Author: Gospel Folio Press

Numbers 16:1-40; Proverbs 13:1-25; 1 Peter 5:1-14

Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers. Ephesians 1:15-16

Paul was grateful for the Ephesians’ faith and the resulting love that it produced for their fellow-saints. He viewed people through a Christocentric lens: he saw them as needing Christ (the lost) or being in Christ (believers). This mindset moved him to pray for others, and to tirelessly labour to build them up in the Lord. Otherwise, he might have succumbed to discouragement or bitterness. When we see others through God’s eyes, it revolutionizes our relationships. —K. R. Keyser

Then endless praise our lips shall move, and joy our spirits fill;
The objects of His love divine, oh who that joy can tell?  —Richard Burnham

Numbers 15:1-41; Proverbs 12:1-28; 1 Peter 4:1-19

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Matthew 1:1

We are all in the family of God and just as David was different from Abraham, so too are God’s people today. Some have been saved when young and have been preserved from open sin because of their upbringing. Some lived ungodly lives before their salvation and keep their past out of conversations. Then there are those who live uneventful lives and are content to be a quiet help in the house of God. Others have had a spectacular conversion and it is a blessing for people to hear how God saved them. In God’s eyes, everyone is needed; everyone is special to Him. The focus of this genealogy, and our assembly, is Jesus who is called Christ. —G. C. G.

One thing I know that I am he, who once was blind, and now I see. —John Hay

Numbers 14:1-45; Proverbs 11:1-31; 1 Peter 3:1-22

Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites: afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people. Numbers 31:2

Moses had a task to do. He knew God’s plan for him. He was getting close to death. Despite knowing that, he was busy in what he knew God wanted. Often we can feel that we have done our work for God, regardless of how young or old we are. We allow ourselves to coast and think that others should take up the work. Instead we should actively seek out what God would have us do, no matter our stage in life. May we see the termination of our lives come in the midst of labour for Him. —K. J. W.

Go, labour on; your hands are weak,
Your knees are faint, your soul’s cast down;
Yet falter not; the prize you seek,
Is near, a kingdom and a crown. —Horatius Bonar

Numbers 12:1-13:33; Proverbs 10:1-32; 1 Peter 2:1-25

And bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5
But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil. James 3:8

Our thoughts and tongues are two of the hardest things to control. As a child, my mother used to caution me, “Think before you speak”! What good advice! All too often our unruly tongues get away on us, and we say things we later regret. By training our thoughts to be obedient to Christ, and guarding our lips, much heartache can be avoided. Our prayer should be, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord” (Ps. 19:14). —E. V.

May the mind of Christ my Saviour, live in me from day to day;
By His love and pow’r controlling, all I do and say. —Kate Wilkinson

Numbers 11:4-35; Proverbs 9:1-18; 1 Peter 1:1-25

Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of  angels?  Matthew 26:53
Let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. Matthew 27:42

It is only as we meditate on the cross that we begin to grasp a little of the Lord’s love for us. It was not the nails which held Him there! No, it was His eternal love for us. More than 72,000 angels were at His disposal, plus His own power as the Christ of God, to simply come down and go free. But His love for you and me kept Him there so He could finish the work He came to do. —David Croudace

He could have called ten thousand angels,
But He died alone, for you and me. —Ray Overholt

Numbers 10:11-11:3; Proverbs 8:1-36; Jude

I will send swarms of flies upon thee…and into thy houses. Exodus 8:21

What a horrible plague this must have been! Flies everywhere. Swarms upon the Egyptians and in their homes. How amazing that when God ended this plague, “there remained not one” (Ex. 8:31b). When there are flies in my home it seems as though there is always one more buzzing around. This same complete removal applies to our sin. When the Lord Jesus was on the cross, He said “It is finished” (John 19:30). The penalty for my sin was completely paid. When our God does something it is done completely. Praise God! “Their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more” (Heb. 8:12). —M. Robins

Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.  —E. M. Hall

Numbers 9:1-10:10; Proverbs 6:20-7:27; Mark 16:1-20

And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? Luke 24:17

Luke records this meeting between the Lord and two discouraged, depressed, disillusioned disciples on the Emmaus
Road. Why did He ask them why they were sad, if He already knew? The Lord knew that even in telling Him the story behind their sadness, they would find relief. So it is with ourselves. When sadness and sorrow overtake us, the Lord wants us to tell Him all the details of how we are feeling and why, and then allow Him to provide the solace we need. —W. H. Burnett

All your anxieties, all your cares.
Bring to the mercy seat; leave them there.
Never a burden that He cannot share,
Never a friend like Jesus. —Edward H. Joy

Numbers 8:1-26; Proverbs 5:1-6:19; Mark 15:24-47

I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour. Judges 4:9

Deborah told Barak that he would remain faceless and fameless in victory. It is not for the servant of God to be seeking their own glory, nor the admiration and respect of others. Faith which begets obedience seldom results in  our being praised, and we must ever be cautious if it comes from the lips of men. If we seek and somehow obtain the adoration of other people, we may obtain it, but that’s all we’ll get. —Rick Morse

Make this poor self grow less and less,
Be Thou my life and aim.
Oh, make me daily through Thy grace,
More fit to bear Thy name. —Johann C. Lavater

Numbers 7:1-89; Proverbs 4:1-27; Mark 15:1-23

Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2:14

We are a set-apart, peculiar people. I know, some of us are more peculiar than others. What a difference the Lord has made in our lives! We have a different destiny—we’re heaven bound. A different purpose for living—no longer for ourselves but for Him who died for us and rose again! God made this difference in our lives that we might make a difference in our world—one life at a time. —Rex Trogdon

What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought,
Since Jesus came into my heart!
I have light in my soul for which long I have sought,
Since Jesus came into my heart! —Rufus H. McDaniel

Numbers 6:1-27; Proverbs 3:1-35; Mark 14:53-72

But his delight is in the law of the Lord. Psalm 1:2
And his heart took delight in the ways of the Lord. 2 Chronicles 17:6, NKJV
I delight to do thy will, O my God. Psalm 40:8

What does it mean to delight yourself in the Lord? Do we enjoy meditating daily on the Scriptures of truth? Do we, like Jehoshaphat, rejoice in His ways, making it our ambition to please Him? Are we happy to do His will, whatever the cost? If these are your goals “Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord” (Isa. 58:14).  —Pete Smith

Thou, Lord, alone art all Thy children need,
And there is none beside;
From Thee the streams of blessedness proceed;
In Thee the blest abide. —Jeanne M. Guyon