S – Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. 

      Matthew 5:48 CSB

O –  Commentary:  He did not lower His standard to accommodate humans; instead He set forth His absolute holiness as the standard. Though this standard can never be perfectly met by man himself, a person who by faith trusts in God enjoys His righteousness being reproduced in his life.

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

A – The Lord’s standard is perfection which I cannot achieve. Yet, I choose how I think, speak and act.  I can make choices that allow me to grow and mature.  Perfection isn’t a legitimate goal.  Continuing to grow and reflect the heart and character of God is a daily one.

R – Lord, thank you for your grace and mercy that allow me to grow each day.  Help me to make choices that will grow my heart and character to reflect you.  Give me strength and courage to do that in good and bad times.  While Your standard is perfection, I am grateful that you love me in my journey.

S – Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. ² After he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. ³ Then the tempter approached him…

Matthew 4:1–3 CSB

O – Commentary:  Jesus was led by the Spirit: The temptation was providentially arranged by God as a test of the Messiah’s character (see Deut 8:2). • to be tempted there by the devil: This test of character, initiated by God (who tempts no one; see Jas 1:13–14), was accomplished through the devil’s own desire to lure Jesus into sin.

 New Living Translation Study Bible 

A – God set this up and allowed Satan to do his work.  Jesus (the Second Adam) won in direct temptation where the first Adam did not.  Satan tempted Jesus with something He did not have and Jesus used God’s words and character to defeat him.  Jesus fasted 40 day and was hungry before the devil showed up.  Jesus was vulnerable and weak and still won.

R – Lord, I pray for the same strength and character through the Holy Spirit.  No matter the circumstances, help me to use your Word and character to defeat the enemy’s temptations.  I want to walk in purity and victory.

S – Jesus answered him, “Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John allowed him to be baptized. 

Matthew 3:15 CSB

O –  to fulfill all righteousness. What did Jesus mean? The Law included no requirements about baptism, so Jesus could not have had in view anything pertaining to Levitical righteousness. But John’s message was a message of repentance, and those experiencing it were looking forward to a coming Messiah who would be righteous and who would bring in righteousness. If Messiah were to provide righteousness for sinners, He must be identified with sinners. It was therefore in the will of God for Him to be baptized by John in order to be identified (the real meaning of the word “baptized”) with sinners.

A – Jesus identified with with sinners in that He was baptized.  He also identified with them on the cross when he took their sin upon his sinless body.  It show amazing love for someone who never knew sin to identify in someone else’s mess.

R – Lord, you demonstrated your love then and each day that I walk with you.  Thank you for your love that you graciously give to me.  I know I am a sinner and you can understand my challenges.  I ask for strength and courage to grow through those things.  

S- Matthew 2:9 (CSB): 9 After hearing the king, they went on their way. And there it was—the star they had seen at its rising. It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was. 

O – Commentary: The journey of the Magi from Jerusalem wrought a further miracle. The star they had seen in the East now reappeared and led them to a specific house in Bethlehem where they found the Child Jesus. Bethlehem is about five miles south of Jerusalem. “Stars” (i.e., planets) naturally travel from east to west across the heavens, not from north to south. Could it be that “the star” which the Magi saw and which led them to a specific house was the Shekinah glory of God? That same glory had led the children of Israel through the wilderness for 40 years as a pillar of fire and cloud. Perhaps this was what they saw in the East, and for want of a better term they called it a “star.” All other efforts to explain this star are inadequate (such as a conjunction of Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars; a supernova; a comet; etc.).
The Bible Knowledge Commentary

A – The glory of God cannot remain hidden. I want my life to illuminate His glory as well.  

R – Lord, I pray that my life would draw others to you.  I recognize my faults and sin but know that in covering that with Jesus’ blood, people see Him.  I want to know you more today and reflect your character.  Let my life bring glory to you today.

S – Matthew 1:23 (CSB): See, the virgin will become pregnant 
and give birth to a son, 
and they will name him Immanuel, 
which is translated “God is with us.” 

O – The angel quoting Isaiah is reminding Joseph of an important part of the Christian beliefs.  700 yrs before, it was prophesied that God would be with us.  God himself would live amongst His people.

A – Two applications – 1.  Jesus not only experienced the good and bad of being human.  He is compassionate to our joys and wins.  He also knows our temptations and challenges.  So much that He paid the price for them on the cross. 

2.  God is still with us in the form of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus advocates for us in heaven with the Father but the Holy Spirit is our guide and teacher.  That makes God accessible to all people and not just those seeking the “man” as when Jesus was on earth.

R – Lord, I am grateful that you came to earth and experienced what I feel and think. Where you didn’t sin, you have grace because you know the pull of temptation and sin.  You know me.  I surrender all of it to the blood of Jesus for your forgiveness.  I invite your Holy Spirit to lead me to day so I can walk in your presence, power and compassion for others.

S – “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you yourselves not recognize that Jesus Christ is in you? — unless you fail the test.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭5‬ ‭CSB‬‬

O – Paul is warning the Corinthians to examine themselves before he arrives. If there isn’t evidence of Christ working in their lives, then maybe they don’t know Christ. 

A – It is easier to look at others than ourselves.  The only person we have power to change is ourselves.  In examining ourselves, we must look at our heart, thoughts, words and actions and stand them up against the Bible and what the Lord is showing us.  God never asks us to be perfect.  As in any relationship, growing closer to the other person is a sign of good health.

R – Lord, test me and examine me today.  Reveal to me the area where I am not lining up with Your word or desires for me.  I open myself to be challenged so I can know you more.  Thank you for your graciousness in loving and caring for me.

S – Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so that I would not exalt myself. ⁸ Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it would leave me. ⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.”

 2 Corinthians 12:7–9 CSB

O – Commentary:  

We do not know what the thorn in Paul’s flesh was; we only know that its purpose was to keep him from becoming proud, to prick the bubble of pride. • It was a messenger from Satan—that is, something or someone evil—so Paul prayed to the Lord to take it away. The Lord answered each petition the same way: “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” Paul’s human weakness was an opportunity for the power of Christ to work through him by God’s grace. Paul accepted his suffering because Christ’s strength showed itself through his weakness.

 New Living Translation Study Bible 

A – We all have our kryptonite.  We need to embrace it as part of the journey and recognize its reminder that we cannot do this alone.  Easy to say – hard to do.  By inviting Christ into it, he gives us grace (forgiveness and compassion) and direction (how to work through it.)

R – Lord, I surrender all of my weaknesses and challenges to you.  I invite you into them to show me your presence and power.  I ask for your grace to minister to me and your direction to show me my next steps.  I will glorify you in the good and the difficult.

S – For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no wonder! For Satan disguises himself as an angel of light

2 Corinthians 11:13–14 CSB

O – Paul is condemning these leaders because they are good on the outside and evil on the inside.  

A – There is a tension we feel in our relationship with God that is growing from sin and wrong things towards holiness and good things.  This addresses a person’s heart and intentions in that process.  If we are doing it as a “facade,” then it is like putting on a “disguise.”  But, if our relationship with God is sincere and genuine, it is part of the journey to know Him more.

R – Lord, I know I am a sinner.  I sincerely come before you with all of my flaws and ask for your forgiveness.  I want to know you and emulate that in my thoughts, words and actions.  In my weakness, make me strong in You today.

S – And every proud thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ. 

2 Corinthians 10:5 CSB

O – A “proud” thing is elevated to a place that it opposes the “knowing” of God.  It can be any attribute or attitude we possess that causes us to think we are better than God at addressing that issue.  It goes back to the fundamental challenge of God’s will or my will.  When I think I need to follow my path over God’s path.  Interesting that it then says take every thought.  Our thoughts are the foundation and the battlefield in the spiritual realm.  

A – I must surrender and submit my thoughts to God daily.  As I win the war with my thoughts, I will have an easier time winning the war with my words and actions.   

R – Lord, I surrender my thoughts to you today.  You are the giver of life, gifts, talents, blessings and all that I am.  I recognize there is a war going on for my words and actions today.  I submit to you.  I choose your will over mine.  Let me be a blessing to you and others today.

S – The point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously

 2 Corinthians 9:6 CSB

O – Commentary:  A principle holds true in both the natural and the spiritual spheres: the size of a harvest corresponds to the scope of the sowing (cf. Prov. 11:24–26). A man may enjoy all his grain by eating it, or he may “lose” some of it by sowing it and later reaping a bountiful harvest. A spiritual harvest, of course, may differ in kind from the seed sown. Material seed may reap a spiritual harvest (2 Cor. 9:9; cf. 1 Cor. 9:11). (2) Another reason for giving generously is that God loves generosity. God prizes not the size of the gift (cf. Acts 11:29; 1 Cor. 16:2), but the giver’s sincerity (not reluctantly), spontaneity (not under compulsion), and joyful willingness (a cheerful giver).

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

A – I love this principle – it applies to all aspects of our lives.  Finances, relationships, talents and abilities all are affected by it.  It isn’t the size of the of the “seed” sown, it is the attitude and willingness that come into play.  Just as I don’t want my kids to “just do it” when I ask them to do something, I want to give with a heart that reflects why I am giving.

R – Lord, you have blessed us with so much.  As you lead us to give today of our time, talent and treasure, help us to do it with a willingness and attitude that will honor you and bless others.