Passage of the Day:
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast, Ephesians 2:1-9.
Reflection:
December 4th is my spiritual birthday; the day I placed my faith in Jesus, Romans 10:9-10. Back in December of 1984, I was an emotional wreck, suffering a nervous breakdown in October of my sophomore year of high school. One of my teacher’s, Mr. Horne, noticed this train wreck from afar, inviting me to a Fellowship of Christian Athlete’s Bible Study. While I turned down Ken on numerous occasions, he didn’t give up on me. When I joined the Concord swim team, now as my coach, Ken offered an olive branch in the form of free tickets to an event in Valley Forge. When I heard that Philadelphia professional athletes were speaking, I was sold. While today’s featured passage was not referenced on that cold December night, I was introduced to the concept of becoming alive in Christ.
Prayerful Action:
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do, Ephesians 2:10.
Learning to Love this December as God Forgives You:
For the first 14 years of my life, I was living for myself. I attended church on Sunday to appease my parents. Yet, when an individual takes the leap of faith described in Proverbs 3:5-6, you begin to think about what God can do through you. Just as one Old Testament prophet shared a similar message in Jeremiah 29:11, God has a plan for every Christian’s life. For these good works to become a reality, Christians need to mature spiritually like the words of the apostle Paul in Romans 12:1-2. As 2024 is about to end and another year inches closer, may the Holy Spirit fill you with a desire to become alive again in Christ Jesus. As you do, others will notice the difference in how you love and forgive.
Song of the Day:
Final Thoughts:
I went to a Jeff Deyo concert, the original lead singer of Sonic Flood, while living in Columbus, Indiana. When music is your ministry, you’ll go and sing wherever people will open their church. May the lyrics of today’s song inspire you to become alive in Christ each and every day.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 