Author: Gospel Folio Press

1 Samuel 8:1-9:14; Isaiah 49:1-26; 2 Corinthians 10:1-18

Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah—am not I better to thee than ten sons? 1 Samuel 1:8

Hannah never answers this question from her husband. Was it because she could not admit to the one who loved her so much that truly he was not more to her than a son? That in her heart she knew that she should be satisfied with Elkanah’s love, but she wasn’t? Could we be like Hannah, not fully satisfied with the love of our Saviour? We look to relationships, children, friends, money, pleasures, health for satisfaction. These are all fine in themselves but we should be finding our all in all in the Lord. —M. Robins

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart,
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light. —Dallán Forgaill

1 Samuel 6:1-7:17; Isaiah 48:1-22; 2 Corinthians 9:1-15

Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. 2 Cor. 4:17

Many believers are experiencing intense suffering today. Some are in the valley of the shadow of death and ready to leave the world behind. Take heart. In the light of eternity this is but a moment. Each affliction has a divine purpose. It will ultimately bring us to that exceeding, eternal weight of glory. It will be worth it all when we see Jesus! The road may be rough but soon we’ll see Him. —Jim Paul

I know the blessed Son of God will greet me,
With scenes of earth for me forever past.
He delegates no other One to meet me,
When Heaven’s portals then I reach at last.  —Jim Paterson

1 Samuel 4:1-5:12; Isaiah 47:1-15; 2 Corinthians 8:1-24

The Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning. Job 42:12

A good way to read the book of Job is to begin with the last chapter, where we find that the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. Why begin here? Knowing this frames the rest of the book from a divine perspective and context. We find that before glory and blessing comes suffering and testing. Job had to be tested before he was able to handle all the blessings God had ultimately prepared for him. He needed to realize that this double blessing came from the Lord, not his own efforts. Satan tried hard to shake his faith but in the end it strengthened it. What a man of faith he was. What a wonderful example for us today. —Eleanor Isaacson

His banner over us is love, our sword the Word of God;
We tread the road the saints above with shouts of triumph trod. —J. Yate

1 Samuel 3:1-21; Isaiah 46:1-13; 2 Corinthians 6:11-7:16

I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. 1 Kings 9:3

The Lord God expressed His pleasure, and made promises to Solomon regarding the earthly house which he built. Imagine how much greater is His delight, with the spiritual house now being built by the Lord Jesus. The church is a holy habitation of the Lord, in the Lord, and for the Lord. How privileged are His people, who are each living stones in this eternal structure, with Christ Himself  as the chief cornerstone. —Rick Morse

Elect from every nation,
Yet one o’er all the earth;
Her charter of salvation,
One Lord, one faith, one birth. —Samuel J. Stone

1 Samuel 2:1-36; Isaiah 44:24-45:25; 2 Corinthians 5:11-6:10

And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. Luke 15:2

A little girl stepped shivering into the shelter of a London, England church. After the meeting, she approached the preacher, “Sir, I never knew my name was in the Bible!” He smiled, “Well, little girl what is your name?“. “My name is Edith.” “Oh, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but Edith does not appear in the Bible.” She insisted, “Yes, it does. I heard you read it tonight. It said, ?Jesus receiveth sinners, and Edith with them!’”. Dear reader, have you identified
yourself as a sinner and trusted Christ? —George Ferrier

Come, and He will give you rest;
Trust Him, for His Word is plain;
He will take the sinfulest;
Christ receiveth sinful men. —Frances Bevan

1 Samuel 1:1-28; Isaiah 44:6-23; 2 Corinthians 4:7-5:10

David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam. 1 Samuel 22:1

David had only recently been a hero in Israel. Goliath and the Philistines had been defeated and the future seemed bright. In a moment, things changed and he was forced to flee for his life. Maybe today, like David, you find your world has been turned upside down. In times like this, it may seem an odd place to go, but sometimes we need to retreat and have a “cave of Adullam experience”, a chance to get alone with God, to pour out our hearts to Him and wait for His comfort and direction. “In the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be
overpast” (Ps. 57:1). —Paul Robertson

What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer! —J. Scriven

Ruth 3:1-4:22; Isaiah 43:1-44:5; 2 Corinthians 3:1-4:6

If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God…that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 4:11

Years ago, I worked in the Ottawa Heart Institute, and many of our patients were Québécois. Once, calling a hospital in Québéc, I pronounced the patient’s name so perfectly, the person I was speaking with switched to French. My silence quickly disabused her of the notion that I too was Québécois! Remembering this incident recently, I was convicted as to whether my speech reflects my true citizenship. Is the heavenly accent of God’s righteousness and love, holiness and grace apparent in my speech? May we daily speak the language of heaven to those we meet. —Cathy Oriold

Take my lips and let them be,
Filled with messages from Thee.  —Frances R. Havergal

Ruth 2:1-23; Isaiah 42:1-25; 2 Corinthians 2:1-17

Thou, O Lord, remainest for ever; thy throne from generation to generation. Lamentations 5:19

What words of comfort and assurance to the child of God in a world which has become completely unstable.  Thrones, dominions and powers are being toppled by the day, leaving the world in a state of fear, confusion and anarchy. But concerning our God it is said, “But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end” (Ps. 102:27). He is the unchanging One, midst all the changing scenes on earth, and will remain so forever. —W. H. Burnett

While all things change, Thou changest not,
Forgetting ne’er though oft forgot,
Thy love immutably the same,
Declares the glory of Thy name. —James H. Evans

Ruth 1:1-22; Isaiah 41:1-29; 2 Corinthians 1:1-24

Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. Jeremiah 17:7

Thou art my hope in the day of evil. Jeremiah 17:17

As believers we must remember that exercising faith does not end at salvation. How often do we cast our cares on the Lord and then proceed to pick them up again? Those of us older in the faith can testify that “[He] is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Eph. 3:20). Remember that without faith it is impossible to please Him. —Brian Russell

How good is the God we adore!
Our faithful, unchangeable Friend:
His love is as great as His pow’r, 
And knows neither measure nor end.  —Joseph Hart

Judges 21:1-25; Isaiah 40:1-31; 1 Corinthians 16:1-24

O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear…Why dost thou shew me iniquity? Habakkuk 1:2-3

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. Habakkuk 3:18

Habakkuk felt greatly burdened by the circumstances the nation of Judah was in and this led him to pray and ask the Lord “how long?” and “why?”. We often pose these same questions when we find ourselves in adversity. The answers might not be immediately forthcoming, but we can, like Habakkuk, rejoice in and enjoy our relationship with the Lord, resting secure in the knowledge that He is working His purposes out. —Philip A. Kaye

Simply trusting every day, trusting through a stormy way;
Even when my faith is small, trusting Jesus, that is all.  —Edgar P. Stites