Author: Gospel Folio Press

Numbers 26:52-27:23; Proverbs 23:12-35; Luke 1:57-80

A woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table. Matthew 26:7, NKJV

Then…Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. Matthew 26:14-15, NKJV

Here are two very different responses to Christ. Judas only wanted what he could get for betraying Jesus. The woman came to give her gift and love to Jesus. As a result, the world would hear of what she had done. What will I bring Him today? —Janet Fleming

This day I come, my heart filled with praise,
Jesus, thank you for dying for me,
I bring You my life, to give You today,
For both now and eternity. —Janet Fleming

Numbers 25:1- 26:51; Proverbs 22:17-23:11; Luke 1:26-56

Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness. Psalm 143:1

The Lord always hears us and faithfully responds to our prayers. He understands us with an infinite wisdom and righteously answers our petitions, lovingly bestowing what is best. Sometimes what we long for, always what we need. Sometimes what we desire, always according to His will. He prefers to give us lasting joy over temporary happiness, molding us into His Son and bringing glory to Himself. What a comforting truth for the believer.  —George Ferrier

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Hold o’er my being absolute sway.
Fill with Thy Spirit till all shall see,
Christ only, always, living in me! —Adelaide A. Pollard

Numbers 23:27-24:25; Proverbs 21:12-22:16; Luke 1:1-25

She…knew not that it was Jesus. John 20:14

A British radio station frequently broadcasts this sound bite, “Let your ears open your eyes”. Sometimes we can be looking for something and not see it when actually it is staring us in the face. Mary Magdalene came to the tomb looking for the Lord and wept because she thought His body had been stolen. She spoke to a man she thought was the gardener, and “she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus” (John 20:14). It was only when He spoke and she heard Him use her name that her ears opened her eyes. We too must listen for God’s voice as we read His Word. —Brian Powlesland

Though I my Saviour may not see, yet every hour He speaks to me;
And since of Him I made my choice, oh, praise the Lord, I know His voice!  —Johnson Oatman

Numbers 22:39-23:26; Proverbs 20:1-21:11; James 4:13-5:20

He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right  is he. Deuteronomy 32:4
As for God, his way is perfect…It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. Psalm 18:30, 32

Moses reminded Israel that “their rock is not as our Rock” (Deut. 32:31). The confidence of the unbeliever is based on shifting sand, not the solid Rock. How blessed to know that whether we can sense it or not, our God is doing a perfect work in each of His dear people. —Wm. H. Gustafson

The Lord’s our Rock, in Him we hide,
A shelter in the time of storm;
Secure whatever ill betide,
A shelter in the time of storm. —Vernon J. Charlesworth

Numbers 22:1-38; Proverbs 19:1-29; James 3:1-4:12

The work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. Isaiah 32:17
In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength. Isaiah 30:15
Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother. Psalm 131:2

It is difficult to find a place of peace and quiet these days, when so many things demand our attention and there is so much noise and distraction in our daily lives. But how necessary it is to quiet our hearts before our Maker, and allow Him to speak to us in His still, small voice. Let us remember to “sanctify the Lord God in [our] hearts” (1 Peter 3:15) on a regular basis. —E. C. B.

There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God.
A place where sin cannot molest, near to the heart of God. —C. McAfee

Numbers 21:1-35; Proverbs 18:1-24; James 2:1-26

For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. John 3:34, NKJV
And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. John 1:16, NKJV

How reassuring it is to know that God gives fully of His limitless resources to help us in our Christian walk. We have the indwelling Holy Spirit to guide and encourage us. And He has given spiritual gifts that we might help each other in our walk, “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the…fulness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13). Are you exercising your spiritual gift? —Annette Baal

Take my life and let it be consecrated Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise. —Frances R. Havergal

Numbers 20:1-29; Proverbs 17:1-28; James 1:1-27

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. Isaiah 9:2
The dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.  Luke 1:78b-79a

In speaking about the Lord Jesus, John the Baptist’s father Zechariah refers to Isaiah’s prophecy. But, wonder of wonders, not only has the light shone upon them, but the sunrise (dayspring) Himself, has come and visited from heaven! —Warren Hagey

The whole world was lost in the darkness of sin,
The Light of the world is Jesus!
Like sunshine at noonday, His glory shone in;
The Light of the world is Jesus! —Philip P. Bliss

Numbers 19:1-22; Proverbs 16:1-33; 2 Peter 3:1-18

And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. Genesis 3:20

Rose Kennedy, the mother of nine children—her most famous, being President John Kennedy, wrote, “I looked on child-rearing not only as a work of love and duty but as a profession that was fully as interesting and challenging as any honourable profession in the world and one that demanded the best I could bring it.”  Motherhood is an “honourable career” that should be cherished by those whom God has entrusted with it. “And that from a child (a
nursing infant) thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation” (2 Tim. 3:15). —Jim Comte

God bless my mother;
All I am and hope to be I owe it to her.  —President Abraham Lincoln

Numbers 18:1-32; Proverbs 15:1-33; 2 Peter 2:1-22

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy. Psalm 16:11

A spam email from a psychic urged me to click on a link that would tell me my future. I replied, urging her to click on a link that would tell her about Jesus, and hope for her future. My reply bounced back, and the connection was broken. How so our world! Many bounce from one thing to another searching for meaning and life. There is brokenness and despair everywhere one looks. Only Jesus can bring peace, joy and satisfaction to the heart. Jesus
only. Trust Him today! —Deborah Manera

O Christ, in Thee my soul hath found,
And found in Thee alone,
The peace, the joy I sought so long,
The bliss till now unknown. —E. F. S. Bevan

Numbers 16:41-17:13; Proverbs 14:1-35; 2 Peter 1:1-21

The children of Issachar…that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do. 1 Chronicles 12:32

We are living in days of confusion and fear and need the wisdom of God to know what to do. Solomon asked God for wisdom and described himself as a little child. May God give us both the humility to ask and the faith needed to trust in what God’s Word tells us to do, rather than listening to the secular theories of this world. —Sam Thorpe, Jr.

May we still, God’s mind discerning,
To the Lamb for wisdom go:
There new wonders daily learning,
All the depths of mercy know.  —James Allen