Author: Gospel Folio Press

Exodus 15:1-27; Psalm 51:1-19; Acts 8:5-40

Thus shall ye say every one to his neighbour, and every one to his brother, What hath the Lord answered? and, What hath the Lord spoken? Jeremiah 23:35

In the name of open dialogue, far too many state their opinions about divine things, without having consulted what God Himself has revealed. Surely we should know that God’s mind is infinitely superior to ours. And while it is important to think things through, it is only useful if, “thus saith the Lord” (v. 2) is permitted to formulate our opinion. What God has stated will always give us healthy minds and clear heads. —Rick Morse

Master! Speak, Thy servant heareth;
What hast Thou to say to me? —Frances R. Havergal

Exodus 14:5-31; Psalms 49:1-50:23; Acts 7:30-8:4

Also some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us and brought with them a certain Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we were to lodge. Acts 21:16, NKJV

Expressions in different translations can give us insight. For example, in the NKJV Mnason is called an early  disciple. It’s a polite way of saying he was “an old disciple” (KJV). Both terms, early and old, were meant as a compliment to him, being a mature believer. The key for spiritual maturity is to start early (now) so that when
we are older, we may be like Mnason, a disciple of long standing. —Rex Trogdon

Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting;
E’er to take, as from a father’s hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
Till I reach the promised land. —Lina Sandell Berg

Exodus 13:1-14:4; Psalms 47:1-48:14; Acts 7:1-29

To open blind eyes…look, ye blind, that ye may see. Is. 42:7, 18

Fanny J. Crosby became physically blind at the age of six weeks due to a mistake by an unqualified “doctor”. She lived to be 95 and never seemed to show any bitterness. She clearly had a repose in Christ and her spiritual eyes were open and she saw eternal glories. Sometimes in her hymns she seems to almost forget that she was blind, as she wrote, “Visions of rapture burst on my sight” and “Lo a spring of joy I see” and again “Watching and waiting, looking above”. She wrote with delight in her Saviour and at the age of eight she wrote the poem below. —Paul Young

Oh, what a happy soul am I, although I cannot see!
I am resolved that in this world contented I will be.
How many blessings I enjoy, that other people don’t.
To weep and sigh because I’m blind, I cannot—and I won’t.—F. Crosby

Exodus 12:21-51; Psalm 45:1-46:11; Acts 6:1-15

Behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter. Ecclesiastes 4:1b

What a sad observation Solomon makes of those who were oppressed. He observes their tears and the fact that they had no comforter. Praise God we are not left in this sad condition today. Yes, there are tears, but Jesus promised His disciples to send the Comforter, who would not leave them comfortless (John 14:16, 18). As children of God, we too are beneficiaries of this promise. We can rest assured that our tears are never overlooked by the One who is touched with our sorrows, and He always draws near to comfort us in our time of need. —E. V.

I must have the Saviour with me, for my faith at best is weak;
He can whisper words of comfort, that no other voice can speak.  —Lizzie Edwards

Exodus 11:1-12:20; Psalm 44:1-26; Acts 5:12-42

And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit…and God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:12
I go and prepare a place for you. John 14:3a

In preparation for the creation of mankind, God made the waters (Gen. 1:10) and food (Gen. 1:11-12)—the necessities of life. What a wonderful world! In preparation for the new creation of mankind (2 Cor. 5:17), the Lord Jesus went and prepared the way through His finished work on Calvary’s cross—the necessity of a new life. What a wonderful Saviour! —Bob Cretney

What a wonderful Saviour is Jesus, my Jesus!
What a wonderful Saviour is Jesus, my Lord!  —Elisha A. Hoffman

Exodus 10:1-29; Psalms 42:1-43:5; Acts 4:32-5:11

Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil. Proverbs 4:25-27

Jesus said that the road that leads to destruction is wide, but the path that is narrow leads to eternal life. My friend, do not stray off the right path. Stay away from evil things and keep your eyes focused on the face of our dear Lord Jesus Christ. He will lead you home. —Bronwyn Hagey

Thru this world of toil and snares,
If I falter, Lord who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?
None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.  —Author Unknown

Exodus 9:1-35; Psalm 40:1-41:13; Acts 4:1-31

Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul. Psalm 66:16
Be ready always to give an answer to every man…of the hope… 1 Peter 3:15

There is tremendous power in personal testimony. The person being spoken to will quickly note that the words uttered from the person whose heart has been set free is speaking with force and transparency, highlighting the integrity of the message. No complicated, eloquent explanations, no deep theological discussion needed; just a heart-felt acknowledgement of the change that took place when Jesus came in. —Mark Kolchin

I have a witness bright and clear, since I have been redeemed,
Dispelling every doubt and fear, since I have been redeemed.  —E. Excell

Exodus 8:1-32; Psalms 38:1-39:13; Acts 3:1-26

Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord. 1 Samuel 2:1

This chapter begins with ten verses of a song sung by Hannah after she brought her young son, her only son at that time, to serve in the Temple. Hannah is amazing for many reasons including that she is the first to call God, the Lord of hosts (1:11). But what impresses me today is that Hannah is singing here— not because she received a son, nor because she was able to keep her son. She was singing because she could give her son. Paul tells us that God loves a cheerful giver. Hannah must have delighted His heart that day. —M. MacMullen

Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were an offering far too small,
Love so amazing, so divine, demands my heart, my life, my all.  —Isaac Watts

Exodus 6:14-7:25; Psalm 37:1-40; Acts 2:22-47

Jonah…cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. So the people of Nineveh believed God. Jonah 3:4-5

Jonah delivered the message, but our text says that the people believed God. From a natural perspective, we might think that the people would have reacted by asking, “Who is this foolish foreigner who is saying this in our streets?”. But God worked in their hearts and they recognized that the message was from God. May we never deliver a message to the lost that is our message, not God’s. The Holy Spirit convicts of sin, righteousness and judgment (John 16:8). We are privileged to deliver His message. —Ken Gross

May His beauty rest upon me, as I seek the lost to win,
And may they forget the channel, seeing only Him.  —Kate B. Wilkinson

Exodus 5:1-6:13; Psalms 35:1-36:12; Acts 2:1-21

All our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the (Red) sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud. 1 Corinthians 10:1-2, NKJV

One of the great symbols God used to indicate His presence to the Israelites during their exodus from Egypt was the cloud. When the people looked out their tent doors they knew God was with them. Going through the Red Sea they were under the cloud and the presence of God was over them. They were baptized in the cloud, literally immersed in the presence of God. When the cloud moved they were led by the presence of God at their front. At other times the cloud went behind indicating the presence of God providing protection behind them. —Jim Paul

The strength of His arm and His presence beside,
Are a glorious refuge in which I can hide. —Margaret McDonald