Author: Gospel Folio Press

Exodus 30:11-38; Psalm 78:32-72; Acts 18:1-23

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7 NKJV

Some Christians are good fighters in bad battles. They are focused and feisty and often pursue points of controversy rather than seeking common ground with the same vigour. Using the imagery of an athletic contest, Paul looks at the finish line with joy knowing he has expended his energy on contending in the only “good” contest, which was fidelity to Christ and the Gospel and fulfilling the ministry given to him. Am I engaged in the good fight or in some other
lesser cause? —Peter Ramsay

Fight the good fight with all your might,
Christ is your strength and Christ your right.
Lay hold on life, and it shall be,
Your joy and crown eternally. —J. Monsell

Exodus 29:38-30:10; Psalm 78:1-31; Acts 17:16-34

God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work …being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:8, 11

It has been well said that we can never outgive God, but many of us are slow to learn and prove it. The magnitude of our giving should be marked by liberality (2 Cor. 9:6), and the manner of our giving should be “cheerful” and willing (v. 7). The motive behind our giving should be that thanksgiving will arise to God from the full hearts of those our giving has blessed (v. 11). —Phil Coulson

Thy blood, O Lord, was shed,
That I might ransomed be,
Thy life was given for me;
What have I given for Thee? —Frances R Havergal

Exodus 29:1-37; Psalms 76:1-77:20; Acts 17:1-15

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. James 1:17 NKJV

The Christian life is one of change. The world around us changes, our situations and circumstances change, and we change, but God never changes. No matter what place or perspective we look from, there is no variation or shifting shadows in Him. He is always the same wonderful God. The big change is coming —when we see Jesus! We will be changed to “be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2). —Rex Trogdon

O God, who changes not;
Except in changing me;
I long in life by yielding more,
Like Christ my Lord to be. —Unknown

Exodus 28:15-43; Psalms 74:1-75:10; Acts 16:16-40

…and said to Peter, “What? Could you not watch with Me one hour?” Matthew 26:40 NKJV
Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying,…“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Mark 15:34 NKJV
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 NKJV

Fulfilling the law of Christ is to bear another’s burden but when Jesus went to the cross there was no one to share the burden of our sin. The disciples slept as He agonized over His coming suffering, and in the hour of His deepest distress, He said, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” How thankful I am that He bore the burden of my sin at the cross. Have you thanked Him? —Janet Fleming

He bore that burden alone; it was not even His own
He suffered and died for me, alone at Calvary. —Janet Fleming

Exodus 27:20-28:14; Psalm 73:1-28; Acts 15:36-16:15

Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather together, that I may tell you what shall befall you in the last days.” Genesis 49:1 NKJV

This scene has been referred to as “Jacob’s judgment seat” as he speaks to each one of his sons. This is private and personal; it involves review, rebuke and reward. It is a wonderful illustration of the judgment seat of Christ. The first three sons suffered loss due to unconfessed sin. Jacob had much to say about Judah, and even more about Joseph as Jacob saw Christ in these two lives. This is what will matter at our appearance before the coming judgment seat. —Gary McBride

To be like Jesus, to be like Jesus!
My desire—to be like Him!
All thru life’s journey from earth to glory,
My desire—to be like Him. —Author Unknown

Exodus 26:31-27:19; Psalm 72:1-20; Acts 15:22-35

Trust in Him at all times…Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Psalm 62:8 NKJV

What a powerful verse of encouragement. When we remember all the trials and tribulations David went through, from killing Goliath to fleeing King Saul, we can see what a help these words were to him. But, sometimes it is not easy to trust “at all times”, especially when you feel God is not answering your prayer now. But if we remember
“our times are in His hands” (Ps. 31:15), we can have perfect peace as we wait for the Lord to work. (Isa. 26:3). —Bob Cretney

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

Exodus 26:1-30; Psalms 70:1-71:24; Acts 15:1-21

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

We can become complacent about the Lord’s return and look at world events without urgency. God’s people need to be actively involved in seeking the lost and conscious of the state of their own souls. The lovingkindness of God should never be doubted, even when events seem to be out of control. God is faithful to His own and does not unleash His wrath against sinners immediately because He is longsuffering. “God doesn’t delay, He waits”. —Gaius C. Goff

While hosts cry hosanna, from heaven descending;
With glorified saints and the angels attending;
With grace on His brow, like a halo of glory;
Will Jesus receive His own. —H. L. Turner

Exodus 25:1-40; Psalm 69:1-36; Acts 14:1-28

. . . unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. 1 Peter 1:12

The missionary C.T. Studd said: “Only one life, ‘twill soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last”. Now is the time to serve the Lord. We are to testify of salvation which fascinates angels, and serve one another by using our gifts to edify the Church (Eph. 4:11-16). Our time, talents, and treasure are lent to us for God’s glory and the saints’ good (1 Pet. 4:10). —Keith R. Keyser

Awake my zeal, awake my love,
And serve my Saviour here below,
In works which all the saints above,
Which holy angels cannot do. —Isaac Watts

Exodus 24:1-18; Psalm 68:1-35; Acts 13:26-52

O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! Even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! Habakkuk 1:2

We must each confess that there are times when our prayer life feels like this, and the pain of hopeless despair almost consumes us completely. Much as Elijah mocked Baal’s priests about their absent god, we may be tempted to allow similar thoughts into our minds. It is at such times that we must draw near to the foot of the cross of Christ. Does He hear? Does He know? Does He care? The evidence of His shed blood answers with a resounding “Yes”!
—Rick Morse

O yes He cares—I know He cares!
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Saviour cares. —Frank E. Graeff

Exodus 23:10-33; Psalms 66:1-67:7; Acts 13:1-25

A thorn in the flesh was given to me. 2 Corinthians 12:7 NKJV

Martha Snell Nicholson experienced a life of deep suffering. Like the Apostle Paul, she had a “thorn in the flesh”. She was bedridden for over thirty years and endured four incurable illnesses. But, also like Paul, she waded into deeper levels of God’s sustaining grace.  As a result, she was able to pen a poem about this “gift” of a thorn and its intended purpose in our lives. May we let the Lord use the hardship in our life today to reveal more of Himself to us.  —Brian Cretney

I took it home and though at first the cruel thorn hurt sore,
As long years passed I learned at last to love it more and more.
I learned He never gives a thorn without this added grace,
He takes the thorn to pin aside the veil which hides His face.  —Martha Snell Nicholson