S – Be very strong and continue obeying all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, so that you do not turn from it to the right or left ⁷ and so that you do not associate with these nations remaining among you. Do not call on the names of their gods or make an oath to them; do not serve them or bow in worship to them. ⁸ Instead, be loyal to the Lord your God, as you have been to this day

Joshua 23:6–8 CSB

O – Commentary: 

Turning to impress the Israelites with their responsibility, Joshua passed on the very words Yahweh had armed him with when He instructed him to cross the Jordan: Be … strong; be careful to obey (cf. 1:6–9). Courage and obedience were the graces that led to the successful Conquest of Canaan and they were no less essential now

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

A – In Israel’s biggest conquest (crossing Jordan and defeating the nations there), God tells Joshua “Be strong; careful to obey.” Now that the “fight” is over, a new one is starting.  It is living in peace or “normalcy.”  We need to be as strong and vigilant daily as in a battle.

 R – Lord, we love you today and honor you above everyone else.  As we go through today, help us to be strong and obey Your Word.  Let us be just as vigilant to do what you command.  Help us be strong and courageous. 

S – “Tell us, by what authority are you doing these things? Who is it who gave you this authority?” 

He answered them, “I will also ask you a question. Tell me, ⁴ was the baptism of John from heaven or of human origin?” 

Luke 20:2–4 CSB

O – The leaders want to know what gave Jesus the authority to cleanse the temple and do the miracles he was doing. And, who gave it to him?  Jesus returns their questions with one of his own they could not answer.  His authority supersedes theirs because it comes from God and was similar to John the Baptist’s.  

A – The power of a question.  Jesus demonstrates full mastery of the physical and spiritual realm in one question.  He doesn’t give the leaders what they want but truthfully answers them.  He honors God in preserving the authority given to him by Him.  We want to walk in this tension like Jesus.  Fully present in the physical realm while fully led by the Holy Spirit in the spiritual realm.

R – Lord, we surrender and worship you today.  We desire to be fully present in the physical realm while fully led by your Holy Spirit in the spirit realm.  Remove any distractions or challenges that will keep us from doing this.  We give you all the glory for this and how it will impact others in our day.

S – “Go into the village ahead of you. As you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. ³¹ If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say this: ‘The Lord needs it.’ ” 

Luke 19:30–31 CSB

O – Commentary: 

In antiquity the vast majority of people, including Christians, were poor; knowing that their Lord Jesus had to borrow his royal mount probably would have encouraged them.

Officials used donkeys for civil, not military, processions (1 Kings 1:38). Thus this text is not a triumphal entry in the sense of Roman triumphal processions; it is Jerusalem’s reception of a meek and peaceful king. Jesus chooses to define his kingship in terms of Zechariah 9:9, not the commonly expected role of warrior *Messiah.

The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament

A – Jesus was humble and intentional. He fulfilled the prophecy and presented himself again as the Messiah. He again demonstrated that his “war” was not against Rome but a Godly one.  Even with the accuracy of fulfilling the prophecy and symbolism, the people still missed it and crucified Him.  This is a great reminder for us to stay in alignment with God.  It is easy to get distracted or miss what He is doing.

R – Heavenly Father, thank you for your love for us.  You demonstrate it with the gift of Jesus’ life, crucifixion and resurrection.  Please help us stay close in our relationship with You so we can see all that You have for us today.

S – But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, I’ll give half of my possessions to the poor, Lord. And if I have extorted anything from anyone, I’ll pay back four times as much.” 

⁹ “Today salvation has come to this house,” Jesus told him, “because he too is a son of Abraham. ¹⁰ For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.” 

Luke 19:8–10 CSB

O – Commentary:

But Zacchaeus stood up and voluntarily announced that he would give half of what he owned to the poor and repay fourfold all he had wronged. He publicly wanted the people to know that his time with Jesus had changed his life. Interestingly he parted with much of his wealth, similar to what Jesus had asked the rich ruler to do (18:22).

Jesus’ words, Today salvation has come to this house, did not imply that the act of giving to the poor had saved Zacchaeus, but that his change in lifestyle evidenced his right relationship before God. Zacchaeus, a son of Abraham by birth, had a right to enter the kingdom because of his connection with Jesus. That was Jesus’ mission—to seek and to save those who are lost

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

A — Two big concepts – Life change and connection with Jesus.  Life change is inevitable.  We all face “curveballs” in our lives. When life change happens connected with Jesus, it allows the supernatural to impact our decisions, actions and innermost being.

R – Lord, we invite your Holy Spirit to lead and interact with us today.  We are all going through life changes.  We desire your presence and power in all of it.  We want to draw closer to you so we can experience all of it in a relationship with you.

S – Arrogance leads to nothing but strife, but wisdom is gained by those who take advice.

Proverbs 13:10 CSB

O – Commentary:

Pride (zāḏôn, from zîḏ, “to boil”; cf. 11:2) means an unyielding arrogance. Such an inflated, know-it-all view of oneself leads to quarreling, in contrast with a humble, wise spirit that makes one willing to learn and take advice 

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

A – Pride can be as demonstrative as a know-it-all or as subtle as I will not yield.  We need to stay close to the Holy Spirit to help us discern the difference between confidence and pride.  Confidence is a healthy belief in who you are and in the full capacity of your gifting.  Arrogance is being vocal about it.  Usually, pride is a false confidence based on insecurity and over-importance.

R – Father, we surrender and worship You.  You alone are worthy of our praise and honor today.  Give us discernment to know how to walk in confidence today.  Please help us to see pride in our lives so we can deal with it.  We want to walk with you today without fear or pride.

S – His salvation is very near those who fear him, so that glory may dwell in our land. 

Faithful love and truth will join together; righteousness and peace will embrace.

Psalms  85:9–10 CSB

O – Commentary:

When God the Lord speaks, his faithful people listen. He promises them peace, meaning wholeness and well-being (see 37:11). They fear the Lord and know that he and his salvation are near to them. • The Lord does not tolerate foolish ways, such as those that resulted in the Exile.

85:10–13 In the glorious world of renewal and salvation, all the qualities of God’s care—love, truth, righteousness, and peace—come together and transform the created order into something new

 New Living Translation Study Bible

A – Salvation yields amazing transformation.  It is hard to imagine a life where faith, love, truth, righteousness and peace are not considerable components.  A life without a relationship with Christ doesn’t see these come together in harmony.  We have a lot to be grateful for.

R – Father, thank you for transforming our lives where all these are vital parts of each day.  Please help us to deepen our relationship with you. We worship and surrender to you today.

S – So Joshua took the entire land, in keeping with all that the Lord had told Moses. Joshua then gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal allotments. After this, the land had rest from war.

Joshua 11:23 CSB

O – Joshua accomplished God’s purpose by conquering 31 kings and armies.  He did this by following God’s instruction and word.  It brought victory and peace.

A – What difference would it make in our lives if we followed God’s purpose, instruction and Word?   There would be victory, growth and peace.  We would walk in our “inheritance” for all God has for us.

R – Heavenly Father, we surrender our will and plans to you today.  We desire to know your purposes, plan and will for us.  We know victory, growth and peace come from you and we seek it.  All glory and honor to you today!

S – On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to the Israelites, Joshua spoke to the Lord in the presence of Israel: “Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.” 

¹³ And the sun stood still and the moon stopped until the nation took vengeance on its enemies. 

Isn’t this written in the Book of Jashar? 

So the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed its setting almost a full day. 

¹⁴ There has been no day like it before or since, when the Lord listened to a man, because the Lord fought for Israel.

Joshua 10:12–14 CSB 

O – Commentary:

The “long day” of Joshua 10, however, must be explained. What did actually happen on that strange day? The answers are numerous (an eclipse, clouds over the sun, refraction of the sun’s rays, etc.). But the best explanation seems to be the view that in answer to Joshua’s prayer God caused the rotation of the earth to slow down so that it made one full rotation in 48 hours rather than in 24. It seems apparent that this view is supported both by the poem in verses 12b–13a and the prose in verse 13b. (The Book of Jashar is a Heb. literary collection of songs written in poetic style to honor the accomplishments of Israel’s leaders; [cf. David’s “lament of the bow” in 2 Sam. 1:17–27].)

God stopped the cataclysmic effects that would have naturally occurred, such as monstrous tidal waves and objects flying around. Evidence that the earth’s rotation simply slowed down is found in the closing words of Joshua 10:13: The sun … delayed going down about a full day. The sun was thus abnormally slow or tardy in getting to sunset, that is, its progression from noon to dusk was markedly lethargic, giving Joshua and his soldiers sufficient time to complete their victorious battle.

An important fact that should not be overlooked is that the sun and moon were principal deities among the Canaanites. At the prayer of Israel’s leader Canaan’s gods were compelled to obey. This disturbance to their gods must have been terribly upsetting and frightening to the Canaanites. The secret of Israel’s triumph over the coalition of Canaanites is found in the words, Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel! In answer to prayer Israel experienced the dramatic intervention of God on their behalf and victory was assured.

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

A – Sometimes, God is just cool. I love this miracle because as impossible as it seems, it is not.  I love the faith of Joshua to even ask for it.  God fights for us.

R – Heavenly Father, you are big and nothing limits you.  I pray to walk in a faith that allows you to do anything you want for me or through me.  I will give you all the glory for you alone are worthy of it.

S – The one who guards his mouth protects his life; the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.

Proverbs 13:3 CSB

O – Commentary:

Being careful about what one says helps keep him out of trouble (cf. 14:3; 21:23). But speaking rashly (hastily and thoughtlessly; cf. 12:18) brings on trouble (cf. ruin in 10:8, 14) to the one who speaks and to others. By his reckless words he makes promises he can’t keep, divulges private information, offends, or misrepresents. People learn not to depend on what he says and do not want to be around him. He may also suffer physically or financially.

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

A – We need to protect and maintain integrity in our words.   We reveal our innermost thoughts and beliefs when we speak and then act.  If we are going to grow ourselves and others, leveraging the weight and force of our words is imperative.

R – Heavenly Father, you are amazing and worthy of all praise today.  Give us intentionality and discernment on using our words to bring life.  In all things, let us point people to you.

S- So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him.

Luke 15:20 CSB

O – Commentary:

It was a breach of an elderly Jewish man’s dignity to run, though familial love could take priority over dignity after a long absence (cf. Tobit 11:9—mother and son). Given the normal garb, the father would have to pull up his skirt to run. Kissing was a conventional greeting for family members or intimate friends; normally it consisted of a light kiss on the lips (easily distinguishable from lovers’ passionate kisses).

The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament

A – The father was willing to become “undignified” to get to his son.  God allowed Jesus to become “undignified” to reach us.  He is looking for us when we are far off.  Like the father in this story, God moves first by seeing us.  He sees us in our sins and human deficiencies and moves toward us with forgiveness and mercy.  He restores to us dignity and relationship.

R – Father, thank you for your love for us.  You are a God who has no limitations.  Yet, you know us intimately.  In meeting us where we are, we yield our sin, guilt and shame to you.  We receive your forgiveness and mercy today.  We step toward you in relationship and desire to know you more.