Author: Gospel Folio Press

Deuteronomy 3:1-29; Ecclesiastes 3:16-4:16; Luke 7:1-29

David said [to] Mephibosheth…I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father’s sake. 2 Samuel 9:6-7

Mephibosheth lived in obscurity, hidden away from King David. As a descendant of king Saul, he was fearful for his safety. He was helpless (lame) and his outlook was hopeless. When called into the king’s presence, he must have feared the worst. What a blessing he received from David’s kindness. He was given protection, (fear not); provision (land restored); and position—elevated to the king’s table. David’s actions foreshadowed the Lord’s kindness to
us. Oh the depths of spiritual wealth we have received through the kindness of God our Saviour. —Paul Young

In loving kindness Jesus came, my soul in mercy to reclaim,
And from the depths of sin and shame through grace He lifted me.  —Charles H. Gabriel

Deuteronomy 2:1-37; Ecclesiastes 2:12-3:15; Luke 6:20-49

Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth. Proverbs 27:1, NKJV

Solomon was one of the wisest men that ever lived. The Queen of the south came with hard questions and said of him that the half of his wisdom had not been told. His statement above is challenging for it brings before us the terrible uncertainty of life. Maybe someone reading this has just received bad news. All your plans for the future have been put on hold. You were not expecting this! God’s purposes are often different from ours. We must trust Him fully for He knows the end from the beginning. —Jim Paul

Bad news indeed! But God abideth faithful!
Some fresh unfolding of His power He will show;
Thus, unto Him, whose love is quite unending,
Whose care and power are limitless—we will go. —J. Danson Smith

Deuteronomy 1:1-46; Ecclesiastes 1:1-2:11; Luke 6:1-19

Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:11

Living near to me there is a Christian family who had a very sick daughter. This necessitated constant visits from doctors and nurses. Having said that, the medics never minded how many times they had to visit day or night simply because they loved the atmosphere in that home. True Christian love and happiness prevailed to such an extent that when the child died the principal doctor readily received a Bible and promised to read it and continued to visit the home even when she retired. Are our homes as welcoming or would folk rather stay away? —Brian Russell

All for Jesus—all for Jesus, all my being’s ransomed powers,
All my thoughts and words and doings, all my days and all my hours.  —Mary James

Numbers 35:9-36:13; Proverbs 31:1-31; Luke 5:17-39

Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:16, NKJV

Peter recognized the evidence and rightly identified Jesus as the Messiah. But even in his declaration, Peter imagined something altogether different from God’s plan. Peter saw a Reformer-King who had come to rid Israel of her enemies. It was at this point that Jesus began to clearly explain the purpose of His coming. God had purposed from before the foundations of the earth that His Servant would suffer many things and that He would give His life as a ransom for many. —J. D. Fraser

I will sing the wondrous story,
Of the Christ who died for me,
How He left His home in glory,
For the cross of Calvary. —F. H. Rowley

Numbers 34:1-35:8; Proverbs 30:1-33; Luke 5:1-16

“Even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver only themselves by their  righteousness,” says the Lord God. Ezekiel 14:14, NKJV

If the righteousness of these three great men were recognised, God says it would only deliver them from a time of God’s earthly judgement on Israel. They could do nothing for the others. But what of spiritual, eternal judgement? In God’s sight, a person’s so-called righteousness is but filthy rags (Isa. 64:6); there is none righteous (Rom. 3:10). Only the righteousness of Jesus Christ counts. “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that
he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh” (1 Peter 3:18). Only Jesus can make you righteous! —K. C. Ung

Made righteous through Thy precious blood,
We now are reconciled to God. —C. Fischer

Numbers 33:1-56; Proverbs 29:1-27; Luke 4:16-44

You have put gladness in my heart, More than in the season that their grain and wine increased. Psalm 4:7, NKJV

Temporal blessings such as a bumper crop or a burgeoning bank account bring gladness and confidence on the short term. But David’s blessings, even in adversity, were richer, fuller and deeper. There are no temporal blessings that can parallel the spiritual blessing of experiencing God in all of life’s circumstances. When we open our hearts to Him, through the blessed ministry of the Holy Spirit, He pours into our hearts His love, His peace, His joy, His gladness, and His comfort. —P. Ramsay

But we never can prove the delights of His love,
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favour He shows and the joy He bestows;
Are for those who will trust and obey. —John H. Sammis

Numbers 32:1-42; Proverbs 28:1-28; Luke 4:1-15

Fear not, little flock… Luke 12:32

In trying to translate this phrase for a tribal people group, a national was consulted. When asked if the word they had chosen would perhaps refer to a flock of sheep that was so small as to not be worth the care of the Shepherd the native speaker responded, “No, if it were a very little flock the Shepherd cares for it all the more.” Perhaps we feel that we are part of a very little flock, to onlookers an insignificant flock, irrelevant in the big scheme of world affairs. But the Shepherd’s eye is upon us, His little flock. He tenderly cares for us and will bring us safely home. —M. MacMullen

Little flock, to joy then yield thee!
Jacob’s God will ever shield thee;
Rest secure with this Defender,
At His will all foes surrender. —C. S. Berg

Numbers 30:1-31:54; Proverbs 26:13-27:27; Luke 3:1-38

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off. Hebrews 11:13 

What motivated the heroes of faith whose stories are found in this chapter? We, perhaps, might have expected that they were spurred on by the rewards God gave them in their lifetime. But how wrong we would be. We are told here that they died having been largely unrewarded. Their rewards were eternal. They did not live to hear our Lord say, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth” (Matt. 6:19), but they lived by that truth. So should we. —Ken Gross

O Master, let me walk with Thee,
In lowly paths of service free;
Tell me Thy secret; help me bear;
The strain of toil, the fret of care.  —Washington Gladden

Numbers 29:1-40; Proverbs 25:1-26:12; Luke 2:22-52

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. Psalm 48:1

We may not have ever visited the physical city of Jerusalem, but those who know the Lord are part of the spiritual Jerusalem that He is building. One of the characteristics of that city is the spirit of joy that each of us should exhibit. Jesus Christ Himself promised a fullness of joy to His people, and there is so much that we can be joyful about, even in the midst of sorrow. To start with, we can praise Him that we belong to Him! —G. Frear

Oh the joy, the bliss divine, thus to know and call Thee mine;
Once my path was dark as night, now Thy presence makes it bright;
Thou didst give Thy life for me, now I give my all to Thee,
Make me stronger day by day, still to run the heavn’ly way.  —Fanny Crosby

Numbers 28:1-31; Proverbs 24:1-34; Luke 2:1-21

Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight…the Lord anointed thee king. 1 Samuel 15:17

Saul’s demise was the result of his self-exalted will. In contrast, Solomon, just a little child, was blessed with wealth and wisdom; a widow’s handful of meal and a little oil supplied her family’s need; a maid led leprous Naaman to the healing in the Jordan; an obedient lad’s five loaves and two fish satisfied a multitude’s hunger; a little manna gathered left no lack. Surely we can trust what little we have to the One who says behold, I will proceed to do a
marvelous work and a wonder. —David J. Reed

Put thou thy trust in God,
In duty’s path go on;
Walk in His strength with faith and hope,
So shall thy work be done. —Paul Gerhardt