Author: Gospel Folio Press

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

1 Kings 8:31-66; Jeremiah 16:1-21; Philippians 1:21-2:11

I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh … Genesis 9:15

The sun was still shining when the rain started, so my grandchildren ran to the window to see if there was a rainbow.
Sure enough, there it was in all its beautiful colours. God was again reminding us of His faithfulness to us ever since the time of Noah. Even in our days of struggle or pain, God can bring a rainbow into our lives to assure us that He is there with us, giving us hope when we need it. —Virginia Strout

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changeth not, Thy compassions they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be. —Thomas O. Chisholm

1 Kings 8:1-30; Jeremiah 15:1-21; Philippians 1:1-20

And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it. Colossians 4:17

The gifts of the Spirit, which every Christian has received, come with both enablement and responsibility. As He has empowered each of us to serve others with supernatural ability, He has also required of us that we attend to these duties as the highest of all vocations. Our spiritual family needs us as edifiers, and our lost world needs us as evangelists. Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do today? —Rick Morse

Give as was given to you in your need,
Love as the Master loved you;
Be to the helpless, a helper indeed,
Unto your mission be true. —Ira Wilson

1 Kings 7:1-51; Jeremiah 14:1-22; Ephesians 6:10-24

What is your beloved more than another beloved? Song of Solomon 5:9 NKJV

At a recent Bible conference the speaker’s final topic was taken from the above verse. During the message, he would occasionally pause and ask us, “What is your beloved?” When the Shulamite was asked this question, she did not hesitate but was ready with a delightful description of her beloved. She described him from head to toe, and then as if she had run out of words, she simply said, “Yes, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend” (5:16). Oh, to be as ready to tell others about our Beloved, and to one day see Him face to face! —Marsha Blair

Thou art coming, O my Saviour, Thou art coming, O my King,
In Thy beauty all resplendent, in Thy glory all transcendent. —F. Havergal