Author: Gospel Folio Press

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

Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Matthew 8:26

The disciples, seasoned fishermen, were facing a storm that filled them with terror, and the Lord was asleep, seemingly uncaring about their plight. They then wakened Him, and He intervened, calming the storm, and gently chiding them for their fear and lack of faith. We learn here that faith is tested and strengthened when facing adversity, rather than when circumstances are congenial. We also learn, that the Lord is always aware of our trials, and He is always ready to hear our cries, and deliver. Paul writes “God… will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape“ (1 Cor. 10:13). —W. H. Burnett

When doubts and fears arise, teach me Thy way!
When storms o’er spread the skies, teach me Thy way!  —B. Mansell Ramsey

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

Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified. Matthew 27:26 NKJV

The divine Creator responsible for the marvels of the human spine gave His own back to the smiters (Isa. 50:6). As a young man travelling with the pilgrims to Jerusalem, did He join in singing: “The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows” (Ps. 129:3). Yet He accepted, without resistance, the excruciatingly painful scourging of His back. He died that we might be free. —Peter Ramsay

His love my heart has captive made,
His captive would I be,
For He was bound, and scourged and died,
My captive soul to free.  —Charles Wesley

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

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness, but is longsuffering to us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 NKJV

This verse tells us two things that the Lord is not. He is not slack concerning His promise to come again, and He is not willing that any should perish. As we consider these truths we look upward expectantly, knowing that “He that shall come will come, and will not tarry” (Heb. 10:37). Also, we look outward compassionately, to men in their great spiritual need, knowing that it delights His heart to save precious souls. He is a returning and redeeming Lord! As
we wait for Him may we faithfully serve Him. —Philip A. Kaye

Jesus is coming! O sing the glad word!
Coming for those He redeemed by His blood.  —Daniel W. Whittle

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

For if thou…holdest thy peace at this time, then shall…deliverance arise to the Jews from another place…And who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? Esther 4:14

The Jews were under the sentence of death and Esther was chosen to intervene on their behalf. This world is under the sentence of eternal death (Rom. 6:23), and God has given you and me the incredible privilege of being “workers together with him” (2 Cor. 6:1), to take the Gospel of eternal life in Christ to them. If we fail to do this, He will send someone else, for His work must and will be done. —David Croudace

Jesus shall reign where’er the sun,
Does its successive journeys run,
His Kingdom stretch from shore to shore,
Till moons shall wax and wane no more. —Isaac Watts

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

For I say…to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think. Romans 12:3 NKJV
The Pharisee…prayed thus…“God, I thank You that I am not like other men…even as this tax collector.” Luke 18:11 NKJV

Thinking highly of ourselves is a dangerous but easy trap to fall into. The Pharisee of our verse is a classic example. He was so full of pride that it blinded him to the fact that the prayer of the publican was accepted over his. “For every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted” (Luke 18:14). How much better to follow our Saviour’s example of humility, bringing glory to His Name. —E. V.

Not I, but Christ, be honoured, loved, exalted;
Not I, but Christ, be seen, be known, be heard.
—A. Simpson & A. Whiddington

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

Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare. Psalm 75:1-2

Within this small psalm, we read one of the great facts of all time: God’s works reveal who He is! Paul affirmed this (Rom. 1:20-22), and as we look at the plants and trees, we can see the hand of the great Creator all around. May we use our eyes to see these things and give Him the praise that is due to His Name! —Gwenyth Frear

To You, O Lord, do we give thanks,
Your wondrous works stand there in ranks,
Men cannot stand up in his pride,
Before You Lord they cannot hide,
But we Your own, can sing Your praise,
For ever and for all our days. —G.F.

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

Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:24

The believer has “hope…as an anchor of the soul” (Heb. 6:19). Even though we are living in uncertain times, our hope stands fast. As the Psalmist reminds us three times in Psalms 42 and 43—our hope is in the Lord. So there is no reason to be cast down or disquieted. He is our help and health! —Wm. H. Gustafson

My hope is built on nothing less,
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.  —Edward Mote

2 Kings 24:1-20; Lamentations 4:1-5:22; 2 Timothy 1:1-18

May He remember all your offerings, and accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah. Psalm 20:3 NKJV

The Lord rejected King Saul because of his serial disobedience, which was little more than witchcraft in a sanctified garb (1 Sam. 15:22-23). Elsewhere we read: “To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats” (Isa. 1:11). How different it is for believers who come to the Almighty through the Son of God’s sacrifice. They are unquestionably received into His holy presence (Heb. 10:19-22).  —Keith R. Keyser

Sweet to reflect how grace divine, my sins on Jesus laid;
Sweet to remember, that His blood my debt of sufferings paid.  —Augustus Toplady

2 Kings 23:1-37; Lamentations 3; 1 Timothy 6:1-66

And a certain man found him (Joseph), and, behold, he was wandering in the field; and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou? Genesis 37:15

Joseph is a wonderful picture of the Lord Jesus in so many ways. However all pictures eventually fall short. Joseph is wandering, he is lost. We praise and thank God that our Lord never wandered. Every step that He took had a sense of purpose and direction. Every footfall took Him to Calvary, without deviation or retracing a step. Such was His love for us. —John M Clegg

O Jesus, Lord, how can it be,
That Thou shouldst give Thy life for me,
To bear the cross and agony,
In that dread hour on Calvary?  —W. M. Darwood

2 Kings 21:19-22:20; Lamentations 2:1-20; 1 Timothy 5:1-25

Obey My voice, and…walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you. Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but followed…the [imagination] of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward. Jeremiah 7:23-24 NKJV

Is it well with you today? Or are you heading in the wrong direction because of your disobedience to His Word? If you have backslidden and have been turned aside from the things of God by the attractions of this world, you are going backwards! Friend, stop and consider the one who went all the way to Calvary for you. Never turning aside, His direction was always towards the cross— such was His love. Why not change direction today? —Pete Smith

Gladly I yield obedience now; in all things to Thy will I’d bow.
I’ll follow where my Savior led, and humbly in His footsteps tread.  —Unknown