Author: Gospel Folio Press

2 Kings 20:1-21:18; Lamentations 1:1-22; 1 Timothy 4:1-16

But when he saw the wind…he was afraid. Matthew 14:30

Peter’s problems resulted from taking his eyes off the Lord. Like Peter, we can focus on surrounding problems and begin to sink beneath the waves (Matt. 14:30). Like Peter, we can focus on other people and how unfair life seems to us (John 21:22). Like Peter, our pride can cause us to focus on people’s opinions of us rather than the Lord’s (Gal. 2:12). Problems. People. Pride. How we need to heed the Lord’s instruction to Peter: “What is that to you? You follow Me” (John 21:22 NKJV). Then, by God’s grace, we can be like Peter at the end of his life: “Looking for…the coming of the day of God” (2 Peter 3:12). Where will we set our eyes today? —Brian Cretney

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face;
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace. —H. Lemmel

2 Kings 19:1-37; Jeremiah 52:1-34; 1 Timothy 3:1-16

When they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head. Matthew 27:29

One night I fell face down from my bed, suffered a deep gash above one eyebrow and cuts on my forehead. Blood oozed out freely because of the blood-thinning pills I took. My face was bloody and later turned purple. I looked terrible. What did the Lord’s face look like when a crown of thorns was crushed repeatedly into His brow with a reed and His face was struck? Blood streamed down and His appearance was so disfigured that He did not look like a man (Isa. 52:14a). He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him. —K. C. Ung

Man of Sorrows! what a name, for the Son of God, who came;
Ruined sinners to reclaim. Hallelujah! What a Saviour! —Philip P. Bliss

2 Kings 18:1-37; Jeremiah 51:25-64; 1 Timothy 2:1-15

And they continued steadfastly in…prayers. Acts 2:42 NKJV

The early church endured much persecution. This drove them to prayer. In our western world, we live in relative comfort and ease. At times, we may feel that we don’t need to pray except about our own aches and pains. One writer has noted, “Difficult days are coming, days in which God will move His church out of the festival of popularity and into the furnace of persecution. A fiery trial is coming and people who don’t know how to pray won’t know what to do.” May we remember to always “pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1 NKJV), both as individuals and collectively as a local church. —Bob Cretney

Behold the throne of grace! The promise calls us near;
There Jesus shows a smiling face and waits to answer prayer.  —John Newton

2 Kings 17:1-41; Jeremiah 51:1-24; 1 Timothy 1:1-20

And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land. Genesis 28:15

Jacob was fleeing for his life and his future looked dangerously uncertain. On his way he rested at Bethel and God spoke to him in a dream to allay his fears. Firstly, the Lord would be his companion, “I am with thee” secondly, his protector, “I…will keep thee” and thirdly, his guide, “I…will bring thee again into this land.” Those wonderful covenant promises sustained Jacob through twenty years of trials. The Lord’s promises are the same for us. —Paul Young

Tenderly guide us, O Shepherd of Love,
To the green pastures and waters above,
Guarding us ever by night and by day,
Never from Thee would we stray. —Sophia T. Griswold

2 Kings 15:32-16:20; Jeremiah 50:21-46; Titus 2:9-3:15

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Proverbs 4:23

The heart, which should be constantly guarded, speaks of the inner life. If its thoughts, motives, and desires are pure and right, then the conduct that flows from it will be what it ought to be. A. W. Tozer in one of his writings has listed seven guidelines which disclose ways in which believers may evaluate themselves.

1. What we want most.
2. What we think about most.
3. How we use our money.
4. What we do with our leisure time.
5. The company we enjoy.
6. Whom and what we admire most.
7. What we laugh at.

Applying the words of Philippians 4:8, we would do well to “think on these things.” —W. Ross Rainey

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. —K. Wilkinson

2 Kings 14:23-15:31; Jeremiah 50:1-20; Titus 1:1-2:8

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8

Years ago in Montreal I visited a historic cathedral. The weather was damp and cold and as I climbed the 60 or so steps that led to the magnificent entrance I passed an older woman. She was on her hands and knees climbing up the steps one at a time, her knees bloodied from the rough stone steps. I asked if I could help. Her answer was she was working for her salvation. Perhaps you are trying to earn your salvation too? Remember it’s a gift not a prize! Just say thank you Lord! —Sid Halsband

Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul,
Thank you, Lord, for making me whole,
Thank you, Lord, for giving to me,
Thy great salvation so rich and free. —Seth Sykes, Bessie Sydney

2 Kings 13:1-14:22; Jeremiah 49:1-39; Hebrews 13:7-25

I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. Matthew 5:22

External behaviour is visible and easily discerned but it is the unseen motivations of the heart that are of utmost importance in God’s eyes. The Pharisees said obedience was easy but Jesus disagreed. The heart behind a clean exterior can be full of anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, lack of love and selfishness. A sad side effect of playing the hypocrite is that it puts God at arm’s length. Rather than pretend that all is well, acknowledge your sin today and apply the gospel to it. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us…” (1 John 1:9). —J. D. Fraser

God forgave my sin in Jesus’ name, I’ve been born again in Jesus’ name,
And in Jesus’ name I come to you, to share His love as He told me to. —Carol Owens

2 Kings 11:1-12:21; Jeremiah 48:1-47; Hebrews 12:18-13:6

What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?…I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Psalm 116:12, 17

As he contemplates God’s great goodness to him, the psalmist is at a complete loss as to how to repay Him. He feels he has nothing to offer. We too, as recipients of every spiritual blessing in heavenly places (Eph. 1:3), and countless temporal ones (Jas. 1:17), often feel totally inadequate to offer Him anything in return. Yet there is a way! From grateful hearts we can offer Him the sacrifice of thanksgiving and praise, which is well pleasing to Him (Ps. 69:30- 31). May He find us doing so today! —E. V.

Thou suffered the cross and the torment, that I might forever go free—
A thousand, a thousand thanksgivings, I bring, blessed Saviour, to Thee! —E. C. Homburg

2 Kings 10:1-36; Jeremiah 45:1-47:7; Hebrews 12:1-17

O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. Psalm 34:3

As servants of our great God we desire to shine the spotlight on the person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ. We magnify His grace by praising Him in the company of the lost. We bring His goodness into focus by our zeal for good works. We highlight His wisdom as we look to Him for guidance. His strength is revealed as we look to Him in trials. And each Lord’s Day we extol Him as we remember and proclaim His death. Today let us look for a way to exalt Christ to others. —George Ferrier

This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Saviour, all the day long. —Fanny J. Crosby

2 Kings 9:1-37; Jeremiah 44:1-30; Hebrews 11:17-40

And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. Matthew 14:23 

During the public ministry of the Lord Jesus, great demands were made upon Him from many sources. But it is significant to note that the Lord never allowed these demands to encroach on these special moments when He retired to spend time alone, in fellowship with the Father. If this was so with our Lord, how much
more important that we should strictly maintain the holy habit of spending time alone with our God and Father. To neglect this is to render our service powerless, and ineffectual. —W. H. Burnett

Shut in with Thee, far, far above, the restless world that wars below,
We seek to learn, and prove Thy love, Thy wisdom and Thy grace to know. —Alexander Stewart