S – The king answered Araunah, “No, I insist on buying it from you for a price, for I will not offer to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing
2 Samuel 24:24 CSB
O – David is preparing his sacrifice to cover his sin. Arauna wants to give him all that he needs for the sacrifice. David recognizes he must incur a cost for it to be an actual sacrifice.
A – What does it cost us to follow Christ? He paid the price with his life and blood – he gave all of himself for our redemption. In salvation, we return our lives to Christ and establish a relationship. Do we give all of ourselves to Christ? Or, do we hold back the parts we want to keep and allow those sins or attitudes to be our own?
R – Heavenly Father, your son gave all of himself so we could have a relationship with you. We want to give all of ourselves to you. Reveal the areas where we have “held on” to things. We too must sacrifice things that challenge or cost us. We desire your very best today!
S – Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call
Acts 2:38–39 CSB
A – The gift of the Holy Spirit is God’s promise (cf. 1:5, 8; 2:33) to those who turn to the Lord, including Jews and their descendants and those who are far off, that is, Gentiles (cf. Eph. 2:13, 17, 19). Acts 2:38–39 put together the human side of salvation (“repent”) and the divine side (call means “to elect”; cf. Rom. 8:28–30).
“Acts,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures,
O – Peter gives the salvation message for the first time. He puts Jesus central to that decision. Repent in Jesus’ name, be baptized in Jesus’ name – do these in Jesus’ name and your sins will be forgiven. The message hasn’t changed in over 2,000 years. We all get the gift of the Holy Spirit.
R – Heavenly Father, thank you for the life and death of Jesus. We are grateful for the gift of salvation and your Holy Spirit. We choose to align with you and your word today. Your love for us never gets old.
S – But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Acts 1:8 CSB
O – Two things – When the Holy Spirit comes, you receive power and you will be witnesses.
A – You need power to be a witness and you don’t want to be one without it. Not power to only to perform, but to obey, persevere and do it in love. The scripture gives geographic descriptions that apply to us today. Jerusalem is our immediate interactions (family, friends and loved ones.). Judea those in our world that we interact with occasionally. Samaria are those we disagree with in the relationship. Finally, ends of the earth means foreigners – people of different cultures and beliefs. We need power to love all of these people.
R – Heavenly Father, please forgive us for moving forward without the power of the Holy Spirit. You gave him to us to empower us to love everyone. Thank you for this wonderful gift!
A – There is an old saying “Something is as valuable as much as someone is willing to pay for it.” How valuable are wisdom and understanding when preferred above the two symbols of wealth and currency in Bible times?
R – Heavenly Father, we stand in awe of you today. We ask that you continue to give us wisdom and understanding. You know our lives and hearts. May both align with your will and purposes so you are honored.
S – Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you.” 22 After saying this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
John 20:21–23
O – Commentary:
Jesus then recommissioned the disciples as His apostles: He was sending them as His representatives, as the Father had sent Him (cf. 17:18). They were sent with His authority to preach, teach, and do miraculous signs (Matt. 28:16–20; Luke 24:47–49). For their new commission they needed spiritual power. So He breathed on them and said, Receive the Holy Spirit. The image and wording of breathing on them recalls God’s creative work in making Adam (Gen. 2:7). Now this post-Resurrection “breathing” was a new kind of creative work for they would soon become new creations (Eph. 2:8–10). This reception of the Spirit was in anticipation of the day of Pentecost and should be understood as a partial limited gift of knowledge, understanding, and empowerment until Pentecost, 50 days later.
Forgiveness of sins is one of the major benefits of the death of Jesus. It is the essence of the New Covenant (cf. Matt. 26:28; Jer. 31:31–34). Proclaiming the forgiveness of sins was the prominent feature of the apostolic preaching in the Book of Acts. Jesus was giving the apostles (and by extension, the church) the privilege of announcing heaven’s terms on how a person can receive forgiveness. If one believes in Jesus, then a Christian has the right to announce his forgiveness. If a person rejects Jesus’ sacrifice, then a Christian can announce that that person is not forgiven
“John,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures
A – Jesus gave three impartations to his disciples. He sent them, gave them the Holy Spirit and established forgiveness as a foundational part of their relationship with others. We are given the same impartations today. We need to walk in the same manner as the disciples.
R – Heavenly Father, you are worthy of all praise and honor today. We want to align with your plan and purpose for us today, full of your Holy Spirit and forgiveness to others. Please help us do this with humility and courage.
S – Righteous lips are a king’s delight, and he loves one who speaks honestly
Proverbs 16:13 CSB
O – A king can trust and depend on someone who has a righteous character. He knows he will get straightforward insight and information from an honest person.
A – Any leader wants to know they can trust those who follow. Talents and gifting are important to a group. Dependable, honest character-filled people are the ones you structure your group around to maximize its effectiveness. We should desire to be those people no matter our position or gifting.
R – Heavenly Father, we honor and worship you today. We desire to know you better and walk in your way. Please help us be people of character and honesty today. It demonstrates your love for others when we tell the truth in love.
“You say that I’m a king,” Jesus replied. “I was born for this, and I have come into the world for this: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”
38 “What is truth?” said Pilate
John 18:37–38 CSB
O – Jesus asserts his kingship before Pilate. Not a king of land or provinces, but a heavenly kingdom based on the truth. The truth is that God is the one true God and Jesus is the one sent by Him to share who He is. Pilates’s question “What is truth” continues to be asked today.
A – Many seek truth in a variety of sources today. We must recognize that God is who He says He is and acknowledge that Jesus is the way to Him. In a world filled with various gods, accepting that God is the one true god acknowledges the truth established back at creation.
R – Heavenly Father, we honor and acknowledge that you are the true God. There is no rival or equal to you. Thank you for Jesus coming as your son and going to the cross to pay for our sins. He is the truth and the way to you. Thank you for loving us so much that he would do this.
When something is erected, it is built from a master set of blueprints. A man carries out his plans while God’s sovereignty prevails by having a purpose and plan for our lives.
A – We must acknowledge and honor that God has a will and purpose for us. That aligns us with the Bible. Our part is to be obedient to his purpose and plan. We do this by praying and knowing Him more. As we get to know Him and his plans, we align our plans with His.
R – Heavenly Father, you alone are worthy of praise and honor today. We ask that you continue to reveal to us your plans and purposes. Give us the wisdom to align our plans with yours. Give us the courage to obey your will quickly and in a way that honors you.
S – I am not praying that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world
John 17:15–16 CSB
O – Commentary:
God’s plan was not to remove the disciples from danger and opposition (take them out of the world) but to preserve them in the midst of conflict. Though Jesus would soon be taken out of the world (v. 11), His followers are to remain in it. Like Daniel in Babylon (Dan. 1–2; 4–6) and the saints in Caesar’s household (Phil. 4:22), God intends for His followers to be witnesses to truth in the midst of satanic falsehood. Satan, the evil one (cf. Matt. 5:37; 1 John 5:19), as head of the world system, seeks to do everything possible to destroy believers (cf. Rev. 2:10; 12:10) but God’s plan will prevail. Christians must not take themselves out of the world but remain in meaningful contact with it, trusting in God’s protection while they witness for Jesus.
17:16–17. Just as Jesus did not belong to the satanic world system (I am not of it; cf. v. 14), so believers do not. They belong to the heavenly kingdom (Col. 1:13) because of their new births
“John,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures
A – Believers are part of the world to be a light and show the love of God to others. In that journey, God will protect us from the enemy’s schemes. This is where we grow in the spirit realm while living in the physical realm.
R – Heavenly Father, we are in awe of you. Empower us today to do your will and stand strong against the plans of the evil one. We know you are with us. Give us your strength and courage to honor you and love others.
S – Everyone with a proud heart is detestable to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished
Proverbs 16:5 CSB
O – God deteststhe proud, who refuse to commit their ways to the Lord (16:3) and mistakenly believe that they can accomplish their plans on their own (16:1).
A – When we disobey God or pursue our agenda outside of God, unhealthy pride is involved. We are saying “We don’t need or want you” in our lives. It is haughty and puts us in the center of our life instead of Christ. Instead, we need to invite God into our lives and each day.
R – Heavenly Father, we worship and surrender to you today. We invite you to be in our thoughts, words and actions. We invite you to lead and be in a relationship with us as we face today. Give us the courage to obey your commands. Give us the hearts to love you and others fiercely.
Just Add Water . Chris Bonham 