Author: Gospel Folio Press

Judges 20:1-48; Isaiah 38:1-39:8; 1 Corinthians 15:35-58

The veil of the temple was rent in [two] from the top to the bottom. Matthew 27:51

The veil was reportedly 30 feet wide and 60 feet high. Furthermore, it was said to be between 9 and 18 inches thick. The veil was hung on supports raised between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. Imagine the distress among the priests when this barrier was torn, top to bottom, exposing the sacred place that was death to enter for anyone except the High Priest once a year. Now it was wide open. Jewish tradition records that the priests sewed this massive furnishing back up again! God opened the way; man hastily barred it. Let’s celebrate that the new and living way is open forever and cannot be closed by anything. —M. MacMullen

The veil is rent! Lo, Jesus stands, before the throne of grace.
And clouds of incense from His hands fill all that glorious place. —J. Deck

Judges 19:1-30; Isaiah 37:8-38; 1 Corinthians 15:1-34

And Hezekiah received the letter…and read it: and…went up unto the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed unto the Lord… Isaiah 37:14-15

What bad news are you holding in your hand today? Have you been left in despair or wondering what you can possibly do? A relative’s letter, a doctor’s note, an unexpected large bill or a prayer letter from one of the Lord’s servants? Follow Hezekiah’s example of faith and “spread it before the Lord.” Bring the matter to Him in prayer. Acknowledge His greatness. He knows all things already and has the answer. Depend alone on Him! —Pete Smith

Behold the throne of grace!
The promise calls us near!
To seek our God and Father’s face,
Who loves to answer prayer. —J. Newton

Judges 17:1-18:31; Isaiah 36:1-37:7; 1 Corinthians 14:1-40

There failed [nothing] of any good thing which the Lord had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass. Joshua 21:45

It seems everywhere we look today we see disappointment and failure. Promises are so easily made, yet so seldom carried through. Our Redeemer is totally dependable. “Hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” (Num.  23:19). “All the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen” (2 Cor. 1:20). —Wm. H. Gustafson

Earthly friends may prove untrue, doubts and fears assail;
One still loves and cares for you, One who will not fail.
Jesus never fails, Jesus never fails;
Heav’n and earth may pass away, but Jesus never fails. —Arthur Luther

Judges 16:1-31; Isaiah 35:1-10; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men…they let down the bed on which the  paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” Mark 2:3-5, NKJV

You could entitle this story, “Four men who let a good friend down!”. In reality, these men cared enough about their helpless friend to bring him to the Lord Jesus. Someone suggested nicknames for these four men could be:  Sympathy, Cooperation, Originality, and Persistence. That’s what it takes today to bring our friends to Christ. Are we doing our part? —Rex Trogdon

Lord, lay some soul upon my heart, and love that soul through me;
And may I humbly do my part, to win that soul for Thee.   —Leon Tucker

Judges 14:1-15:20; Isaiah 34:1-17; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31

Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you. 1 Samuel 12:24

Here are three action words for the day! Fear, serve and consider. Fear has to do with my attitude. We are not afraid of God since we are His children but we do fear lest our attitude dishonours Him. Serve has to do with my activities. Do we serve Him heartily or begrudgingly? Consider has to do with my thoughts of Him. Consider what great things He has done for us. My attitude, activities and thoughts. These are all part of my service for the Lord. —Sid Halsband

Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord, by the power of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope, and my will be lost in Thine.  —Fanny J. Crosby

Judges 13:1-25; Isaiah 33:1-24; 1 Corinthians 11:2-34

Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church. Colossians 1:24

The Lord reminded His disciples that they should not be surprised if the world hated them, because it hated Him first (John 15:18). Paul stated that he bore in his body the marks of the Lord Jesus (Gal. 6:17). Every time we suffer persecution for Christ’s name, we enter into the fellowship of His suffering, and fill up the cup of affliction intended for Him had He still been on earth. Never easy, suffering for Christ brings His consolation and comfort and deepens our oneness with Him. —Mark Kolchin

It’s not by our merit, but by His grace we grow,
To be more like Jesus and more of Him know.  —Rebecca Lee

Judges 11:29-12:15; Isaiah 32:1-20; 1 Corinthians 10:14-11:1

Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it [to] the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel. Deuteronomy 31:19

Good singing is important! Moses’ first song taught deep truths about God (Ex. 15). His last song brought reminders of God’s faithfulness (Deut. 32). Music is important in teaching truth and is a witness to the greatness of our God. Our hymns and songs need to be spiritual and biblical. Let us sing joyfully the great truths of God, the gospel and Christian living. “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in
your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19). Singing lifts the soul and refreshes the heart. —Jim Comte

I will sing of my Redeemer, and His wondrous love to me;
On the cruel cross He suffered, from the curse to set me free. —P. Bliss

Judges 10:6-11:28; Isaiah 31:1-9; 1 Corinthians 9:24-10:13

One of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks. Luke 17:15-16

These verses are part of the account of the healing of the ten lepers. Can you imagine this healed leper, heading to the priest, looking at his formerly leprous body and seeing perfect flesh! His fitting action was to glorify God in a loud voice and fall at Jesus’ feet. When we realize the spiritual healing we have been given, how can we do anything less than worship our Saviour. May we bring that worship today at the Lord’s Supper. —Ken Gross

For us Thine untold sufferings there, for us the darkness and the woe,
In love, transcending all compare, Thou, Lord, for us to death didst go.
We worship Thee, all glorious Lord, forever be Thy name adored! —Inglis Fleming

Judges 9:1-10:5; Isaiah 30:1-33; 1 Corinthians 9:1-23

And He entered a house and wanted no one to know it, but He could not be hidden. Mark 7:24, NKJV

Jesus was pursued by those who were determined to find Him. He taught like no one else could. He healed, He fed, He consoled, He gave hope, He understood, He cared, like no one else could. He presented Himself as living water, bread that would satisfy, a doctor for the sick, and the way, the truth and the life. He is still the only way of salvation and eternal life for everyone who believes. Have you believed? You will find Him if you seek Him today! —Deborah Manera

He died, He lives, He reigns, He pleads;
There’s love in all His words and deeds;
There’s all a guilty sinner needs
Forever more in Jesus. —James Procter

Judges 8:1-35; Isaiah 29:1-24; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

If anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. 1 Peter 4:16, NKJV

Our humble Saviour tirelessly pursued the marginalized in society, yet He was despised and rejected. He was kind and compassionate without discrimination, yet suffered emotional abuse and physical assaults. Ultimately, He was crucified. If you are suffering for no other reason than belonging to Christ, Peter said: “Rejoice”. But perhaps, the real reason for my suffering is not for being Christ-like; but for failing to be like Him. May the fruit of the Spirit always be evident in our lives. —P. Ramsay

O to be like Thee! Lowly in spirit,
Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches.
Willing to suffer—others to save. —Thomas O. Chisholm