S – When the jailer woke up and saw the doors of the prison standing open, he drew his sword and was going to kill himself, since he thought the prisoners had escaped. 

²⁸ But Paul called out in a loud voice, “Don’t harm yourself, because we’re all here!” 

²⁹ The jailer called for lights, rushed in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. ³⁰ He escorted them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved

 Acts 16:27–30 CSB 

O – Paul and Silas had impressed the jailer with their cheerful faith (16:25), their composure in crisis, and their concern for his well-being (16:28). Whatever the jailer’s previous understanding of Paul’s message, God touched his heart, and he cried out for divine help

 New Living Translation Study Bible 

A – Notice that Paul’s focus is on the jailer and not himself.  In the midst of being jailed, it was their faith and concern for others that brought the jailer to salvation.  We can go through trials and still have a focus on other people. That is being a light in the darkness.

R – Heavenly Father, we all are going through challenges.  Thank you for the presence of your Holy Spirit in all situations.  Help us to demonstrate our love for you and others in all situations.

S – Elisha said, “Don’t be afraid, for those who are with us outnumber those who are with them.” 

¹⁷ Then Elisha prayed, “Lord, please open his eyes and let him see.” So the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw that the mountain was covered with horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 

2 Kings 6:16–17 CSB

O – Commentary;

Elisha was not at all disturbed by the present situation. He encouraged his aide to stop fearing, and assured him that they had behind them a force superior to that of the enemy. Elisha then asked the Lord to enable his servant to see this host and the Lord did so. He gave the servant the ability to see the normally unseen world of invisible spirits (angels) that are constantly ready to do God’s bidding (cf. Gen. 28:12). The hills around Dothan were filled with superior horses and chariots. These appeared as fiery agents of God suggesting to the servant their superterrestrial origin (cf. 2 Kings 2:11).

“2 Kings,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – Even when we don’t see it, God is in control.  We can put our trust and faith in him.

R – Heavenly Father, thank you for another day with you.  You hold and know all things.  We surrender and worship you.  Help us to see as you see and to put our faith in you.  

S – But his servants approached and said to him, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more should you do it when he only tells you, ‘Wash and be clean’?” ¹⁴ So Naaman went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, according to the command of the man of God. Then his skin was restored and became like the skin of a small boy, and he was clean

2 Kings 5:13–14 CSB

O – Commentary:

Naaman turned from Elisha’s house angry for two reasons: (1) His pride had been offended by Elisha’s offhanded treatment of him; he had expected a cleansing ceremony in keeping with his own dignity. (2) He resented having been told to wash in a muddy river that he considered inferior to the Abana and Pharpar … rivers in his hometown; the water of the Jordan, he thought, could not possibly do him any good.

The commander’s servants, however, had not been personally put down as their master had and could view the situation more objectively. Approaching him tenderly they appealed to him as a father to be reasonable. They pointed out that it was not as though Elisha had requested something difficult (some great thing). What harm would there be in giving his remedy a try? Undoubtedly feeling rather ashamed Naaman humbled himself and obeyed the word of the Lord. As he obeyed in faith he was cleansed. God did even more for him and restored his flesh to its soft boyhood texture.

“2 Kings,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – Most people will do something “great” or strenuous to achieve an amazing result.  How many will do a simple, humble thing?  Our culture points to the greatest results and biggest wins.  What about the person who wins the daily battles that no one sees or applauds?  Both are important.  We need to listen to the Holy Spirit and tells us what to do each day.

R – Heavenly Father, you alone are worthy of all praise and honor.  We want to be faithful to the small things to accomplish the big things when needed.  We surrender our fear and pride to you so that we won’t be led away from your will.  Give us the ability to hear your Holy Spirit today.t

S – Elisha asked her, “What can I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” 

She said, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.”

2 Kings 4:2 CSB

O – Commentary:

Her little bit of oil was olive oil used for food and fuel. Elisha told her to collect empty jars; they would be filled with oil God would provide. The widow’s faith can be “measured” by the number of jars she collected in response to the prophet’s instructions. Shutting the door provided privacy for the task of pouring the oil. Not everyone was to see the miracle take place; only the widow and her sons, the direct beneficiaries of God’s grace, should see it. But later she probably told all her friends about God’s miraculous provision. God provided oil enough to fill all the jars the woman had collected, all she felt she needed. She returned to Elisha with a report of the miracle and he told her to sell the oil and pay her debts. There was enough money left over for her to live on after all her financial obligations had been met.

 “2 Kings,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures,

A – Two great principles.  First, “What is in your house?” God provides everything you need to obey his will and be successful.  It is in you (gifts, talents, attitude) or it is accessible to you.  Second, “Where is your faith?”  Do you believe God is with you and will provide?

R – Heavenly Father, we stand in awe and revere of all you do for us.  Thank you for your provision.  Help us to steward all that you entrust to us to bring honor to your name.

S – God, how precious your thoughts are to me; how vast their sum is! 

If I counted them, they would outnumber the grains of sand; when I wake up, I am still with you.

Psalms 139:17–18 CSB

O – God is thinking about us all the time.  His thoughts about us are so many, it would be virtually impossible to count them.

A – To illustrate this point.  My wife, Kristin, and I have been married for 36 years.  If I filled a square box with 24-inch sides, you could fill it with 5 million grains of sand.  If each grain of sand represents me thinking of her in that time frame, I would think of her just under every 6 seconds.  Now…put that box on any beach.  Now, put that box on all the sands of the earth.  Amazing.

R – Heavenly Father, you alone are the one, true God.  Thank you for thinking of us for more than we can even imagine.  You are for us and your plans are for our best.  We put our faith and trust in you.

S – A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a difficult time. 

Proverbs  17:17 CSB

O – The terms friend and brother are not distinctive because of birth.  Instead, it speaks to the bonding of two people who become close as a sibling.

A –  There are people in your life that you will have a healthy, deep connection.  This is evident of the proximity you keep when you or they are going through life’s challenges.  Stepping into someone else’s mess is not easy.  Doing so says “I am here, how can I help?”  

R – Heavenly Father, thank you for stepping into our messy lives by sending Jesus for our sins.  The ultimate act of love was his willingness to lay down his life for us.  Thank you for those relationships you give us where we can serve someone else in their time of need.

S – Why does a fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?

Proverbs  17:16 CSB

O –  Commentary:

A fool is so simple he thinks he can buy wisdom. He comes with money in hand, but fails to realize he lacks the one resource necessary for gaining wisdom: a genuine, heartfelt desire for it.

“Proverbs,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – My definition of wisdom is the application of all that I bring (talents, gifts, attitude), I know (Knowledge and understanding) and I experience (my lifetime of moments).  You can’t “purchase” or shortcut your way to any of that.  Intentional is in the application process – it is an effort.

R – Heavenly Father, we honor you in fear and reverence today.  We desire to grow in our wisdom.  Please help us apply all of our gifts, knowledge and experience with intentionality to grow in wisdom.  Let it reflect well on you.

S – “So he turned back from following him, took the team of oxen, and slaughtered them. With the oxen’s wooden yoke and plow, he cooked the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he left, followed Elijah, and served him. 

1 Kings 19:21 CSB

O – Commentary:

Elisha burned his plow and slaughtered his oxen to signal a complete break from the past in his present calling. From now on, he would serve the Lord. His meal with family and friends may have been a thanksgiving sacrifice to God capped by a communal meal in joyful celebration of God’s claim upon Elisha’s life. • Elisha would first serve as Elijah’s assistant. Great leaders often begin as good learners. Joshua was Moses’ assistant (Exod 24:13) before becoming his successor (Num 27:18–23; Deut 34:9) and assuming command of the forces of Israel (Josh 1:1–9).

 New Living Translation Study Bible 

A – We need both strong convictions in our lives.  First, we need to break from the past that would tether us to stay where we are.  In serving God, he calls us to take new ground in serving him.  Secondly, to lead you need to serve. Elisha and Joshua are two examples of learning and leading in close proximity of the leader before you yielded tremendous results.

R – Heavenly Father, we honor and magnify your name!  We choose to leave the things of the past behind us.  We do not want to be slowed down or tethered to anything that would keep us from growing closer to you.  We choose to serve those ahead of us and honor their leadership.

S – As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came down on them, just as on us at the beginning. ¹⁶ I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ ¹⁷ If, then, God gave them the same gift that he also gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, how could I possibly hinder God

Acts 11:15 CSB

O –  Peter remembered how the Lord told them their ministry would work.  It worked on them and then it worked through them to others. If God didn’t limit who received it, how could he?

A – We need to be open to all people coming to Christ.  There will be those who we don’t agree with or like because they are different.  Jesus went to the cross for all of us.  If God loves them, so should we.  Even in our differences, we are one body.

R – Heavenly Father, you are Holy and above all.  We surrender and worship to you today.  Thank you for your love that brought us salvation and relationship at the cross.  We want all people to know you as their Lord and Savior.

S –  Then Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid; go and do as you have said. But first make me a small loaf from it and bring it out to me. Afterward, you may make some for yourself and your son, ¹⁴ for this is what the Lord God of Israel says, ‘The flour jar will not become empty and the oil jug will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the surface of the land.’ ” 

¹⁵ So she proceeded to do according to the word of Elijah. Then the woman, Elijah, and her household ate for many days

1 Kings 17:13–15 CSB

O – Commentary:

Elijah calmed her fears of himself, her hunger, and her imminent death. He asked her to feed him first … and then use what was left to feed herself and her son. Then he gave her a promise on the authority of the word of God: she would have food until the drought ended.

Her obedient response demonstrated her faith in the word of the Lord. The Lord honored her faith by fulfilling His promise miraculously. This miracle of God’s continually supplying flour and olive oil was another polemic (protest) against Baal, just as was the drought. Baal-worshipers believed he was a fertility god, giving rain to make crops grow. But he could not overcome the drought to make wheat and olive trees grow. Only the true God could provide flour and oil in a drought!

“1 Kings,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – What an amazing faith to believe with your last amount of food to give it to God first.   I want to have faith like this.  I want to know and trust completely like this.  

R – Heavenly Father, there is no God that is equal to you.  You are limitless and nothing is too hard for you.  Help us to grow in our faith and trust in you in all situations.  We know that you are good and your plans for us are for our good.