Author: Gospel Folio Press

1 Kings 18:1-46; Jeremiah 30:1-24; Hebrews 1:1-14

You shall call his name Ishmael … Genesis 16:11 NKJV

Life’s memories can stir joy or disappointment. Their nature will depend on whether God controlled the situation or if we were acting on our own. God named Ishmael. It means “God hears”. Whenever Hagar heard it, she would remember God’s kindness in the wilderness, telling her, “The Lord has heard your affliction”. For Abram and Sarai,
“Ishmael” would remind them that, God hears, but that they hadn’t inquired of Him before they concocted their scheme to “help” Him provide an heir through Hagar. Taking our worries and wonderings to the God who hears, will make all the difference as to what kind of memories we make. —S. McEachern

Lord, we worship and adore Thee, for Thy rich, Thy matchless grace;
Perfect soon in joy before Thee, we shall see Thee face to face. —J. Hopkins

1 Kings 17:1-24; Jeremiah 29:1-32; Philemon 1:1-25

If anyone … thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue … this one’s religion is useless. Pure and undefiled
religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. James 1:26-27 NKJV

Evidence that I belong to Christ is not my faithful attendance at the local church. The Gospel’s transforming power must be seen and felt by my community. My words should be beautifully better than theirs. Deeds of lovingkindness to those unable to reciprocate will be normal, not a Christmas exception. The world’s thinking won’t taint my practices. God expects this of me. —Peter Ramsay

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Hold o’er my being absolute sway!—Adelaide Pollard

1 Kings 15:33-16:34; Jeremiah 27:1-28:17; Colossians 4:2-18

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Philippians 4:6

Anxiety and worry change nothing. Trusting the Lord, obeying Him, delighting in Him, and resting in Him are what changes me. Don’t worry about things you can do nothing about. Worry constantly debilitates. Prayer and supplication with thanksgiving will bring us into divine intimacy as we verbally and deliberately pass our worries over to Him. Then God’s peace will shed a wondrous light on things we don’t understand. —Gaius C. Goff

So I tell you, do not worry; worry won’t command His power.
Which of you by constant fretting, adds to life a single hour?  —Susan H. Peterson

1 Kings 15:1-32; Jeremiah 26:1-24; Colossians 3:5-4:1

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Ephesians 5:8 NKJV

Only the transforming work of the Spirit can change a life from darkness to light. Paul confessed that before he met Christ, he was a blasphemer and a persecutor (1 Tim. 1:13). The Thessalonians also had, “turned to God from idols” (1 Thess. 1:9). Are you praying for someone who wants nothing to do with Christ? Don’t give up. If God could transform Saul the persecutor into Paul the Apostle, there is no one whose heart He can’t change. —E. V.

He changed my weeping to rejoicing, my guilt into grace,
Changed a list of wrongs behind, into a past erased;
He changed my wounded into healing, and my broken into praise,
It’s a miracle of mercy, that I’m standing here today…changed.—H. Kerr

1 Kings 13:33-14:31; Jeremiah 24:1-25:38; Colossians 2:8-3:4

Tell it not in Gath, Weep not at all; in Beth Aphrah roll yourself in the dust. Micah 1:10 NKJV

When believers fall it shames the Lord’s name and ought to grieve His church. Israel associated the command “Tell it not in Gath” with two tragedies. David said this when lamenting Saul and Jonathan’s deaths in battle. Though Saul persecuted David, he took no pleasure in his demise, because it gave opportunity for the Philistines to exult against Israel’s God. Similarly, Micah uses these words to grieve over the divine discipline of Judah through Assyria. May we overcome temptation by faith in our Lord and thus glorify Him before the world. —Keith R. Keyser

Oh may Thy Spirit guide my feet, in ways of righteousness!
Make every path of duty straight, and plain before my face. —I. Watts

1 Kings 13:1-32; Jeremiah 23:1-40; Colossians 1:21-2:7

Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. 2 Corinthians 7:5 NKJV
Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand (near). Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer … let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:5-6 NKJV

Paul knew external conflicts and inner fears. From prison, he exhorted the Philippians to respond to conflict with gentleness (forbearance) because the Lord is near. When tempted to worry, he exhorted them to immediately pray “to God”. May we always demonstrate a sweet reasonableness to others and a dependence upon our ever present and watching Lord. —George T. Ferrier

I must tell Jesus all of my trials; I cannot bear these burdens alone;
In my distress He kindly will help me; He ever loves and cares for His own. – E. A. Hoffman

1 Kings 12:1-33; Jeremiah 21:1-22:30; Colossians 1:1-20

And now the Lord God, and his Spirit, hath sent me. Isa. 48:16
That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth. Isaiah 49:6 NKJV

What a wonderful statement. That the Lord Jesus would be the Father’s salvation to the ends of the earth! And so He came and completely fulfilled all OT prophecies and went to the cross to be the Saviour for the whole world. He is the perfect Servant and in the first verse above He tells us that these things were not done in secret. Indeed all of creation points to His beauties and excellencies. Let us sing the joy of our salvation! —Annette Baal

O could I speak the matchless worth,
O could I sound the glories forth,
Which in my Saviour shine. —Samuel Medley

1 Kings 11:1-43; Jeremiah 19:1-20:18; Philippians 4:2-23

He will not fail nor be discouraged, till He has established justice in the earth. Isaiah 42:4 NKJV

We rightly rejoice in the finished work of the Lord Jesus at Calvary. But we should also rejoice in the work of the Lord Jesus that is not yet fully completed. One day we will experience the peace of a government that is founded upon the principles of justice and righteousness. While we may feel discouraged at the evil and injustice we see today, He will not fail nor be discouraged until He has accomplished this work also. —David Wilson

Then beneath His rule of peace,
Heav’n shall smile, and earth shall sing,
Ever yielding rich increase,
To the honour of her King. —Sarah G. Stock

1 Kings 10:1-29; Jeremiah 18:1-23; Philippians 3:1-4:1

The Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart. Deuteronomy 8:2 NKJV

God does not always explain the reason for difficult times in life. But here, He does reveal His purpose for Israel during their years in the wilderness. He desired to humble them, to test them, to teach them to value His Word and to bring out what was in their hearts. And a little later, He assures them that these events were to do them good in the end (v 16). So too for us. —Gary McBride

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after Thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still. —A. Pollard

1 Kings 9:1-28; Jeremiah 17:1-27; Philippians 2:12-30

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. John 17:17

Sometimes people ask me what I think about a controversial ‘social issue’. I tell them that it doesn’t matter what I think; it is important to know what God thinks because His Word is truth. For example, “God created male and female” (Gen. 1:27, 2:22). And, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (Gen. 2:25). I tell them if they have an opposite view, their argument is with God. His Word is truth. —Bob Cretney

The Word of God, a river of pleasure;
The Word of God, ’tis food for the mind;
The Word of God, its light faileth never,
The Word of God, what treasure we find. —Arthur E. Smith