Author: Gospel Folio Press

2 Samuel 4:1-5:25; Micah 7:1-20; Romans 12:1-21

And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? 1 Kings 19:9

Here we have a surprising scene—Elijah, depressed, discouraged, and asking God to take him home. But God came to the cave and commissioned him to anoint two kings, and gave him a companion in service, Elisha, who would eventually succeed him. God showed Elijah that irrespective of how he felt about himself, He still had perfect confidence in him. There can be times in the life of God’s greatest servants when they feel like Elijah, but God knows
where they are, can draw near, minister to them, and restore them to service. —W. H. Burnett

When I am sad at heart, teach me Thy way,
When earthly joys depart, teach me Thy way. —B. Mansell Ramsey

2 Samuel 3:1-39; Micah 6:1-16; Romans 11:13-36

Even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives. 1 Peter 3:1,  NKJV

Won without a word! More important than right words for sharing Christ, is the right attitude and behaviour in showing Christ. The beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit is not gender specific. Read 1 Peter 3 in its entirety. The standard set of graces for every follower of Christ includes creating harmony, showing compassion and love, having a tender heart and a humble spirit (v. 8). And when someone does ask us to speak-up, our response is to be gentle and respectful (v. 15). Peter calls it our “good conduct (behaviour) in Christ” (v. 16, NKJV). —P. Ramsay

May His beauty rest upon me, as I seek the lost to win,
And may they forget the channel, seeing only Him.  —Kate Wilkinson

2 Samuel 2:1-32; Micah 4:9-5:15; Romans 11:1-12

Thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow. Philippians 2:10

We come together today to behold the One whose “name…is above every name” (Phil. 2:9). Just to hear that name should prompt us to bow and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. He was in the beginning with God and all things were made by Him (John 1:1-3) but our central passion for that name rests on the immutable truth that He has saved us from our sins. —Ken Gross

O Lord, how much Thy name unfolds to every opened ear!
The pardoned sinner’s memory holds none other half so dear.  —Mary Bowley Peters

2 Samuel 1:1-27; Micah 3:1-4:8; Romans 9:30-10:21

Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you. 1 Samuel 12:23

To pray without ceasing is not going through life with our eyes closed and head bowed. Some suggest that it is an attitude of constant prayer, which is a good practice to follow. The prophet Samuel felt so strongly about persisting in prayer that he said it would be a sin against the Lord to cease praying. Pray about everything. Pray according to God’s will. And, whatever you do, don’t stop praying! Our repetition in prayer is not vain repetition. —Rex Trogdon

Don’t stop praying! The Lord is nigh; don’t stop praying!
He’ll hear your cry, God has promised, and He is true,
Don’t stop praying! He’ll answer you. —Edna R. Worrell

1 Samuel 30:1-31:13; Micah 1:1-2:13; Romans 9:1-29

When the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer…Othniel…Caleb’s younger brother. Judges 3:9

Othniel, meaning “Lion of God”, was the first judge of Israel! And in his youth, he surely faced “lions”. What were his credentials? He had a proven character (Judg. 1:12-13). Also, the Spirit of God was upon him (v. 10), and gave him victory over Israel’s enemy. Today, as never before, God is looking for godly young men and women to live and stand for Him. The challenges will be great, but we have a great God. “Study (be diligent, labour earnestly) to shew thyself approved unto God…rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). Give yourself unreservedly to the Lord (Rom. 12:1-2). —Jim Comte

Dare to be a Daniel, dare to stand alone!
Dare to have a purpose firm! Dare to make it known. —Philip P. Bliss

1 Samuel 28:1-29:11; Isaiah 66:1-24; Romans 8:18-39

Blessed be the Lord my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, And my fingers for battle. Psalm 144:1, NKJV

How did God do this training? Perhaps not as we think. Was it when David’s fingers wrote psalms of praise, as his hands played his harp in worship? It was then that David was being trained to look to the One who gives victories, the Almighty. As his hands ran through the wool of his sheep in search of injuries or irritations, David could picture the Lord’s hands searching his soul for those weaknesses that would cost him a battle. We too may train our hands for our battles—by writing out Scripture, by making music, by lifting them in praise, by doing the work God has given
us. Thus we too will call the Lord our Rock. —M. MacMullen

Take my hands and let them move,
At the impulse of Thy love. —Fanny J. Crosby

1 Samuel 26:1-27:12; Isaiah 65:1-25; Romans 8:1-17

And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. Revelation 5:10
The Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. Revelation 22:5
If we suffer, we shall also reign with him. 2 Timothy 2:12

It has been said that for believers, this lifetime is a training time for a reigning time. The children of Israel were tested by God for forty years in the wilderness in preparation for entering the promised land. Many other saints of God, like Job, suffered greatly during their times of testing (see Heb. 11). Let us remain faithful during our time of testing and training, knowing that it will be worth it all in the end! —E. C. B.

It will be worth it all, when we see Jesus,
Life’s trials will seem so small, when we see Christ. —Esther Rusthoi

1 Samuel 25:1-44; Isaiah 63:15-64:12; Romans 7:7-25

I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way…And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite…from before thee. Exodus 23:20, 28

God sent an angel to keep the Israelites from going astray and hornets to take care of all opposition ahead of them. Today He has graciously given us His written Word and the Holy Spirit to guide and keep us in the right way. He also goes ahead of us to escort us through any problems and temptations we face along life’s journey. My task is to obey His leading, and then go forward in complete dependence on the One who cannot fail. —David Croudace

Be still, my soul: your God will undertake,
To guide the future as He has the past.
Your hope, your confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last. —Katharina von Schlegel

1 Samuel 23:1-24:22; Isaiah 62:1-63:14; Romans 6:15-7:6

And, in fact, no one had come to the camp from Jabesh Gilead.  Judges 21:8, NKJV
David sent…and said…Blessed be ye of the Lord.  2 Samuel 2:5

The men of Jabesh Gilead made a costly mistake. They did not go to help fight an important battle (Judg. 21:9). The consequences were severe. They learned their lesson however, and years later acted valiantly to bring Saul and Jonathan’s bodies home from ignominy. David blessed their kindness. The grace of the Lord Jesus is not limited by our failures. The Lord God redeems “the years that the locust hath eaten” (Joel 2:25). —Annette Baal

All my sins were laid upon Thee, all my guilt was on Thee laid,
And the blood of Thine atonement, all my utmost debt has paid.  —Mrs. Thompson

1 Samuel 21:1-22:23; Isaiah 61:1-11; Romans 6:1-14

They pierced my hands and my feet. Psalm 22:16

His hands touched the tongue of the dumb and they spoke (Mark 7:33-35). His hands touched lepers and they were cleansed (Matt. 8:3). He touched a funeral bier and the young man on it came back to life (Luke 7:14-15). His feet walked a perfect pathway, neither deviating, faltering or wandering—a pathway of true obedience to His Father God. Yet He allowed those same hands and feet to have nails driven through them at Calvary. Such was His love for you
and me. —John M. Clegg

Crucified! Crucified!
And nailed upon the tree!
With pierced hands and feet and side!
For you! For me! —C. A. Miles