Passage of the Day:
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you[d] alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross, Colossians 2:13-15.
Reflection:
In my early years as a Christian, I didn’t celebrate many victories in my faith. Rather, I was fighting a losing battle with my flesh. Dazed and confused like a young apostle Paul in Romans 7:15, I was grasping at straws, searching for a sign of hope. During a Fellowship of Christian Athlete’s Summer Camp in high school, I was introduced to today’s passage. This was the hope I desperately needed. As you reflect upon your own spiritual journey in 2024, you may be disappointed, frustrated or want a deeper relationship with the Lord. As you set your mind and heart on a new year, remember the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus made by dying on a cross. This self-less act disarmed the power of death 3 days later with a triumph resurrection. May this life-changing historical event move the Holy Spirit to make you alive in Christ in 2025.
Prayerful Action:
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Corinthians 15:56-57.
Learning to Love this December as God Forgives You:
As an avid sports fan, adrenaline fills my body with the thrill of any victory. Yet, the agony of defeat sucks the joy out of my life, John 10:10. Subsequently, when you dwell upon temporary pleasures, life can become an emotional roller coaster. This is not the type of faith journey that God wants me to live. Therefore, if 2024 found you experiencing your own prodigal experience, may you come to your senses, Luke 15:17, as your heavenly father is waiting for you with open arms. As you experience the power of God’s compassion, forgiveness and mercy, you’ll feel compelled to help those facing similar obstacles that you’ve finally overcome.
Song of the Day:
Final Thoughts:
My spiritual mentor Ken loved today’s song. When he went to be home with the Lord during the Coronavirus, I thought about of the charitable acts that Ken displayed over the course of his life. As I turn my attention to engaging our culture starting tomorrow, may you learn to keep in step with God’s Spirit as your faith journey continues, Galatians 5:25.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 