Author: Gospel Folio Press

Numbers 9:1-10:10; Proverbs 6:20-7:27; Mark 16:1-20

Now after the death of Joshua … the children of Israel asked the Lord, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them? Judges 1:1
In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes. Judges 21:25

120 years span the striking contrast seen here between the opening and closing words of Judges. It begins with God’s people trusting in Him, seeking His mind concerning the next steps they should take. However, as one has noted about the final chapter, “The book ends with Israel talking to herself. God is completely side-lined.” May this never happen in our lives! —Pete Smith

Lord, on Thee our souls depend; in compassion now descend,
Fill our hearts with Thy grace, tune our lips to sing Thy praise. —W. Hammond

Numbers 8:1-26; Proverbs 5:1-6:19; Mark 15:24-47

In all things He may have the preeminence. Col. 1:18 NKJV

One writer, in commenting on the theme of the book of Colossians has said, “It shows us that Christianity is Christ”. This is emphasized in the phrase, “That in all things He may have the preeminence”. W. E. Vine defines pre-eminence as, “to be first”. Others have said the word speaks of Christ’s absolute supremacy. One might ask, how can we show the pre-eminence of Christ in our life or how can we glorify or reflect Christ in our life? It is not done
through man-made rules or regulations, but through the Holy Spirit who guides us into all truth (John 16:13). May Christ be seen in us. – Bob Cretney

With longing all my heart is filled, that like Him I may be,
As on the wondrous thought I dwell, that Christ liveth in me. —D. Whittle

Numbers 7:1-89; Proverbs 4:1-27; Mark 15:1-23

And when the sabbath was passed, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had brought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. Mark 16:1

Standing out in beautiful devoted simplicity is this early morning walk of three women who loved the Lord. In faith, they did not try to solve the problem of moving the stone before they got there. Faith simply involves moving purposefully to an objective of His will and that is what they did. Faith may not be dramatic, but it moves forward motivated by love for Christ and endures through deep waters. —Gaius C. Goff

I’ll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death,
And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath …
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now. —William Featherston

Numbers 6:1-27; Proverbs 3:1-35; Mark 14:53-72

And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. Exodus 25:8 NKJV
For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him. Matthew 2:2 NKJV

The tabernacle was to be a place where God and His people met and the ark of the covenant was the visible symbol of God’s presence among them. Without the ark, the tabernacle was purposeless. The weekly worship of the Lord should be a priority for us. The Lord meets us there and what is worship without His presence? Worship is the conscience reality of His presence and our occupation with Him. Let us remember Him today! —Jim Comte

According to Thy gracious Word, in meek humility,
This would I do, my dying Lord, I would remember Thee. —J. Montgomery

Numbers 5:1-31; Proverbs 2:1-22; Mark 14:27-52

For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. 2 Samuel 14:14

A lovely garden in an Edinburgh suburb also contains a reminder of a dark time in Scotland’s history. Within it is the burial place of a victim of the Great Plague of 1645. A plaque bears the solemn inscription in Latin, “Mors patet; Hora latet” meaning “Death is sure; the hour obscure”. Preparing a will for the inevitability of death, which can happen at any time, is prudent. So is preparing to meet with your Creator. It is important to get right with God. Accept His terms for salvation which He offers through what Jesus accomplished by His death on the cross. —Brian Powlesland

Time is earnest, passing by; death is earnest, drawing nigh;
Sinner wilt thou trifling be? Time and death appeal to thee. —S. Dyer

Numbers 4:1-49; Proverbs 1:1-33; Mark 14:1-26

David came to the two hundred men who had been so weary that they could not follow David … [and said] … as his part is who goes down to the battle, so shall his part be who stays by the supplies; they shall share alike. 1 Samuel 30:21-24 NKJV

David’s actions foreshadow our King’s appreciation of service. David’s rewards were based on one’s service unto exhaustion, not on their accomplishments. When we are left with only strength to guard and pray, our King transforms such efforts into wonderful outcomes and they will eventually give rise to praise, glory and honour from Him (1 Peter 1:7) at His coming. —David J. Reed

Channels only, blessed Master, but with all Thy wondrous pow’r
Flowing thro’ us, Thou canst use us, ev’ry day and eve’ry hour.  —Mary Maxwell

Numbers 3:1-51; Psalms 148:1-150:6; Mark 13:1-37

Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse. Malachi 4:6.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Rev. 22:21

The Old Testament ends with the word “curse.” The Greek translation of the Old Testament ends with verse 4 inserted as the last verse of the chapter. This subtle shift does not change the possibility and potential of God’s judgment. The New Testament ends with the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. For us, the curse is removed due to the fact that the Lord Jesus became a curse for us. The result is that we have received grace and have no fear of
judgment. —Gary McBride

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt! —J. Johnston

Numbers 2:1-34; Psalms 146:1-147:20; Mark 12:18-44

Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Israel hath burned. Jeremiah 36:28

Bibles have been burned by the thousands throughout history, while various governments and educational institutions have systematically done all they can to keep God’s Word out of circulation. They continue to fail because His Word is settled forever in heaven and it cannot be undone by the whims of men. The Scriptures continue to be proclaimed and taught, with men and women responding to the Gospel in repentance and faith. Take heart, fellow ambassador, the battle is the Lord’s. —Rick Morse

Open Thou mine eyes, Lord, that I may behold,
In Thy Word rich treasures, better far than gold. —Alfred Gibbs

Numbers 1:1-54; Psalms 144:1-145:21; Mark 11:27-12:17

Jesus … commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calls thee. And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. Mark 10:49-50

Notice that when Bartimaeus was called, he arose, “casting away his garment”. The Christian life is figuratively marked by putting off one garment and putting on another (Eph. 4:21-32). Bartimaeus illustrates for us this dramatic transformation. He was done with the old manner of life. Have we cast off the former things that were part of who we once were? —Lloyd Cain

And when, redeemed from sin and hell,
With all the ransomed throng I dwell,
My raptured song shall ever be,
God has been merciful to me. —C. Elven

Leviticus 27:1-34; Psalms 142:1-143:12; Mark 11:1-26

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body … whether it be good or bad. 2 Corinthians 5:10

Following our arrival in heaven, we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ. This assize could be compared to the ancient Greek games where athletes stood before the judges and received awards for their performance. So also the Judgment Seat of Christ has nothing to do with our sins, and there is no thought of penal consequences, but rather it is to review our service for the Lord following our salvation, and rewards shall be given or
denied accordingly. —Willie H. Burnett

Faithful to Him, will He find us watching,
With our lamps all trimmed and bright? —Fanny Crosby