; Matthew 17:14-18:14

Jesus wept. John 11:35

On three occasions the Saviour wept, all occurring in the vicinity of the Mount of Olives. At the grave of Lazarus of Bethany, He wept because of the physical separation that death always brings. When He wept over the city of Jerusalem, He was aware of the spiritual separation that must befall those who refused His offer of mercy and salvation (Luke 19:41). Finally, in the Garden of Gethsemane in great anguish of soul, He anticipated not only His
physical death but also the separation that He would undergo when bearing the judgment that was due to our sins (Heb. 5:7). Thank God, He did not turn back. —Clark Logan

When we see Thee in the garden, in Thine agony of blood,
At Thy grace we are confounded, holy, spotless, Lamb of God! —J. G. Deck

Genesis 30:1-43; Job 40:1-41:34; Matthew 16:13-17:13

Jesus therefore … groaned in the spirit, and was troubled … Jesus wept … Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. John 11:33, 35, 38
In all their affliction he was afflicted, … in his love and in his pity he redeemed them. Isaiah 63:9

The Lord fully entered into the anguish of Mary and Martha when Lazarus was sick and died. He didn’t rebuke them for lacking faith when they blamed Him for not coming to their aid sooner, but gently reminded them: “I am the resurrection, and the life…” (v 25), and then proved what He said by raising Lazarus. What a gentle and compassionate Saviour and friend! —E. C. Bishop

Let me like Mary, thru the gloom, come with a gift to Thee,
Show to me now the empty tomb; lead me to Calvary. —J. E. Hussey