S – 1 How happy is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways!
2 You will surely eat what your hands have worked for. You will be happy,
and it will go well for you.
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house, your children, like young olive trees
around your table.
4 In this very way the man who fears the Lord will be blessed.
Ps 128:1–4 CSB
O – You will receive blessings from your work when you obey God. You will be satisfied and fulfilled. Your spouse is productive and flourishing. Your children, full of potential, grow and mature. Your home is growing, empowered and joyful.
A – What a tremendous blessing from serving and loving God daily! Our faithful obedience and desire relationship allows Him to work in and through us. The blessing is growth, fulfillment and peace.
R – Heavenly Father, thank you for our relationship with you. Jesus paid the price on the cross so we could enjoy all the benefits of doing life with you. We are grateful. We invite your Holy Spirit to lead us today to grow in your ways.
S – Unless the Lord builds a house, its builders labor over it in vain;
unless the Lord watches over a city, the watchman stays alert in vain
Ps 127:1 CSB
O – Commentary:
Builders work on a house … in vain unless the Lord builds it, watchmen … guard in vain unless the Lord watches, and being anxious over one’s labor for food and working long hours is in vain (cf. 128:2). The point is that work done independently of God will be futile. But a person who trusts in the Lord will find rest. Without the Lord, all domestic work is in vain.
“Psalms,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures,
A – We must invite the Lord into all aspects of our life. Whatever we are “building” – work, relationships, areas of interest, our relationship with Him – all are part of the growth process. When we invite Him in, He takes us beyond our gifts, abilities and talents into the unlimited realm where He works.
R – Heavenly Father, you know every area we are building today. We invite you into all of it. We desire for your presence and power to be evident in all we are working on and for growth to be desired. Help us work hard and have a peaceful rest.
S – I will therefore do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has never been anyone like you before and never will be again. 13 In addition, I will give you what you did not ask for: both riches and honor, so that no king will be your equal during your entire life. 14 If you walk in my ways and keep my statutes and commands just as your father David did, I will give you a long life.”
1 Kings 3:12–14 CSB
O – Commentary:
Therefore God promised to give him what he requested. He would possess a wise … heart (v. 12) and be able to discern and render fair judgments (v. 11). Since Solomon sought what was most important God also promised to give him what was of secondary importance, riches and honor, to further enable him to govern God’s people effectively. Solomon was to be the richest and most honored king of his day. If Solomon remained faithful to pursue the will of God, obeying the Law of Moses, God promised he would also live a long life.
“1 Kings,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures
A – The Bible tells us that we should seek wisdom. When we do that, it pleases God and it opens the door for subsequent blessing. It is foundational to leading and living in a way that honors God.
R – Heavenly Father, you are Lord of all. Today, we ask that your Holy Spirit empower us with the Spirit of Wisdom and understanding in all conversations and situations. Walking in your wisdom keeps us aligned with You. Give us the courage to pursue both You and your purposes.
S – So in the present case, I tell you, stay away from these men and leave them alone. For if this plan or this work is of human origin, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even be found fighting against God.
Acts 5:38–39 CSB
O – Commentary:
Here is the conclusion and main thrust of Gamaliel’s speech. Seeing what would come of this movement would tell them if it were of human origin or from God. Interestingly this speech was, in one sense, an apologetic for the church of Jesus Christ given by a representative of the church’s enemies: to try to stop God’s work would be like fighting against God!
“Acts,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures
A – The truth will be made known, even by those who “don’t know.” As believers, we must ask God for the wisdom to see things through His lens. God wants to reveal things to us so we are equipped and ready in all situations.
R – Heavenly Father, you hold the past, present and future. Give us insights into your plans and purposes so we can hear and do what you say. Reveal to us the truth. We honor and praise you in all things.
S – There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”
Acts 4:12 CSB
O – Commentary:
The word salvation goes back to Psalm 118 which Peter had just quoted, for it is a prominent theme there. Verses 22–29 in that psalm anticipate millennial deliverance. In Acts 4:12 Peter was speaking not only of individual justification, but also of national salvation, predicted in Psalm 118.
The rulers were thus put on the defense! They had rejected the only Savior of Israel and they were preventing the completion of God’s building. Thus no other way of salvation is available to people
“Acts,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures
A – Salvation only comes through Jesus Christ. Nothing else or no entity will save us. People today have the same choices that religious leaders and other people made at this time. Will you accept or reject Jesus? Looking at the thought processes by the leaders, people are affected by their own ego and what other people think.
R – Heavenly Father, you are the one, true God and there is no other. Help us to be your ambassadors today demonstrating your love for all people. Please continue to help us grow in our ego and view of others. You alone are worthy of praise and honor.
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.
Just Add Water . Chris Bonham 