Author: Gospel Folio Press

Judges 14:1-15:20; Isaiah 34:1-17; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:9

My host asked if I liked the painting on his wall. I stammered something polite. Amused, he suggested I step back a few feet. To my amazement, what was once blurry and nondescript, suddenly became clear and beautiful! Perhaps there is something in your life that seems hard to decipher and difficult to understand. God sees the bigger picture. From His point of view, the seemingly mismatched colours and randomly drawn shapes are all at work to create a beautiful masterpiece. Allow the Lord to have His way, and trust the final product to Him. —Lynn Shatford

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence, He hides a smiling face. —Wm. Cowper

Judges 13:1-25; Isaiah 33:1-24; 1 Corinthians 11:2-34

Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. Psalm 112:1
Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways. Psalm 128:1

C. H. Spurgeon suggests the word “blessed” is in the plural in the Psalms hence the joyfulnesses or happinesses that come to the man who reverences the Lord and the people who choose to walk in the ways of the Lord. “This is the way, walk ye in it” (Isa. 30:21). We all long for joy in our lives. Fear Him; walk in His ways and you will find multiplied joys today. —Wm. H. Gustafson

To Christ the Way, the Truth, the Life,
I come, no more to roam;
He’ll guide me to my Father’s house,
To my eternal home. —James McGranahan

Judges 11:29-12:15; Isaiah 32:1-20; 1 Corinthians 10:14-11:1

Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together. Genesis 22:6

Abraham laid the burden of the wood of the burnt offering upon his only son. The burden of the fuel set to consume Isaac was willingly carried by him to God’s determined place. Facing Calvary, on Christ a greater burden was laid. Our sins! His only Son took our place. I wonder, would Isaac bear that burden had he known its purpose? Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth! —D. J. Reed

From His bright throne eternal, He came to earth below;
From Godhead’s fullest glory, He came to bear our woe.  —A. Stevenson

Judges 10:6-11:28; Isaiah 31:1-9; 1 Corinthians 9:24-10:13

Who is he that condemneth? Romans 8:34

Are we condemning a fellow believer for their sin, their speech, or their questionable lifestyle? May God give us a gentler heart. Christ died for them and is interceding for them. Let us also pray for them and seek their holiness and good by supplications and acts of kindness. —D. Pickup

I gave My life for thee,
My precious blood I shed,
That thou might ransomed be,
And quickened from the dead;
I gave, I gave My life for thee,
What hast thou given for Me?   —Frances Ridley Havergal

Judges 9:1-10:5; Isaiah 30:1-33; 1 Corinthians 9:1-23

Then Moses said to the Lord, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” Exodus 4:10 NKJV

When first reading these words it appears Moses is displaying an appropriate sense of humility when called by the Lord to his ministry. Humility in the Lord’s work is absolutely essential but let us be honest, sometimes disobedience masquerades itself as humility. Moses’ behaviour in Pharaoh’s palace and in the land of Midian showed that he lacked neither courage, eloquence or ambition. May the Lord give us faith to trust Him and not our own resources. His commands are His enablements. —Sid Halsband

Jesus is the Name that charms us, He for conflict fits and arms us;
Nothing moves, and nothing harms us, when we trust in Him.  —Thomas Kelly

Judges 8:1-35; Isaiah 29:1-24; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the Lord do that which seemeth him good. 2 Samuel 10:12

Despite his checkered political and military career, Joab knew how to give a rousing pre-battle speech. He exhorted his brother and himself to “play the men”—a wonderful expression for exhibiting manly courage. Modern culture denigrates manhood, and seeks to subvert gender roles and attack divinely instituted authority structures like marriage and the family. Today believing males must assert their godly manhood in showing spiritual leadership in both the home and the church. —K. R. Keyser

Fight the good fight with all thy might!
Christ is thy strength, and Christ thy right.  —J. S. B. Monsell

Judges 7:1-25; Isaiah 28:1-29; 1 Corinthians 7:1-40

Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Deuteronomy 31:6

This is the message Moses gave to Joshua and to Israel (Deut. 31:7). God gave the same message to Joshua three times (Josh. 1:6, 9, 18) and and in turn Joshua gave it to his captains of war (Josh. 10:25). Later, David gave it to Solomon (1 Chron. 22:13, 28:20). It is the same for us today (Ps. 27:14, 31:24). As you go forward this day, be strong and of good courage, the Lord is with you. It is this that makes all the difference. —Sam Thorpe, Jr.

O Lord, never suffer us to think,
That we can stand by ourselves,
And not need Thee.  —John Donne

Judges 6:1-40; Isaiah 27:1-13; 1 Corinthians 6:1-20

Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him. Hosea 12:4

The prophet is recalling the memorable night when “Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him…” (Gen. 32:24). The excruciating pain of his hip out of joint likely led to his tears, but he cried out, as he clung on, “I will not let thee go, except thou bless me” (Gen. 32:26). Self-willed Jacob contended with the Lord, until the hand of God touched him, leaving him helpless and solely dependent upon the Lord. What will God have “to touch” that we may be fully surrendered to His will? —Pete Smith

I bow me to Thy will,
O God and all Thy ways adore,
And every day I live,
I’d seek to please Thee more and more. —F. W. Faber

Judges 5:1-31; Isaiah 26:1-21; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. Philippians 3:13

The tendency in coming to the end of years of service is to look back. It is good to reflect on blessings God has brought along the way—to talk about the good old days! But Solomon says, “Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this” (Eccl. 7:10). Everything in the past is over! Let’s take Paul’s advice by pressing forward and run the race to the finish line! The prize of God’s calling in Christ Jesus is waiting. —Jim Paul

Face to face! O blissful moment! Face to face to see and know;
Face to face with my Redeemer, Jesus Christ who loves me so.—C. Breck

Judges 4:1-24; Isaiah 25:1-12; 1 Corinthians 4:1-21

As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. John 18:6

At the State Opening of parliament in Britain, the Lord Chancellor climbs the steps of the throne to hand the Sovereign a prepared speech. Once read out, the Lord Chancellor retrieves it and walks down the steps backwards so as not to be disrespectful to the Sovereign. Jewish officers entered the Garden of Gethsemene looking for Jesus. He said to them “I am he.” Note that they did not fall backwards at this word. Rather it says “they went backward, and fell to the ground” (John 18:6). They spontaneously recognised His diety. One day every knee will bow. How much better to bow now!  —Brian Powlesland

At the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow,
Every tongue confess Him, King of glory now. —Caroline Noel