S – Therefore, he had to be like his brothers and sisters in every way, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in matters pertaining to God, to make atonement^, for the sins of the people. ¹⁸ For since he himself has suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted. 

Hebrews 2:17–18 CSB

O – Jesus came in human form and was completely God and man at the same time.  This allowed for a true representation of both God and man.  This allowed him to express mercy and faithfulness as a human.  Also, he can identify with the challenge of temptation.

A – It says a lot about a leader when they step into your “mess” and help you navigate your way out.  It is the epitome of servant leadership when you join with someone instead of just giving instructions.  That is our Savior.  He stepped into all we face today and can identify with our challenges.  It allows us to draw closer to Him.

R – Heaven Father, you are the one, true God.  Thank you, Jesus, for coming to earth to experience what we do daily.  You understand and identify with our challenges.  We invite your Holy Spirit to lead us and bring us your presence, power and peace.  We step towards you with great expectation.

S – The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high

Hebrews 1:3 CSB

 O – Jesus embodies all that God is.  His character and love are exactly what God’s are.  Through Christ’s word, all things are maintained.  He paid the price for our sins and sits beside God in heaven.

A – God loved us enough to send Jesus for two reasons. First, I want to be a human example that shows us His character and love in a tangible way.  Also, he paid the price for our sins once and for all.  Both demonstrate a foundational love that God has for us.

R – Heavenly Father, you are Lord of all.  We are grateful for the love you showed us by sending Jesus to earth and dying for our sins.  That love gives us salvation and a relationship with you.  Empower us to show that same love to others today.

S – No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely 

will stand in my presence. 

Psalms 101:7 NIV

O – Our actions and words determine our “closeness” to the Lord.  

A—We are accountable for our words and actions. Both reflect our innermost part—our heart.   We must spend time in God’s presence and His Word examining and challenging our heart.  When our heart is healthy, it flows out in our thoughts, words and actions.

R – Heavenly Father, we honor you above all things today. Help our thoughts, words and actions align with you. Let the outflow of our heart bring honor and glory to your name.

S – ⁴ But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, ⁵ he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit

Titus 3:4–5 CSB

O – Commentary:

But all of that changed when the kindness and love (philanthrōpia, lit., “love for man”) of God our Savior appeared. The contrast is startling. In verse 3 man is the actor, but in verses 4–7 man is merely the recipient, and God becomes the actor. What man could in no wise do for himself, God initiated for him. (On the reference to God as Savior, see comments on 1 Tim. 1:1.)

3:5. God in His grace saves those who believe, not because of any righteousness in them (cf. Rom. 3:21–24; Eph. 2:8–9; 2 Tim. 1:9), but because of His mercy. The three words, “kindness,” “love,” and “mercy” (Titus 3:4–5) all represent aspects of God’s grace. The dual means of grace through which He accomplished this salvation are (1) the rebirth spoken of as a washing from the filth of sin, and (2) the renewal by the Holy Spirit (cf. 2 Cor. 5:17). No mention is made here of the role of faith in the process because Paul’s entire focus was on what God has done, not on human response.

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

A – The focus is on what God did.  He initiated what man could not do for himself.  God’s grace is astounding and it came at a significant price.  We can never take for granted what Jesus did for us in coming to earth as totally God and yet a man.  That love led him to crucifixion on the cross and his resurrection.  A relationship with God takes faith but God demonstrated his love before we took the first step.

R – Heavenly Father, we worship and surrender to you.  Your love for us is amazing and humbling.  Help us demonstrate our love for you our character and our interactions with you and others.  You alone are worthy of our praise and honor.

S – For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,

 Titus 2:11 CSB

O – Commentary:

That God’s *grace had provided (though not automatically effected—cf., e.g., 1:10) salvation for all people ran counter to the Jewish emphasis on God’s special redemption of Israel and prevailing sentiments of cultural distinctions held by many people in antiquity (though Judaism allowed that some righteous *Gentiles would be saved, and philosophers and some mystery religions challenged conventional cultural boundaries).

  The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament

A—Human nature causes us to see our differences. It also compares our value to others based on those differences. We must see others as God sees them—with the same love and value.  We are the voices that God uses to reach people.  We must love and value them accordingly.

R – Heavenly Father, you are my Lord and my God.  Give me more of your heart to see and value others as you do.  I want to demonstrate that in my thoughts, words and actions.  I want to be an invitation of salvation, hope and love today.

S – ⁷ As an overseer of God’s household, he must be blameless, not arrogant, not hot-tempered, not an excessive drinker, not a bully, not greedy for money, ⁸ but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, righteous, holy, self-controlled,

Titus 1:7–8 CSB

O – Commentary:

The need for blamelessness is repeated from verse 6. The reason this quality is so important is that an overseer serves as a steward of God. Damage to a church leader’s reputation is damage to God’s reputation. Then Paul resumed his list with five vices which must not characterize an overseer: (4) not overbearing, not arrogant and self-willed; (5) not quick-tempered (cf. James 1:19–20); (6) not given to much wine; (7) not violent (cf. 1 Tim. 3:3 for this and the previous vice); (8) not pursuing dishonest gain (cf. comments on 1 Tim. 6:5).

1:8. Whereas verse 7 lists negative characteristics to avoid, verse 8 lists positive qualities to be sought. The elder must be (9) hospitable (cf. 1 Tim. 3:2); (10) one who loves what is good (cf. Ps. 15); (11) self-controlled, or temperate and sensible (sōphrona; cf. Gal. 5:23; 1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 2:2, 4); (12) upright (dikaion, “just”); (13) holy (these last two are, with blamelessness, two of the characteristics Paul himself had modeled [cf. 1 Thes. 2:10], but neither is mentioned in 1 Tim. 3); and (14) disciplined (in contrast to the vices of Titus 1:7; cf. 1 Tim. 4:7–8).

“Titus,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scripture

A – The church requires leadership that will bring oversight, vision and action steps.  These leaders must be gifted to lead.  Just as important, is their ability to model the character of God in their leadership and oversight.  It reflects on them personally, the church and God.  This is a good “checklist” for one to use in determining a person’s qualifications to lead in the church.

R – Heavenly Father, you are worthy of our praise and honor.  We desire to model your heart and character in our words, thoughts and actions.  We are not perfect and we will sin and make mistakes.  Yet, we can choose your ways consistently and embody your character for others to see and follow.  Thank you for your grace and mercy as we lead others.

S – I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ There is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved his appearing

2 Timothy 4:7–8 CSB

O – Paul is coming to the end of his life.  He recognizes the accomplishment of finishing with full faith.  The reward is the recognition of living righteously.  Accomplishing and rewarding are available to all believers when they stand before the Lord.

A – This is what I want in my life.  I want to fulfill the purpose and plan God has for my life.  I want to finish strong.  It is challenging.  Like all relationships, my interactions with God continue to develop through trust, faith and love.

R – Heavenly Father, you are God and there is none like you.  Give me the strength and courage to run the race today.  I invite your Holy Spirit to lead and guide me in all that I am going to encounter and to love others throughout the day.  I choose you above all.

S – All Scripture is inspired by God^, and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 

2 Timothy 3:16–17 CSB

O – Commentary:

Paul had just noted that the Scriptures are able to make one wise with regard to salvation, a lesson Timothy had learned long before. But now Paul wanted to reemphasize to Timothy the crucial role of God’s inscripturated revelation in his present ministry. Thus Paul reminded Timothy that all Scripture is God-breathed (theopneustos, “inspired”), that is, God’s words were given through men superintended by the Holy Spirit so that their writings are without error. This fact was virtually taken for granted by the Jews. Then Paul asserted the “usefulness” of the Word. For each aspect of Timothy’s ministry, whatever it might be—teaching (instructing believers in God’s truths), rebuking those in sin (cf. 1 Tim. 5:20; 2 Tim. 4:2), correcting those in error (cf. 2 Tim. 2:25; 4:2), and training (paideian, lit., “child-training”) in righteousness (guiding new believers in God’s ways)—for all of these and more the written Word of God is profitable. With it the man of God (one who must provide spiritual leadership to others) is artios—“complete, capable, proficient in the sense of being able to meet all demands.” To drive home his point still more emphatically Paul added equipped (exērtismenos, “furnished”) for every good work (cf. 2:21). Paul placed heavy burdens of ministry on his young disciple in this letter, but he did not do so irresponsibly. He was confident of Timothy’s commitment to and dependence on the Scriptures, and he was even more confident of God’s ability to supply all Timothy’s needs through the Word.

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

A – The Word of God is from God.  It is without error and a mighty tool for us in our daily walk.  Each of these four applications aids us in our pursuit of more of God’s character and righteousness.  We are equipped…will we do the work to take a step towards God?

R – Heavenly Father, we honor you as the King of Kings.  Thank you for the Word of God.  As we spend time in your word, give us fresh insight and revelation of who you are and your character.  Help us to learn, receive discipline and apply your truths to our lives. We desire to know you better through what you reveal in your Word.

S – Don’t answer a fool according to his foolishness or you’ll be like him yourself. 

⁵ Answer a fool according to his foolishness or he’ll become wise in his own eyes

Proverbs 26:4–5 CSB

O – Commentary:

These two sayings belong together; they complement each other. Their point is that one should not be drawn down to a fool’s level (v. 4) but at times he must use the fool’s language to refute the fool so he does not become conceited (v. 5; cf. vv. 12, 16). Wisdom is needed to determine when to apply verse 4 and when to apply verse 5

The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – Wisdom is one of our greatest tools.  We will interact with various people and wisdom allows us to discern and move in the right direction.  It also gives us the ability to address their words and actions appropriately.

R – Heavenly Father, we exalt your name.  Please give us wisdom as we face situations and engage others.  Give us the courage to act appropriately.  Help us to show your love while upholding your character with others.

S – Therefore, I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands. ⁷ For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power,^, love, and sound judgment. 

2 Timothy 1:6–8 CSB

O – Commentary:

Spirit of fear – of cowardice…

Of power  – …Not used by our writer in the sense of working miracles, which it sometimes has in Paul. Here, the power to overcome all obstacles and to face all dangers. It is closely linked with the sense of boldness.

Of love – See on Gal. 5:22.

Of a sound mind – Not self-control, but the faculty of generating it in others or in one’s self, making them σώφρονες of sound mind.

Word Studies in the New Testament

A – Fear challenges all of us.  In our sharing our faith, it wants to keep us quiet.  But God gives us boldness, unconditional love and discipline in our mind.  Walking in these qualities allows us to pursue God’s purpose and plans without fear.  It also gives us confidence and peace to take the next step.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the creator of all things.  We invite your Holy Spirit to lead and empower us.  Help us to walk in boldness, unconditional love and a disciplined mind.  We put our confidence and faith in you.