S – For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand.

Ephesians 6:13 CSB

O – Commentary:

Ancient exhortations regarded retreat and wounds in the back as disgraceful (note that none of the following armor covers the back). In the day of battle, Roman soldiers were to stand their ground, not retreat. As long as they stood together on a flat, open field and did not break ranks, their legions were considered virtually invincible

The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament

A – God knows that the enemy is going to attack.  Jesus did not go find the devil after he was baptized, the devil found him.  Jesus did what Paul is encouraging us to do – stand against the evil with the word of God and faith. It is a sober yet encouraging directive.  We know the enemy will attack and tempt us each day to sin.  Yet, God has given us the tools to thwart each attack and win the battle.

R – Heavenly Father, you are all knowing and omnipresent. You know and see all things that we go through. Thank you for the weapons to resist the devil and cause him to flee from us.  Give us the courage to use our weapons from a place of victory. Clear away any doubts or distractions of what you can do in our lives.

S – To sum up, each one of you is to love his wife as himself, and the wife is to respect her husband. 

Ephesians 5:33 CSB

O – “Love” – agape love:  selfless and giving form of love

       “Respect” – reverence; admiration felt or shown for someone or something you believe has good ideas or qualities.

Cambridge Dictionary

A – A husband should love his wife like Christ loved the church – giving of himself to serve and empower his wife.  The wife should hold her husband in a place of esteem.  Both attitudes bring strength to the spouses’s weakness.  A wife desires security and a husband desires admiration and appreciation.  

R – Heavenly Father, you are the one, true God.  Thank you for our spouses who provide so much to us.  Help us to grow in our ability to serve and empower our wives and for wives to respect their husbands.   You gave us a great example in Christ in how we can serve and love one another.

S – “And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭CSB‬‬

O – God appointed the roles of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers – all to equip the church to grow and mature the church.

A – There are many roles in the body of Christ. These come with calling and anointing and the specific purpose of growing the church members. God loves all the members the same – none are exalted above another. It is an extra portion the Lord has give them but it also comes with a higher responsibility and scrutiny.

R – Heavenly Father, we worship and surrender to you.   Thank you for the entire body of Christ and all of its members.  None are greater than any other and we are grateful for the love you show us each day. Give us the strength and courage to use the gifts and calling you give us.

S – “I pray that he may grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power in your inner being through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love,”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭CSB‬‬

O – Paul is praying for the believers to grow in their resilience and strength in their soul and faith.  This is a work of the Holy Spirit.  Also, we would recognize that Christ is with us all the time in a relationship.  This is God’s work of love with us.

A – These are fundamental concepts in a believer’s relationship with Christ.  When things get challenging or even routine, it is good to go back to the fundamentals.  The basic understanding of our relationship with Christ should recalibrate us and bring gratitude for all that He has done for us.

R – Heavenly Father, you alone are worthy of praise and surrender.  Thank you for your presence and power that you deposit in us each day. You are with us at all times.  The journey is long, with many victories and challenges.  Empower us to persevere in tough times and be grateful for all things.

S – “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭CSB‬‬

O – God’s mercy and love saved us from our sins.  We did not earn or deserve such grace.

A – When we realize the gulf between us and God was bridged by his love for us, it is humbling.  It is amazing how our steps seem small compared to the effort Jesus did on the cross. Yet, the struggle is real because it isn’t a one time decision.  It is a lifetime of surrendering our will to God’s will.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the a holy and just God.  Thank you for your love for us displayed on the cross.  We will never fathom the depth of your mercy, grace and love. Empowering us to show our love to you in tangible ways today.

S – In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. ¹⁴ The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory

Ephesians 1:13–14 CSB

O -Commentary

The last part of verse 13 is literally, “They were sealed in Him [Christ] with the Holy Spirit of promise.” The word “seal” indicates security (Matt. 27:66; Eph. 4:30), authentication and approval (John 6:27), certification of genuineness (John 3:33), and identification of ownership (2 Cor. 1:22; Rev. 7:2; 9:4). God is the One who seals, Christ is the sphere in which the seal is done, and the Holy Spirit is the instrument of the seal. “The promised Holy Spirit” refers to Christ’s promise to His disciples that He would send the Spirit (Luke 24:49; John 14:16; 15:26; 16:13; Acts 1:5).

The Holy Spirit who seals is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance. The “deposit” is more than a pledge which could be returned; it is a down payment with a guarantee of more to come (cf. “the firstfruits of the Spirit,” Rom. 8:23). “A deposit guaranteeing” translates the Greek arrabōn (used elsewhere in the NT only in 2 Cor. 1:22; 5:5). It guarantees believers’ “inheritance” of salvation and heaven (cf. 1 Peter 1:4). (See comments on “inheritance” in Eph. 1:18.) In essence, the “deposit” of the Holy Spirit is a little bit of heaven in believers’ lives with a guarantee of much more yet to come.

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

A – When we believe Jesus as our savior, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit.  Not only does it signify ownership, it also denotes that we are not owned by anyone else (the devil.). We should walk confident in our relationship with God knowing whose we are and the victory from what we are not.  There should also be a sense of humility – Jesus paid the price for us and we did nothing to deserve it but believe on him.

R – Heavenly Father, you are Alpha and Omega.  Thank you for the price Jesus paid for us.  It gives us security knowing that we are yours and that our relationship is secured by the Holy Spirit.  Help us to walk confidently and in humility with you today.

S – Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. ⁴⁶ He also said to them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead the third day, ⁴⁷ and repentance for forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Luke 24:45–47 CSB

O – Commentary:

In other words He showed them from different parts of the Old Testament (e.g., Deut. 18:15; Pss. 2:7; 16:10; 22:14–18; Isa. 53; 61:1) that He is the Messiah and that He must suffer and rise from the dead (Luke 24:46; cf. v. 26). Because of His death and resurrection, the message of repentance and forgiveness of sins could be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem for they were witnesses of His death and His rising from the dead.

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

A – Like the disciples, we need “open our minds” to the scriptures.  God’s word and the Holy Spirit empowering us are two resources we have daily to walk with him.  We are God’s mouthpiece to share forgiveness for everyone.

R – Heavenly Father, you are holy.  Thank you for the sacrifice of Jesus so we can walk in forgiveness of your sins.  Empower us through the Holy Spirit to share the good news to everyone that they can have a relationship with you.  We are grateful for your love for us.

S – It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three, ⁴⁵ because the sun’s light failed. The curtain of the sanctuary was split down the middle. ⁴⁶ And Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit.”^, Saying this, he breathed his last. 

Luke 23:44–46 CSB

O – A couple items stand out in this scripture.  Darkness overtook the light of day during a time when it was normally daylight.  The darkness of evil was “winning” in the spiritual realm.  The curtain in the temple that distinguished God’s presence separate from man was torn down the middle.  This left no doubt that God was approachable by everyone, not just the high priest to make sacrifice for everyone’s sins.  God’s sacrifice for all mankind was on the cross.  Jesus willingly gave up his life quoting Psalms 31:5.  In all of this, Jesus used the word in his greatest time of distress.

A – We all face difficult experiences in our lives.  Sometimes, there are miraculous wins and dramatic changes happen to bring victory.  Other times, we go through them and the results are challenging.  Jesus had a bigger goal than his physical body and blood being spared.  In the darkest hour, He wanted man have a relationship with God, who was now accessible to everyone.  He trusted God and his plan again and gave his life for ours.  

R – Heavenly Father, you are holy and just.  You are faithful and true.  Thank you for Jesus’ willingness to endure the cross.  Thank you for his willingness to give his life for ours.  Empower us with courage to step deeper into an intimate relationship with you.  The price has been paid – let us humbly approach you with our love, honor and gratitude.

S – For the Son of Man will go away as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” 

²³ So they began to argue among themselves which of them it could be who was going to do it. 

²⁴ Then a dispute also arose among them about who should be considered the greatest.

Luke 22:22–24 CSB

O – Commentary:

The disciples’ arguing about which of them was considered to be greatest is surprising in view of what Jesus had just said about one of them betraying Him. Jesus then told them that such thinking is like that of pagans. The followers of the Messiah should not think about such things. Rather than wanting to be the greatest, His followers should each desire to be the one who serves. For Jesus was among them as One who serves (diakonōn, “serves in a lowly way,” v. 27). The disciples should desire to be like Jesus

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

A – The dichotomy of the conversation is baffling and revealing.  Their indignation that one of them would betray Jesus is understanding.  Pointing fingers and making a case for another person’s failure is disappointing.  How the conversation moves towards who will be the greatest is puzzling.  This is Jesus’ final meal after three years of ministry together. How does this prepare him for the long night, trial and crucifixion before him?  In our failures, we can rise up and be the people God calls us to be and accomplish far beyond what we can imagine.

R – Heavenly Father, you are God.  Help us today to see beyond our own desires, needs and wants.  We desire to be like Jesus.  Give us your heart and ability to see situations and others through your lens.  We are going to fail.  Empower us to rise up and move towards you.

S – He also saw a poor widow dropping in two tiny coins.^{, 3} “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all of them. ⁴ For all these people have put in gifts out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.” 

Luke 21:2–4 CSB

O – Commentary:

He pointed to a poor widow who was putting into the collection all her meager resources (two lepta, each worth about 1/8 cent; cf. 12:59; Mark 12:42). The percentage of what she gave was larger than all the others. So Jesus’ point was that her gift, though small, was more because she gave out of her poverty … all she had to live on.

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

A – God doesn’t call us to give equal gifts but instead he asks for equal sacrifice.  The widow’s percentage compared to her wealth was greater than the richer person’s.  We need to recognize that all that we have is given to us by God.  Giving back to him is returning a percentage of what he blesses us with to live.  We should give with gratitude and a joyous heart.

R – Heavenly Father, we worship and surrender to you.  Thank you for the blessings of provision for us in many areas of our lives.  We want to return to you a percentage of what you have given us.  We honor you as our provider.