S – The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies lacks sense.

 Proverbs 12:11 CSB

O – “Sense” – lêb, the heart; also used (fig.) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything:

The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words

The person who works diligently and consistently will see the fruit of his labor.  Those who pursue empty, worthless endeavors do not heart.

A – Hard work is good for us physically and spiritually.  It provides us with what we need and also reveals the things in the heart that exemplify our character, integrity and goals.  Pursuing empty endeavors reveals a lack of sense and direction.  

R – Lord, thank you for the Holy Spirit helping us to know what is worth pursuing today.  We desire to do your will and work hard.  We ask for your knowledge, understanding and wisdom.

S – John responded, “Master, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he does not follow us.” 

⁵⁰ “Don’t stop him,” Jesus told him, “because whoever is not against you is for you.”

Luke 9:49–50 CSB

O – Commentary:  

Coupled with this discussion on greatness was John’s attempt to stop someone else who was driving out demons in Jesus’ name. John’s reason was that the man was not one of us. John must have thought that the disciples’ own greatness was diminished if others who were not of the Twelve could also cast out demons. Jesus’ reply, Whoever is not against you is for you, suggested that the Twelve were not to see themselves as God’s exclusive representatives. Rather they should have rejoiced that the power of God was being manifested on earth by others as well. If they manifested that attitude, it would show that they were truly trying to be of service to the Messiah

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

A – We are all different and unique in the eyes of God.  Our gifts and faith will manifest themselves differently as well.  We can celebrate others because we know that we are secure in who we are in Christ.  When God’s love and power flow through others, the body of Christ is strengthened and grows.

R – Lord, thank you that we each have a different expression of how we receive and show your love.  Help us to be secure in that.  Let us celebrate each other – all working together to serve and honor you.  Let those who need to know you in a relationship be impacted by your love and the unity of the body.

S – Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. ²⁴ For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will save it

Luke 9:23–24 CSB

O – Commentary: 

Jesus then discussed the deaths of His followers. They were to have the same attitude toward death and life that He had. Each one must deny himself, that is, not think about his own good. Also he must take up his cross daily, that is, admit that the One for whom he carried the cross was right (see comments on 14:27). And he must follow Jesus, even to death.

The words Jesus spoke in this setting must be understood in their historical context. Not long before this the disciples had been actively engaged in telling the nation about the Messiah and His kingdom program. No doubt many thought the disciples were throwing their lives away. They had given up their sources of income and were in danger because they associated with Jesus. Jesus assured His disciples that they were doing the right thing. 

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

A – Following Jesus is not easy.  It counter-intuitive to our way of thinking.  It puts things that we deem important in a different priority.  If we believe that Jesus is the Son of God, who came to earth in human form, crucified and resurrected, then we deny ourselves of our own thinking, ways of doing things and will for our lives. 

R – Heavenly Father, we recognize that Jesus is who claimed to be.  That causes us to surrender our thoughts, words and actions to align with Him.  We choose Jesus as our Savior.  We accept You as our God.  We will serve you today.

S – God, who is like you? ²⁰ You caused me to experience many troubles and misfortunes, 

but you will revive me again. You will bring me up again, even from the depths of the earth. 

²¹ You will increase my honor and comfort me once again. 

Psalms  71:19–21 CSB

O – Commentary: 

The rhetorical question, Who, O God, is like You? is asked several times in the Psalms, with slight variations in wording (cf. 35:10; 77:13; 89:6; 113:5; also note Ex. 15:11; Micah 7:18).

God had shown the aging psalmist that He, being able to deliver from troubles, would restore his life again, bringing him up from the depths of the earth, that is, from the point of death (cf. Pss. 30:1; 130:1). Therefore he was confident that God would honor and comfort him once again

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

A – In this Psalm we see the “cycle” of blessing and challenge.  The author has experienced both.  It developed a faith in God that elevates Him to an incomparable place.  We need that faith in our lives in the peaks and valleys.  God is good in all situations.

R – Heavenly Father, we surrender and worship you today.  You alone are worthy of our praise and honor.  We put our faith in you.  Thank you for knowing us intimately and empowering us to walk in your ways.  

S – Look, today I set before you a blessing and a curse: ²⁷ there will be a blessing, if you obey the commands of the Lord your God I am giving you today, ²⁸ and a curse, if you do not obey the commands of the Lord your God and you turn aside from the path I command you today by following other gods you have not known.

Deuteronomy 11:26–28 CSB

O – Blessing:  b^erâkâh,  benediction; by impl. prosperity:— blessing, liberal, pool, present.

      Curse:  q^elâlâh, vilification:— (ac-) curse (-d, -ing).

 The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words 

If we obey God’s word, there will be blessing.  If we disobey His word, there will be a curse

A – There are true benefits to obeying God and having a relationship with Him.  Blessings from God include access to God and all of His attributes.  The curse that comes from disobedience is a lack of relationship and no access to His attributes.  In the middle of this principle is God’s ability to see a person’s heart and motive and account for their actions.  He moves in authority, truth, grace and mercy…it is amazing and challenging to comprehend.

R – Lord, thank You for Your love for us that draws us to You.  We want to obey Your words and the blessings that come with them.  We desire relationship with You.  Help us today to know You more and do what you ask us to do.

S – “No one, after lighting a lamp, covers it with a basket or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand so that those who come in may see its light. ¹⁷ For nothing is concealed that won’t be revealed, and nothing hidden that won’t be made known and brought to light.

Luke 8:16–17 CSB

O – Commentary:

This short parable is a logical extension of the Parable of the Sower. The emphasis is once again on hearing or, as it is put here, on listening (v. 18). If one understands the Word of God his life should reflect that understanding (cf. v. 15). Just as one does not light a lamp in order to hide it (cf. 11:33–36), so also a person is not given “the secrets of the kingdom of God” (8:10) in order to keep them secret. The disciples were to make known the things Jesus was telling them.

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

A – The challenge is to hear God’s Word, apply it to our lives and then share it with others.  It is to our benefit to do this because God will continue to give us more revelation as we do these three things.  If we don’t, He will stop.  We need to continue to grow and share.

R – Lord, thank You for revealing to us your mysteries and insights.  Help us to grow in your truth and wisdom.  And give us the courage to share that with others so they may draw closer to you as well.

S – Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but one who hates correction is stupid.

Proverbs 12:1 CSB

O – Commentary: 

To love (i.e., willingly accept or desire) discipline (mûsār, “moral discipline or correction”; cf. 1:2, 7; 10:17) shows that a person loves (desires) knowledge. He wants to be on the right path, to be wise. To hate (reject and despise) correction shows that one is stupid (ba‘ar, “to be brutish or dull-minded” like an animal; also used in 30:2, “ignorant”)

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

A – In growth, our attitude matters.  Loving discipline develops a love for knowledge and hate for correction develops ignorance.  We need to have the desire and tenacity to do the hard things.  Embracing difficulty instead of complaining about it is the attitude of growth.

R – Heavenly Father, thank you for the difficult things in our lives.  We choose to step into them knowing that You are with us.  Give us the strength and courage to do the difficult things first and learn from them.  We desire to grow in You.

S – The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise.

Proverbs  11:30 NKJV

O – Commentary: 

As a result (fruit) of righteous living a person becomes a tree of life (cf. 3:18; 13:12; 15:4), a source of a meaningful life for others (cf. the leaf in 11:28). This contrasts with a fool who troubles his family (v. 29). Wins souls in verse 30 does not mean soul-winning or evangelism. Since “win” is literally “attract or take,” the idea may be that a righteous person attracts others to wisdom. This fits the thought in the first part of the verse of a tree giving life to others by its fruit.

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

A – We should be a source of meaning and purpose to others that points people back to our source, Jesus Christ.  Authentic relationship with God is attractional not just external in our words, actions and events.  Internally, we have peace, joy and contentment.  A whole life committed to God should be a blessing to those around us.

R – Heavenly Father, I choose You today.  I worship You as my God and my Savior.  I want to live according to your purpose and plan for me today.  I surrender my will and desires so I may align with Yours.  Help me to be a light to others in my life.

S – I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, hears my words, and acts on them: ⁴⁸ He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. When the flood came, the river crashed against that house and couldn’t shake it, because it was well built.

Luke 6:47–48 CSB

O – There are two principles – hearing God’s words and acting on them.  Both men built houses that were exposed to a flood. That is hearing God’s words and the challenges of daily life or the enemy coming against them.  The action is distinguished between the two houses.  The one who “dug deep”  dug through the sand that the other person was content to stop at when he built the house. This first guy attached to something solid instead of something unstable and fleeting.

A – We need to grow in our relationship with God so we are not unstable in our walk with Him.

R – Heavenly Father, we surrender and worship You today.  We want to go “deeper” with you not just in our knowledge of You but our actions as well.  Give us the strength and courage to go beyond the surface and do the work.

S – “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”

Luke 6:37 CSB

O –
Judge: krinō, – decide (mentally or judicially); by impl. to try, condemn, punish:— avenge, conclude, condemn, damn, decree, determine, esteem, judge, go to (sue at the) law, ordain, call in question, sentence to, think.

Condemn:  katadikazō, – to adjudge against, i.e. pronounce guilty:— condemn.

Forgive:  apŏluō, –  to free fully, i.e. (lit.) relieve, release, dismiss (refl. depart), or (fig.) let die, pardon or (spec.) divorce:— (let) depart, dismiss, divorce, forgive, let go, loose, put (send) away, release, set at liberty.

 James Strong, The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1996).

A – When we judge and condemn, we leave no room for grace and mercy. Forgiveness is to “free fully” others of our punishment or pronouncement.  And, it fully frees us to move forward from that person.  We are no longer entangled in a relationship or situation that looms in our life.

R – Heavenly Father, I am grateful for your forgiveness for the sins I have done.  Thank you for the blood of Jesus that takes them away.  Help me do the same for others that have sinned against me.  I want to walk fully free from the mess that creates.