Author: Gospel Folio Press

Genesis 32:1-33:17; Psalms 1:1-3:8; Matthew 18:15-35

For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. 1 Corinthians 11:26
And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart. Psalm 104:15

How privileged we are as God’s servants to be invited to remember the Lord weekly. Not only is it a joy to the Father’s heart when we remember His Son, but it also strengthens our hearts together, makes us glad, and allows us to shine for His glory. Let us joyfully remember Him today! —Elizabeth C. Bishop

O Lord, by Thee invited, we gather in Thy name,
Each willing guest delighted, Thy presence here to claim,
The feast is Thine, O Saviour; the bread, the cup, are Thine;
Thy name the precious savour, of ointment, all divine!—Anonymous

Genesis 31:1-55; Job 42:1-17; Matthew 17:14-18:14

You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3 NKJV

The word “shalom” in Hebrew incorporates the idea of peace, well-being, fullness, rest, harmony, and the absence of agitation or discord. This perfect peace (“shalom shalom”) mentioned here, comes solely from an unwavering trust in the Prince of Shalom. When we keep our minds focused on Him, we will trust Him with our hearts. It is not an occasional coming to the Lord, but a continuous, steadfast fixation of our minds on the source of peace. —Olive Wilson

When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
‘It is well, it is well with my soul.’ —Horatio Spafford

Genesis 30:1-43; Job 40:1-41:34; Matthew 16:13-17:13

That God would open unto us a door of utterance. Colossians 4:3
That utterance may be given…to make known the mystery of the gospel. Ephesians 6:19
Grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word. Acts 4:29

These extracts from three earnest NT prayers remind us of our complete dependence on God in our Gospel endeavours. The first looks to Him for the right moment to preach; the second desires that the right message will be given, and the third seeks help for the right manner in presenting it. How much we need divine help to “preach the word” (2 Tim. 4:2). —Phil Coulson

Men die in darkness at your side without a hope to cheer the tomb;
Take up the torch and wave it wide, the torch that lights time’s thickest gloom.  —Horatius Bonar

Genesis 29:1-35; Job 38:1-39:30; Matthew 15:29-16:12

At midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God. Acts 16:25

Paul and Silas had been beaten, cast into the inner prison, and their feet secured in stocks. And yet they sang! It didn’t wake the jailor but God said, “I will wake him.” A great earthquake happened. When he awoke, he must have thought, I need what these men have. He asked, “What must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord
Jesus Christ” (Acts 16:30-31). Salvation soon followed. Today, sing praises to God and see what miracle He may bring as a result. And even when our days are “normal” we still have infinite reasons to sing praises to our Saviour. —Ken Gross

Sing when the day is bright, sing thru the darkest night;
Every day, all the way, let us sing, sing, sing.  —Alfred Smith

Genesis 28:1-22; Job 36:1-37:24; Matthew 15:1-28

He who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him…shout for joy, all you upright in heart! Psalm 32:10-11 NKJV

In audio technology, “surround sound” is the ultimate 360° experience; sound from every angle rather than uni-dimensional. But David was enjoying something infinitely better as he trusted in the Lord. Our moments of greatest exposure and vulnerability are when we trust in ourselves. David was shouting for joy, knowing he was totally surrounded by the goodness, faithfulness, and lovingkindness of the Lord Himself. I have a reason to shout for
joy today. —P. Ramsay

He saw me ruined in the fall,
Yet loved me notwithstanding all;
He saved me from my lost estate,
His loving-kindness, oh, how great! —Samuel Medley

Genesis 27:1-46; Job 34:1-35:16; Matthew 14:13-36

The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Spirit had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen. Acts 1:1-2

Notice the example that our Saviour set here—doing and teaching. See the consistency in the life of the Lord—until the day in which He was taken up. There was never a hiatus in His work! Notice the continuation of the work after He was taken up, “He was received up into heaven…And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following” (Mark 16:19-20). The Lord has left us an example that we should follow in His steps (1 Peter 2:21). —L. Cain

Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be, swift and beautiful for Thee. —F. R. Havergal

Genesis 26:1-35; Job 32:1-33:33; Matthew 13:44-14:12

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father? Matthew 10:29

When you are going through adverse circumstances and wonder whether God knows and cares, read this verse. You are infinitely more valuable to the Lord than a sparrow! Remember the Lord knows intimately about your problems and circumstances and will help. Yes, with millions of Christians needing the Saviour’s intervention it is difficult to understand this, but it is true. Look up, not down or around, and trust Him. —Brian Russell

The Lord is my shepherd, no want shall I know.
He makes me lie down where the green pastures grow.
He leads me to rest where the calm waters flow.  —Scottish Psalter

Genesis 25:1-34; Job 31:1-40; Matthew 13:24-43

Abraham rose up early in the morning…and went unto the place of which God had told him. Genesis 22:3
Abraham…saw the place afar off. Genesis 22:4
They came to the place which God had told him…and [he] bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar. Genesis 22:9
When they were come to the place…called Calvary. Luke 23:33

Oh how “the place” Abraham brought his son speaks to us of “the place,” God brought His Son. God said to Abraham, “Take now thy son, thine only son, Isaac”—the son of promise, his greatest hope, his very life! This was an act of implicit obedience to God and the response of a devoted worshipper. May we worship in the same fashion today. —Jim Comte

Calvary! O Calvary! Mercy’s vast unfathomed sea,
Love, eternal love to me. Savior, we adore Thee! —S. Trevor Francis

Genesis 24:1-67; Job 29:1-30:31; Matthew 13:1-23

“Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” Acts 1:11 NKJV

There from the Mount of Olives, the Lord Jesus ascended and went back to be with the Father. While the disciples watched, the angels delivered the blessed reminder, He is coming back again! Do we need this same reminder today? Be assured, dear saint, He who is coming will not tarry. The prophecies declare it, the apostles proclaimed it, the angels announced it, and He Himself has promised, “I will come again.” — Rex Trogdon

Lord Jesus, I am waiting, waiting Thy dear face to see;
Resting on Thy promise, Thou shalt come again for me;
Joy of Thy returning, wondrous meeting in the air,
Wonder of all wonders, I’ll be there! —David Penman

Genesis 23:1-20; Job 27:1-28:28; Matthew 12:22-50

He shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom. Isaiah 40:11
Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. John 13:23

Believers journey through this life beneath the shadow of His wings (Ps. 91:1, 4). But when we become weary, our Shepherd lifts us to His shoulders (Luke 15:5). There we rest between His mind and heart, as objects of His thoughts and affections. In perilous times, He gathers and cradles His lambs in His arms; and when hearts yearn for intimacy, He invites us to recline with Him. He is our rest as He leads us home. —David J. Reed

He knows, and cares,
Each burden He bears.  —Arthur E. Smith