S – He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. And the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on him. ²¹ He began by saying to them, “Today as you listen, this Scripture has been fulfilled.

Luke 4:20–21 CSB

O – Commentary: Writers of the Dead Sea Scrolls, who believed that they lived on the verge of the end time, often stressed the immediacy of biblical prophecies, applying descriptions of Nahum, Habakkuk and others to their own day. Interpreting the Bible this way was thus not in itself offensive to first-century Palestinian Jews; the offense was implying that God’s end-time activity had arrived in Jesus’ own ministry

The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament

A – Jesus changed the normal, everyday life.  The words he read were the hope of all Israel – a messiah was coming to save them and set them free.  They just didn’t want it to be him.  They envisioned something or somebody else.  Their vision put Jesus “in a box” – their box.  I can do that too.  Put God’s will or purpose in my own viewfinder and struggle with His plan.  I need to invite the Holy Spirit to open my heart to what He is doing.

R – Lord, help me to see through your eyes today and know your will.  Help me to feel what you feel today and have a heart of compassion.  And give me the strength and courage to do what you call me to do today to fulfill your purpose in my life.  

S – Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” 

¹³ He told them, “Don’t collect any more than what you have been authorized.” 

¹⁴ Some soldiers also questioned him, “What should we do?” 

He said to them, “Don’t take money from anyone by force or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.” 

Luke 3:12–14 CSB 

O – Commentary:  Tax collectors, notorious for their dishonesty in collecting more than required and pocketing it for themselves (cf. 5:27–32), exemplified the need for honesty. And soldiers, known and hated for always trying to get more money (by extorting it and blaming others for it), were examples of the need to be content and gentle.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

God is already shifting culture by using these two examples.  He talks to the common Jewish person, then the tax collector (Jewish disliked) and Roman soldier (Gentile with authority).  He didn’t tell the two abhorred people to do a different job or change allegiance.  Instead, he told them to do their job with honesty and contentment.

A – God meets us where we are at and causes us to change.  God can use you right where you are at to be a “voice” in your workplace, community or groups.  You may be the only “Christian” voice in that group.  Use it in a way that honors Him.

R – God, help me to use my voice as an authentic Christian.  Let truth, contentment and humility be my foundation as I honor you in all situations today.

S – Luke 2:29–32 (CSB): Now, Master, you can dismiss your servant in peace, 
as you promised. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation. 31 You have prepared it 
in the presence of all peoples—32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, 
and glory to your people Israel.

O – Commentary:  Luke 2:27–32 (BKC): 2. On seeing the Child and picking Him up, Simeon … praised God, the response of godly people toward the Messiah throughout the Gospel of Luke. He then uttered a psalm of praise extolling God for fulfilling His promise by bringing salvation. The Messiah is the Source of salvation, as His name Jesus indicates. In all three of the hymns of thanksgiving and praise recorded by Luke in his first two chapters (1:46–55, 68–79; 2:29–32) lie the deep significance of the births of John and Jesus for the salvation of Israel and the world. Simeon noted that the Messiah was to be for the Gentiles as well as for Israel. The idea of salvation for the Gentiles is set forth many times in the Gospel of Luke.

A – Love the gratitude for salvation.  While we have had it “available” our entire lives, there were those who longed and pined for it to come. We should be just as grateful.  Also, seeing the Gentiles included in the plan of salvation shows that it was part of God’s larger plan.  Jesus was going to wreck the whole culture and set it up to change the world.

R – Lord, I am grateful for your salvation.  I never want to take for granted all that it cost for me to have a relationship with you.  Thank you for redeeming me.

S – Luke 1:13–17 (CSB): But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. 14 There will be joy and delight for you, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or beer. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit  while still in his mother’s womb. 16 He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.” 

A – Luke 1:14–17 (BKC): The angel not only gave the name of the son, but also detailed six aspects of John’s character.

1. He will be a joy and delight to you (v. 14). Luke frequently used the word “joy” in his accounts in Luke and Acts, often linking it closely with salvation.
2. He will be great in the sight of the Lord. The expression “in the sight of” (enōpion) is characteristic of Luke. Though it appears 35 times in Luke and Acts, it is used only one other time in the other Gospels (John 20:30).
3. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink. Later John voluntarily took on himself a Nazirite vow, refusing to drink anything fermented (Num. 6:1–21). Luke did not specifically state that John would fulfill all aspects of the Nazirite vow. Instead, John would avoid taking any wine perhaps to support his contention that his message was urgent. Another way he emphasized the urgency of his message was to dress, act, and eat like Elijah the prophet (cf. Matt. 3:4; 2 Kings 1:8).
4. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. “From birth” is literally “from his mother’s womb.” When Mary visited Elizabeth before John was born, the baby leaped in her womb. The ministry of the Holy Spirit was important to Luke, and he often went to great length to show His empowering and enabling ministry. Both of John’s parents were filled with the Spirit (Luke 1:41, 67).
   Luke 1:14–17
5.  Many of the people of Israel would he bring back to … God. Crowds of Israelites did turn to the Lord through John’s ministry (Matt. 3:5–6; Mark 1:4–5).
6. He will go on before the Lord. John the Baptist was the Lord’s forerunner, announcing His coming in the spirit and power of Elijah. Luke here referred to two passages in Malachi which speak of messengers: a messenger was to be sent to clear the way before the Lord (Mal. 3:1), and Elijah’s return was promised before the day of the Lord (Mal. 4:5–6) to restore the hearts of the fathers to their children.

A – We often hear of Jesus’ fulfillment of prophecy and relation to the Holy Spirit.  Interesting that John also centered in both.  It elevates that John being fully human, was an essential person in the transition of OT relationship with God and the new covenant he helped usher in.

R – Lord, let me live today in a way that honors the past culture and tradition of the early church.  Let me do that by being in complete unity with your Holy Spirit in all that I think, say or do today.

S – Romans 16:19–20 (CSB): The report of your obedience has reached everyone. Therefore I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise about what is good, and yet innocent about what is evil. 20 The God of peace  will soon crush Satan  under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. 

O – Romans 16:17–20 (BKC): But he was concerned that they be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil (kakon). The word for “innocent” is akeraious, “unmixed, simple, pure.” In Greek it was used of wine that was not diluted and of metal that was not weakened in any way. The word is used in the New Testament in only two other places: Matthew 10:16 (“innocent”) and Philippians 2:15 (“pure”). Christians should be innocent about evil, not following the ways of the world (Rom. 12:2).

A – We need to be wise in the things that honor God.  Wisdom goes toward application in knowledge, intellect and best practice.  Action and intentionality is important.  Pure in regard to evil isn’t naive.  It means distance and abstinence in these areas.  All of this is easier said then done.

R – Lord, help me to do this today.  Honor you with applied intentionality in doing your will and purpose today, while running away from the things that don’t honor you.

S – Romans 15:3 (CSB): For even Christ did not please himself. On the contrary, as it is written, The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.

O – Romans 15:1–4 (BKC): Also the strong should not seek to please themselves. This last clause is the key; a Christian should not be self-centered, but should be concerned about the spiritual welfare of others. Pleasing others, however, is not the end in itself, but is for their good, to build them up (lit., “unto edification”; cf. “edification” in 14:19). This is the example the Lord Jesus Christ left. Even He did not please Himself. He came “to do the will” of the Father who sent Him (John 4:34) and to please Him (John 5:30; 8:29). To support this statement Paul quoted a part of a verse from a messianic psalm (Ps. 69:9). Christ was insulted by others because of His associations with God the Father.

A – Christ is our example of valuing others.  We want to do it until we have to pay a price for it. (See part of verse – the insults of others have fallen on me.)  Focusing on doing God’s will and purpose each day helps keep the focus on what is good, even when the voices around it are challenging.

R – Lord, help me to do this today without complaints.  Let me value others first and my own aspirations will be accomplished in your timing.

S – Romans 14:7–9 (CSB):  8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 Christ died and returned to life  for this: that he might be Lord over both the dead and the living

O -Commentary:  Romans 14:5–8 (BKC): A believer’s individual accountability to the Lord in every area and experience of life is paramount. Each Christian in both life and death is seen by the Lord, and is accountable to Him, not to other Christians. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

A – When Jesus conquered death, it changed the entire game between God and the Devil.  By having rule and dominion over both realms, it all comes back to God.  What fear do we have if we know that in life and in death, God is in it?  What shame do we have when God forgives it?  In death, if we know it brings us to Him?

R – Lord, let me live courageously to honor you today – You are in it!

S –  Romans 13:7–8 (CSB): Pay your obligations to everyone: taxes to those you owe taxes, tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those you owe respect, and honor to those you owe honor. 

O – The word obligations jumps out at me.  The Greek word for this talks about “mutual responsibility.”  I know there have been some bad rulers  Yet, Paul spends Bible verses telling us to fulfill our responsibility to pay taxes, dues, respect and honor to others.

A – Easy to do with those I like.  Those I don’t, I find challenging. I must find value in groups and people…even those I struggle with in beliefs or actions.

R – Lord, help me respect all people and groups.  They are part of your purpose for me today.  

S – Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God

Romans 12:2 CSB

O – Commentary:  

First, Paul commanded, Do not conform (this Gr. word occurs elsewhere in the NT only in 1 Peter 1:14) any longer to the pattern of this world. Living according to the lifestyle of “the present evil Age” (Gal. 1:4; cf. Eph. 1:21) must now be put aside. Then Paul commanded, But be transformed (“keep on being transformed”) by the renewing of your mind. The Greek verb translated “transformed” (metamorphousthe) is seen in the English word “metamorphosis,” a total change from inside out. The key to this change is the “mind” (noos), the control center of one’s attitudes, thoughts, feelings, and actions (cf. Eph. 4:22–23). As one’s mind keeps on being made new by the spiritual input of God’s Word, prayer, and Christian fellowship, his lifestyle keeps on being transformed.

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

A –  The battlefield is in the mind.  I must reject aligning with the patterns the world offers that take me farther from God.  I need to continue to change from my heart to my thoughts, to my words and to my actions.  

R – Lord, start with me on the inside to continue to change and adhere to your truth and character.

S – For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may have mercy on all. 

Romans 11:32 CSB

O – This chapter focuses on the Jewish/ Gentile relationship.  This verse concludes that both are disobedient and mercy is available to everyone.

A – People tend to “segregate” due to any difference they can find with others.  We are all sinners.  We all need salvation and redemption.

R – Lord, thank you for the mercy you give me each day.  May I give it just as generously to others.