Author: Gospel Folio Press

Ezra 10:1-44; Daniel 11:1-20; Revelation 6:1-17

And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Acts 13:39

“I am a good person. I try to keep the law, so I hope I’ll make it to heaven one day.” Sorry, my friend! Even if you succeed in keeping the Law, which no one, apart from the Lord has ever done, you still could not be justified for “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). However Jesus died in your place, so He can not only forgive you but justify you as well. If you turn from your sin in repentance and place your trust in Him as your sin-bearer, He will save you. —David Croudace

Working will not save me.
Jesus wept and died for me.
Jesus suffered on the tree;
He alone can save me. —Robert Lowry

Ezra 9:1-15; Daniel 10:1-21; Revelation 5:1-14

When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. Job 23:10

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:7

We don’t like trials! But dear believer, God tells us that the trial of our faith is more precious than gold. We put a high value on gold, but do we realize what is precious in God’s sight? That impossible situation you are in, the loss of health or a loved one, seems too hard, but as we trust our Saviour through it, it becomes immensely precious before Him. —Mary Robins

Ask the Saviour to help you,
Comfort, strengthen, and keep you;
He is willing to aid you,
He will carry you through. —Horatio Palmer

Ezra 8:1-36; Daniel 9:1-27; Revelation 4:1-11

And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it. Amos 8:12

Of all God’s fearsome judgments, a famine for His Word is the worst. The Bible is His revelation to mankind, providing saving access to Christ for those who believe it (John 1:12-14; Rom. 10:17). When the Almighty no longer speaks with someone, it is a severe situation, as King Saul’s experience shows (1 Sam. 28:6). Over the past four centuries, the western world has enjoyed almost unlimited access to the Bible, but do we believe it? —Keith R. Keyser

But still Thy Law and Gospel, Lord,
Have lessons more divine:
Not earth stands firmer than Thy Word,
Nor stars so nobly shine. —Isaac Watts

Ezra 7:1-28; Daniel 8:1-27; Revelation 3:7-22

He sought to see Jesus who he was. Luke 19:3

Millions lined the streets to see the Queen’s funeral. A similar outpouring of grief was seen for the funeral of Queen Victoria. One difference between the two funerals was that whereas nobody was allowed to get a vantage by climbing trees that lined the streets to see the recent procession, there were many adventurous people who scaled trees for
a better view during Victoria’s procession. Zacchaeus climbed a tree to avoid the crowds. But since he wanted to get a better idea as to “who Jesus really was”, he needed a closer meeting and had to come down to earth. If you are a seeking soul, best to come down and show humility and respect and thereby get a blessing. —Brian Powlesland

Zacchaeus went a very little way, and a very little way went he;
And when he welcomed Jesus in, some changes they would see.  —Christopher Idle

Ezra 6:1-22; Daniel :1-287; Revelation 2:18-3:6

I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me. Job 10:2
God is greater than man. Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters. Job 33:12-13

Job learned this truth—God does not have to answer our “whys”. We too need to trust Him fully when we pass through dark times, whether we understand the reason for them or not. Then we’ll say with Job, “he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10). – Elizabeth C. Bishop

God never moves without purpose or plan,
When trying His servant and molding a man.
Give thanks to the Lord, though your testing seems long;
In the depths of the darkness, He gives us a song. —Ron Hamilton

Ezra 5:1-17; Daniel 6:1-28; Revelation 2:1-17

Please, show me Your glory. Exodus 33:18 NKJV

In making this request, Moses wanted to know more of God’s person. The Lord revealed Himself in visual glory that was veiled, but He made a further verbal revelation of His name. He declared something of His character and conduct toward humanity. He is “merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth” (Ex. 34:6). He forgives sinners but executes justice on the guilty. We will have to wait until heaven to see the full visible expression of glory but in the interval, we can see the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, full of grace and truth, as revealed in the Word of God. —Gary McBride

What grace, O Lord, and beauty shone around Thy steps below!
What patient love was seen in all Thy life and death of woe!  —E. Denny

Ezra 3:1-4:24; Daniel 5:1-31; Revelation 1:1-20

And he…began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death. Matthew 26:37-38

Matthew tells us our blessed Saviour fell on His face in Gethsemane.  Luke says He was in agony and His sweat became like great drops of blood. Although others prostrated themselves before the Lord, the weight of His burden was unlike any other. No scales could weigh the heaviness of His holy heart that night. The compression of His soul
as He anticipated infinite suffering could only be appreciated by His Father as they communed together in the Garden. —Peter Ramsay

Gethsemane can I forget? Or there Thy conflict see,
Thine agony and blood-like sweat, and not remember Thee?  —James Montgomery

Ezra 1:1-2:70; Daniel 4:1-37; 3 John 1:1-14

I have called by name Bezalel…of the tribe of Judah. And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom…and in all manner or workmanship, to design artistic works. Exodus 31:2-4 NKJV

Bezalel was chosen by God to make all the complex parts of the tabernacle. He was of the tribe of Judah. With Spirit wisdom Bezalel took the raw materials given to him and crafted things of beauty. There is another master Craftsman from the tribe of Judah. He takes the raw material of our lives and crafts something beautiful out of them, something that will glorify God. Sometimes we may wonder what He is doing. But trust and rest in Him. He is accomplishing His work in you, even today. —Annette Baal

Praise Him! praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Sing, O Earth, His wonderful love proclaim! —Fanny J. Crosby

2 Chronicles 36:1-23; Daniel 3:1-30; 2 John 1:1-13

And in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord. Ex. 16:7
In the morning you shall be filled with bread. Ex. 16:12 NKJV

The glory of the Lord is an overwhelming subject and manifested in so many different ways. Here it is associated with God’s provision to His people in the wilderness with bread. It is a beautiful picture of the Son of God who said, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger” (John 6:35). If you have taken that step and come to Him, you will never go unsatisfied again. Also, through Him you are going to see and share in His glories for all
eternity. What a prospect! —Jim Paul

The brightness of God’s glory, and the image of God’s being,
The heir of richest majesty, the arm of regal might;
Creator of the universe, all-knowing and all-seeing;
Is Christ who brings forgiveness and the lifting of our night. —M. Perry

2 Chronicles 35:1-27; Daniel 2:24-49; 1 John 5:1-21

I pray for them, I pray not for the world, but for them which Thou has given me, for they are thine. John 17:9
Those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost. John 17:12

How wonderful that our Lord Jesus Christ considers every believer a special gift from the Father. How unique and precious we all are to Him. This certainly lifts our spirits to greater heights and helps us rise out of any feelings of depression and worthlessness. John 3:16 tells us what He has done for us. 1 John 3:16 tells us what we now need to do for one another. Let’s look at all believers as special gifts straight from the heart of God to the Lord Jesus Christ.
—Eleanor Isaacson

Once more to tell it, would I embrace;
I’m only a sinner saved by grace! —James M. Gray