Author: Gospel Folio Press

1 Chronicles 12:1-40; Ezekiel 13:1-23; John 4:31-54

And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. Luke 10:39 NKJV

On four occasions  in the Gospels we see a woman at the feet of Jesus. In the first scene, a woman who is a sinner comes and anoints the Saviour’s feet (Luke 7:36-50). Mary comes to listen to the Lord (Luke 10:39). Later, Mary falls at His feet in sorrow over the death of Lazarus (John 11:32). And finally, Mary anoints the Lord’s feet in anticipation of His burial (John 12:3). In these accounts we see a sinner in repentance, a student listening to the Lord, a sorrower finding comfort and a saint worshipping. All of these scenes should speak to us today. —Gary McBride

Jesus, before Thy face we fall, our Lord, our life, our hope, our all!
For we have nowhere else to flee, no sanctuary Lord, but Thee! —S. Medley

1 Chronicles 10:1-11:47; Ezekiel 12:1-28; John 4:1-30

Through love serve one another. Galatians 5:13 NKJV

In a world where interpersonal and family conflict is often the daily norm, it seems that Paul’s instruction to serve one another through love is a lofty request. But he says more than that! He speaks of faith becoming effective through love (Gal. 5:6) and even of the law being fulfilled in one word, “love”. But how can this possibly be? The word for love here is “agape” and is the love that God forms in the heart of the yielded believer by the Holy Spirit. It is the perfect fruit of the Spirit. It is God’s love! —Ray Jones

Search me, O God, and know my heart today;
Try me, O Saviour, know my thoughts, I pray.
See if there be some wicked way in me;
Cleanse me from every sin, and set me free. —J. Edwin Orr

1 Chronicles 8:1-9:44; Ezekiel 11:1-25; John 3:22-36

[Jesus] saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And Jesus said … Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him. Mark 1:16-18

Simon and Andrew had already had an encounter with Jesus (John 1:40-42) that resulted in their conversion. This second recorded meeting resulted in their call and their consecration. Notice their instant response to the call. ‘Immediately’ is the key word in Mark and it characterizes the perfect Servant. Following Him results in conformity to Him. —Lloyd Cain

Jesus, Saviour, blest Redeemer, all I leave to follow Thee evermore;
What to me is earthly grandeur, when I’ve Thee whom I adore? —Abby N. Everett

1 Chronicles 7:1-40; Ezekiel 10:1-22; John 2:23-3:21

As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace. Gen. 15:15 NKJV

God’s peace goes far beyond an absence of conflict. It is a spiritual peace that rests on a right relationship with Him. Out of that intimacy, God gives His surpassing peace to us. But many things seek to rob us of our peace and one of the most challenging can be death’s approach. How comforting then, that the first mention of peace in the Bible is in relation to a believer dying; in peace. As death nears, God’s peace opens our eyes to see the waiting arms of our Saviour. For those who grieve the empty chair, there is peace knowing where they have gone; peace knowing we will see them again; and best of all, peace regarding Who they are with. —S. M.

A mind at perfect peace with God; O what a word is this!
A sinner reconciled through blood; this, this indeed is peace. —H. Bonar

1 Chronicles 6:1-81; Ezekiel 8:1-9:11; John 2:1-22

Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. Matthew 3:4 NKJV

John was unrefined in his clothing, food (locust, v 4), and speech (“brood of vipers”, v 7). He was obscure in his location (wilderness, v 1) and he had a simple sermon (“repent”, v 2). He was described simply as a voice (v 3). Also notice that he “came preaching” (v 1). The job was never finished. We don’t need to be someone worth noticing to share the Gospel. There are still souls perishing and we simply need to be a voice, proclaiming Christ. – K. W.

Facing a task unfinished that drives us to our knees,
A need that, undiminished, rebukes our slothful ease,
We who rejoice to know Thee, renew before Thy throne,
The solemn pledge we owe Thee, to go and make Thee known.  —F. Houghton

1 Chronicles 4:24-5:26; Ezekiel 7:1-27; John 1:19-51

So the seers shall be ashamed, And the diviners abashed; indeed they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer from God. Micah 3:7 NKJV

Covering the lip was a manifestation of uncleanness, like leprosy (Lev. 13:45). It indicated speechlessness because of God’s holiness (Job 40:4). In Micah’s time, false prophets did it because they had no answer for God’s threatened wrath and it revealed their impurity from trafficking with unclean spirits. Upon seeing God’s holiness, Isaiah covered his lips in recognition of his sinfulness (Isa. 6:5). Humility before God produces cleansing (Isa. 6:7). “With the mouth
confession is made unto salvation” (Rom. 10:10). —Keith R. Keyser

While Thy glorious praise is sung,
Touch my lips, unloose my tongue. —James Montgomery

1 Chronicles 3:1-4:23; Ezekiel 5:1-6:14; John 1:1-18

All Your garments are scented with myrrh and aloes and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, by which they have made You glad. Psalm 45:8 NKJV

The Lord Jesus put aside His garments of glory to come to this earth. In the upper room, He laid aside His garments and washed the disciples’ feet. At the cross He was stripped of His garments and hung naked before all, to die in our place. He was wrapped in borrowed linen as He was laid in the tomb. One day we shall be clothed with garments of salvation, and we shall see Him, in His garments of glory and beauty (Rev. 1:13). What a glorious day that will be! —Marsha Blair

Clothed in garments of salvation, at Thy table is our place.
We rejoice, with Thee delighting, in the riches of Thy grace. —J. Deck

1 Chronicles 2:1-55; Ezekiel 3:16-4:17; 2 Timothy 4:1-22

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. Isaiah 55:8 NKJV

For years I had tried to share the Gospel with my neighbour. He listened but with very little interest. One wintry day, our driveway was covered with snow. I like to shovel down the centre of the driveway and then halfway up I shovel the width. My neighbour, shovelling his driveway, stopped and said to me, “I know why you shovel your driveway like that, because you believe in the cross.” As I turned and looked at my driveway, it did indeed look like a cross. I began sharing God’s glorious Gospel and this time he listened. Our ways are not always God’s way. —Bob Cretney

The cross! The cross! The blood stained cross; the cross of Christ I see,
It tells me of that precious blood, that once was shed for me. —J. Stockton

1 Chronicles 1:1-54; Ezekiel 2:1-3:15; 2 Timothy 3:1-17

Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? … but ye feed not the flock. Ezekiel 34:2-3

The shepherd-leaders of Israel failed. They gave no help to those broken in health, those too weak to work and those who had drifted into spiritual failure. They gave no spiritual guidance or protection and showed no concern for the poor. God condemned their failure. This should challenge everyone in Christian leadership today, to realize the importance of compassion for others rather than selfish considerations. The local church we attend and the society in
which we live, would be so different if all of God’s people took this challenge seriously. —Paul Young

So let us learn how to serve, and in our lives enthrone Him,
Each other’s needs to prefer, for it is Christ we’re serving. —G. Kendrick

2 Kings 25:1-30; Ezekiel 1:1-28; 2 Timothy 2:1-26

Behold, bless the Lord, All you servants of the Lord, Who by night stand in the house of the Lord! Psalm 134:1 NKJV

While others slept until daybreak, there were always some who served the Lord in the temple through the dark nights. Night-duty priests and Levites faithfully cared for the things of God and sang as they worked. Perhaps you are doing a night shift just now – a period of darkness. Remember, your God never slumbers or sleeps (Ps. 121). As you long for the dawning of a new day, He sees and values your faithfulness in the night. —Peter Ramsay

Some through the water, some through the flood,
Some through the fire, but all through the blood;
And some through great sorrow, but God gives a song,
In the night season and all the day long. —George A. Young