Author: Gospel Folio Press

Genesis 43:1-34; Psalms 20:1-21:13; Matthew 25:1-30

Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part. Luke 10:41-42

The distractions of life sometimes get the better of us. We have great plans to prioritize our spiritual walk and then before we know it, our minds are preoccupied again “and troubled about many things”. Laundry, washing the car, preparing meals, maybe even “spiritual activities”; all seem so important. Let’s remember the Lord prizes our affections above our service. Being occupied with Him is the one thing we should focus on. —Sid Halsband

Jesus, Lord, we know Thee present, at Thy table freshly spread,
Seated at Thy priceless banquet, with Thy banner overhead.
Precious moments at Thy table, from all fear and doubt set free;
Here to rest, so sweetly able, occupied alone with Thee. —B. Thompson

Genesis 41:50-42:38; Psalm 19:1-14; Matthew 24:29-51

Be ye holy; for I am holy. 1 Peter 1:16
That soul shall be cut off from his people. Leviticus 7:20-21, 27

The Old Testament laws may seem very severe to us, but they were given so that God’s people would realize that they serve the Creator, the Almighty God and that He is holy. In light of this we should not come into His presence casually, without reverence and holiness. May we, by the Spirit, develop a holy fear of God that is so lacking in our world today, so that we may glorify Him who is worthy. —M. Robins

Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy name, in earth, and sky, and sea,
Holy, Holy, Holy! Merciful and Mighty!
God in three persons, blessed trinity. —Reginald Heber

Genesis 41:1-49; Psalm 18:30-50; Matthew 24:1-28

I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. Genesis 9:13, NKJV 

The first rainbow appeared as a comfort to Noah after the flood (Gen. 9:8-12). It appeared again in Ezekiel’s vision of the Almighty informing him of the storm that would come upon Jerusalem (Ezek. 1:28 cf. 14:13-21). In heaven, John saw a rainbow round the throne of God (Rev. 4:3). Shortly after this vision, the storm of the Great Tribulation will begin. For the Christian, be it after, in or before the storm, the Lord’s “rainbow” presence is always with us, and we hear Him say, “Peace, be still” (Mark 4:39). —K. C. Ung

There’s a rainbow in the cloud for you,
There’s a promise that is sure and true;
Yes, the storm will pass away;
There will dawn a brighter day. —Eliza E. Hewitt

Genesis 40:1-23; Psalm 18:1-29; Matthew 23:1-39

Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my
defence; I shall not be greatly moved. Psalm 62:1-2

This psalm may have been written during Absalom’s rebellion, and David is seen waiting on God to act. In verse five, he says, “My soul, wait thou only upon God”. The word “wait”, suggests “to pause for further instructions”. Silent waiting is a most difficult discipline. Someone has said, “Waiting is but prolonged trust and lengthened hope.” Too often we frantically seek an answer instead of waiting silently and patiently for God. —Jim Comte

Be still, my soul! The Lord is on thy side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change He faithful will remain. —Katharina von Schlegel

Genesis 39:1-23; Psalm 17:1-15; Matthew 22:15-46

And when he was come unto us, he took Paul’s [belt], and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this [belt], and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. Acts 21:11

The Bible does not present a utopian worldview of waveless seas and trouble-free days. Agabus’ difficult—but necessary—ministry of delivering bad news realistically prepared Paul to suffer, so that he could stand in the coming trial. By God’s grace, crosses will eventually give way to crowns. —K. R. Keyser

In weakness and trial, with God we may plead;
No fear of denial, we’re sure to succeed:
For, though we oft grieve Him, His promise is clear,
And love will believe Him: our Father will hear. —R. de Courcy

Genesis 38:1-30; Psalms 15:1-16:11; Matthew 21:33-22:14

Let us go up at once, and possess it (the land); for we are well able to overcome it. Numbers 13:30
We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. Numbers 13:31

Knowing the promise of God, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Heb. 13:5), we can confidently say “we are well able”, just as Joshua did. Our Lord is the Divine Enabler in dealing with every challenge or complexity of life. On the other hand, if we look first at the obstacle instead of the deliverer, we will be overwhelmed, defeated, and discouraged. —Wm. H. Gustafson

In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm. —K. Getty, S. Townend

Genesis 37:1-36; Psalms 11:1-14:7; Matthew 21:1-32

He hath done all things well. Mark 7:37

Many do a few things well. A few do many things well. However there has only been One who has done all things well. When we consider the work of the Lord, whether it be His creatorial work, His sinless, flawless life, His perfect death, His triumphant resurrection or His glorious ascension—they all bear testimony to the fact that “He hath done all things well.” —John M. Clegg

And when to that bright world I rise,
And join the anthem in the skies,
Above the rest this note shall swell,
My Jesus has done all things well.  —Samuel Medley

Genesis 36:1-43; Psalms 9:1-10:18; Matthew 20:17-34

Pilate said…“Behold the Man!” John 19:5, NKJV

John said, “After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me” (John 1:30). The woman said, “Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?” (John 4:29). The disciples said, “What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:41). “The Jews answered him…thou, being a man, makest thyself God” (John 10:33). The crowd said, “Away with this man” (Luke 23:18). The Pharisees said, “This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them” (Luke 15:2). Your eternal destiny rests on what you do with this Man! —Jim Paul

What will you do with Jesus?
Neutral you cannot be;
Some day your heart will be asking,
“What will He do with me?”—Albert B. Simpson

Genesis 35:1-29; Psalms 7:1-8:9; Matthew 19:16-20:16

Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? Luke 24:26

The disciples were deeply distressed by the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus. They had anticipated, as the prophets had promised, that the Lord would take His place as King. The reason for their distress was that they had been selective in their reading of Scripture. Old Testament Scriptures had also made it abundantly clear that His suffering would precede His glory. So often when times of suffering and grief come into our lives, like the disciples, we can become distressed, forgetting that such events are part of God’s plan for us in the present, but that the glory lies ahead.
—W. H. Burnett

Midst the darkness, storm and sorrow, one bright gleam I see,
Well I know the blessed morrow, Christ will come for me.—P. Gerhardt

Genesis 33:18-34:31; Psalms 4:1-6:10; Matthew 19:1-15

Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” 1 Chronicles 4:9, NKJV

In the midst of a lengthy genealogy, we read of Jabez. What brought him honorable mention above his brothers? It was his prayer in the following verse. He prayed that God would bless him indeed—His provision; that God’s hand would be with him —His presence; that He would keep him from evil —His protection; and that he would not cause pain. God granted his request and proved His promise, “those who honor Me I will honor” (1 Sam. 2:30, NKJV). That promise is still true (John 12:26).—Rex Trogdon

O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer!  —Joseph Scriven