S – Stone is heavy and sand a burden,but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.
Proverbs 27:3 CSB
O – Commentary:
The burden of being provoked by a fool is a heavy one indeed. In fact it is heavier than a large stone and more burdensome than sand. So a wise person should not react to a fool even when the fool’s actions and words are irritating.
A—When we engage in foolish behavior or conversation, we are adding “weight” to our lives. Healthy boundaries keep us free from this burden and available for the necessary things.
R – Heavenly Father, we honor your name today. Give us discernment to identify unnecessary things. Give us the courage to establish healthy boundaries to protect the things that are vital to our growth.
S – We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain
Hebrews 6:19 CSB
O – Christian hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. In the first century, an anchor was an image of stability and safety. • through the curtain: A curtain separated the outer room of the sanctuary, into which only priests could go, from the inner room, the Most Holy Place (Exod 25:10–40). Only the high priest could go into the Most Holy Place, and only once per year on the Day of Atonement.
A – I Corinthians 13 tells us that three things remain – faith, hope and love. Anita Phillips wrote, “Faith is me believing what God can do. Hope is believing what God can do for me.” Hope brings a personal element to our faith. Christ brings hope to all situations and secures trust and safety.
R – Heavenly Father, we surrender and worship you. You alone are worthy of both. Thank you for being an anchor for our souls today. In the turbulence we face, we know that our anchor brings safety, security and peace.
S – During his earthly life, he offered prayers and appeals with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was the Son, he learned obedience from what he suffered
Hebrews 5:7–8 CSB
O – Jesus experienced the journey of pain and prayer in his life. God heard those prayers because of Jesus’ posture and approach to Him. This is how Jesus learned obedience while he never sinned. He wasn’t perfect in the absence of pain…he learned perfection through his. pain.
A – We are all on a journey. Most likely, there is some form of pain in this. We need to recognize that it is part of the process. We cannot control some things but we can control ourselves. We decide our posture and approach to God. We decide to honor and obey God even amid the injury. We choose to grow towards God in the challenge or keep ourselves distant. Jesus modeled the way that God honors and desires.
R – Heavenly Father, we move toward you as our God. In our pain, give us the courage to approach you in humility, honor and reverence. You are worthy of it all. Show us your presence, power and peace in the challenge. We desire closer proximity with you today.
S – For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart
Hebrews 4:12 CSB
O – Commentary:
For the Word of God is living (zōn) and active (energēs). Not only that, its penetrating power is greater than any double-edged sword and reaches the innermost being of a person so that it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. In doing this, it is able to discriminate successfully between what is spiritual in man and what is merely “soulish” or natural (it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit), and does so even when these often-contradictory inner elements are interwoven as closely as joints and marrow. The inner life of a Christian is often a strange mixture of motivations both genuinely spiritual and completely human. It takes a supernaturally discerning agent such as the Word of God to sort these out and to expose what is of the flesh.
“Hebrews,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures
A – The Word of God has the ability to distinguish between what is human and spirit. This is mission-critical in our walk with God. We are human and spirit. Having a “resource” that helps us recognize and act accordingly in both realms is a huge advantage. The fact that it is living and active allows it to work without changing since its inception.
R – Heavenly Father, thank you for the Word of God. It is our “plumb line” in our walk with you. It instructs, guides and brings comfort. Help us to think, talk and act according to its instruction. Allow it to permeate our lives so w can reflect your love to others.
S – Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession
Hebrews 3:1 CSB
O – Commentary:
And so, dear brothers and sisters who belong to God: Literally And so, holy brothers. Speakers and writers of the ancient world often addressed religious gatherings as “brothers,” referring to both men and women. • think carefully about this Jesus: Focusing on Jesus is a primary means of persevering in the faith (2:9; 12:1–2). • God’s messenger (literally God’s apostle): This description might be highlighting the Son’s role in bearing a proclamation of God’s name and message
A – The commentary brings out a strong principle – “Focusing on Jesus is a primary means of persevering in the faith.” Our relationship with Jesus is the “plumb line” for our view of God. It determines our level of belief and is the bridge to all that God has for us.
R—Heavenly Father, you are my God. I surrender myself and my will to you alone today. Thank you for Jesus, my savior and Lord. I appreciate how he modeled your love and character and desire it for myself. Lead me today by your Spirit in my conversations and interactions.
S – Therefore, he had to be like his brothers and sisters in every way, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in matters pertaining to God, to make atonement, for the sins of the people. 18 For since he himself has suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.
Hebrews 2:17–18 CSB
O – Jesus came in human form and was completely God and man at the same time. This allowed for a true representation of both God and man. This allowed him to express mercy and faithfulness as a human. Also, he can identify with the challenge of temptation.
A – It says a lot about a leader when they step into your “mess” and help you navigate your way out. It is the epitome of servant leadership when you join with someone instead of just giving instructions. That is our Savior. He stepped into all we face today and can identify with our challenges. It allows us to draw closer to Him.
R – Heaven Father, you are the one, true God. Thank you, Jesus, for coming to earth to experience what we do daily. You understand and identify with our challenges. We invite your Holy Spirit to lead us and bring us your presence, power and peace. We step towards you with great expectation.
S – The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high
Hebrews 1:3 CSB
O – Jesus embodies all that God is. His character and love are exactly what God’s are. Through Christ’s word, all things are maintained. He paid the price for our sins and sits beside God in heaven.
A – God loved us enough to send Jesus for two reasons. First, I want to be a human example that shows us His character and love in a tangible way. Also, he paid the price for our sins once and for all. Both demonstrate a foundational love that God has for us.
R – Heavenly Father, you are Lord of all. We are grateful for the love you showed us by sending Jesus to earth and dying for our sins. That love gives us salvation and a relationship with you. Empower us to show that same love to others today.
S – No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely
will stand in my presence.
Psalms 101:7 NIV
O – Our actions and words determine our “closeness” to the Lord.
A—We are accountable for our words and actions. Both reflect our innermost part—our heart. We must spend time in God’s presence and His Word examining and challenging our heart. When our heart is healthy, it flows out in our thoughts, words and actions.
R – Heavenly Father, we honor you above all things today. Help our thoughts, words and actions align with you. Let the outflow of our heart bring honor and glory to your name.
S – 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, 5 he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit
Titus 3:4–5 CSB
O – Commentary:
But all of that changed when the kindness and love (philanthrōpia, lit., “love for man”) of God our Savior appeared. The contrast is startling. In verse 3 man is the actor, but in verses 4–7 man is merely the recipient, and God becomes the actor. What man could in no wise do for himself, God initiated for him. (On the reference to God as Savior, see comments on 1 Tim. 1:1.)
3:5. God in His grace saves those who believe, not because of any righteousness in them (cf. Rom. 3:21–24; Eph. 2:8–9; 2 Tim. 1:9), but because of His mercy. The three words, “kindness,” “love,” and “mercy” (Titus 3:4–5) all represent aspects of God’s grace. The dual means of grace through which He accomplished this salvation are (1) the rebirth spoken of as a washing from the filth of sin, and (2) the renewal by the Holy Spirit (cf. 2 Cor. 5:17). No mention is made here of the role of faith in the process because Paul’s entire focus was on what God has done, not on human response.
“Titus,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures
A – The focus is on what God did. He initiated what man could not do for himself. God’s grace is astounding and it came at a significant price. We can never take for granted what Jesus did for us in coming to earth as totally God and yet a man. That love led him to crucifixion on the cross and his resurrection. A relationship with God takes faith but God demonstrated his love before we took the first step.
R – Heavenly Father, we worship and surrender to you. Your love for us is amazing and humbling. Help us demonstrate our love for you our character and our interactions with you and others. You alone are worthy of our praise and honor.
S – For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,
Titus 2:11 CSB
O – Commentary:
That God’s *grace had provided (though not automatically effected—cf., e.g., 1:10) salvation for all people ran counter to the Jewish emphasis on God’s special redemption of Israel and prevailing sentiments of cultural distinctions held by many people in antiquity (though Judaism allowed that some righteous *Gentiles would be saved, and philosophers and some mystery religions challenged conventional cultural boundaries).
A—Human nature causes us to see our differences. It also compares our value to others based on those differences. We must see others as God sees them—with the same love and value. We are the voices that God uses to reach people. We must love and value them accordingly.
R – Heavenly Father, you are my Lord and my God. Give me more of your heart to see and value others as you do. I want to demonstrate that in my thoughts, words and actions. I want to be an invitation of salvation, hope and love today.
Just Add Water . Chris Bonham 