Category Archives: Uncategorized

Passage of the Day:

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes^[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. ³ You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴ Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. ⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you,” John 15:1-7.

Reflection:

The last thing on my mind when I’m pulling up weeds and trimming back overgrown plants is John 15. Yet, the analogy John recalls in today’s passage provides a vital spiritual message. Jesus is living water, a well which gives birth to spiritual life. The lesson is simple: abiding in the vine by staying connected to Jesus via Bible Study, prayer and worship. Those that abide in the vine bear spiritual fruit.

Prayerful Action:

This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples, John 15:8.

Jesus had specific expectations for His disciples, Matthew 16:24-27. Like a coach of a championship team, players are challenged and pushed to reach their full potential. Jesus provides the pros and cons of abiding in the vine and failing to do so. While Jesus longs for all of His disciples to bear spiritual fruit, the choice is up to each individual. As the month of June is about to fade into July, choose wisely by abiding in the Vine.

Song of the Day:

While we all fall short of God’s glory, Romans 3:23, abiding in Jesus sometimes means crawling back on your knees, Matthew 11:28-30. May the lyrics of today’s song inspire you to abide in the Vine of Christ.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

Reflection:

Love isn’t just a word expressed in a moment of affection. Rather, love is a verb, a series of actions that emulate the compassion, grace and mercy of God. You know in your heart and soul when you’ve crossed paths with a Christian grounded in love. Whether this occurs during a Bible Study, a moving time of prayer or through an uplifting retreat, being touched by an individual grounded in love can transform your life.

Prayerful Action:

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, Ephesians 3:16-17.

Preparing Your Fields to Bear Spiritual Fruit:

The apostle Paul makes it clear to one first century church that you can’t represent Jesus if love is absent from your congregation, 1 Corinthians 13:1-3. While modern churches may put on a good show, if Christians leaders aren’t grounded in God’s love, visitors will eventually figure out what’s missing. You can’t fake love. Rather, love is a genuine outpouring of the Holy Spirit expressed in the form of spiritual fruit.

Song of the Day:

Christians grounded in love are the life blood of their community, church and neighborhood. When Christ gets the glory, a city on a hill shines bright, fueled by the love of Christ.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. ¹⁰ I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹ and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead, Philippians 3:7-11.

Reflection:

One of my favorite illustrations of Jesus is the portion in John 15:1-7 where life as a Christian is found by remaining connected to the Vine. Behind these 7 verses of the Bible, John suggests that spiritual life comes from being rooted in Christ. If Jesus is the Vine and God is the Gardener, faith in Christ comes from the willingness to prune, the dead areas of your life, so that spiritual life is stimulated.

Prayerful Action:

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, ⁷ rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness, Colossians 2:6-7.

Preparing Your Fields to Bear Spiritual Fruit:

While attending a Youth Ministry Trade Show in 1993, I was urged to start memorizing verses in the Bible. Although, I don’t remember the reason I bought into this spiritual discipline, I now see this as a great way to become rooted in Christ Jesus. When you’re experiencing a series of failures for a couple of years like I have in South Carolina, the Bible is the only thing keeping me from giving up. Despite waves and wind continuing to crash upon me, remaining rooted in Christ keeps my faith alive.

Song of the Day:

As the summer heat bring arid conditions to your home, stay rooted in Christ so that your faith is left standing as life’s storms subside.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶ We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your^[a] faith; ⁷ if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸ if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,^[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully, Romans 12:4-8.

Reflection:

Until high school, church was merely a building that I attended once a week. When I was invited to join a Methodist during my junior year, I became all in. Every Sunday night I longed to attend this youth group. Later that summer, a church volleyball league took off on Wednesday nights. Teenagers from several churches came together to have fun and fellowship. By my senior year, I joined an accountability group and started a small group Bible Study at my parents’ house. This is what can happen when you plant yourself in the right church.

Prayerful Action:

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. ¹¹ If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen, 1 Peter 4:10-11.

Preparing Your Fields to Bear Spiritual Fruit:

From my personal experience, the Holy Spirit will let you know about which church to attend and when you need to start serving. On a few occasions, I wanted to serve, but there wasn’t a place or position open for me. Sometimes, I started to plant myself only to abruptly move on a few months later. The apostle Paul compares the church body to a well-oiled machine. However, when a piece breaks or is missing, this void is obvious. Therefore, don’t dilly dally too long. Rather, eagerly seek out a place to plant yourself in the right church.

Song of the Day:

One of my favorite songs that I discovered during Covid is I Give Myself Away. If you’re struggling to find a church or unsure of where to serve, listen to the words of this song. May William McDowell’s lyrics serve as a prayer to help plant yourself in the right church.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. ³⁸ Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you,” Luke 6:37-38.

Reflection:

In my early years as a church member, I associated benevolence with an offering that would be taken monthly, quarterly or annually depending upon the congregation. However, the act of benevolence is having goodwill, kindness, and charitableness towards others. After my wife Leanne went through the deaths of her dad and mom, she learned all the intricacies of family trusts and wills. Subsequently, in the past year we’ve been able to set up our own benevolence fund to helps causes and needs dear to our hearts.

Prayerful Action:

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work, 2 Corinthians 9:7-8.

Preparing Your Fields to Bear Spiritually Fruit:

Most of my adult life, I lived paycheck to paycheck, unable to participate in activities that I simply couldn’t afford. However, after leaving teaching, God provided me with an amazing opportunity at Amazon two years later. Before moving to South Carolina, I was able to provide for my family like never before. This wealth allowed me to do some of the fun things with my children that my own parents bestowed upon me. Now as I’m nearing retirement in the next five years, it’s time to turn my attention to the needs of others. Like God’s vision of the church in Acts 2:42-47, this is why benevolence exists, to meet the needs of the less fortunate.

Song of the Day:

If the first century church was able to eliminate poverty within their church community, a modern movement to create and give to benevolence funds has the potential to do the same today. May today’s song conceive in you a spirit of benevolence.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. ⁶ The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. ⁷ I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. ⁸ I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.⁹ Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, Psalm 16:5-9.

Reflection:

The Amplified Version of the Bible includes all the possible interruptions as Aramaic, Greek and Hebrew is translated into English. As more modern translations of the Bible continue to water down the English language, fruits of the Spirit once considered vital such as gladness and benevolence have been forgotten. Gladness is a byproduct of joy which comes from the realization that our sovereign God works all things together for the good for those who believe.

Prayerful Action:

Because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, ⁶ being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus, Philippians 1:5-6.

Preparing Your Fields to Bear Spiritual Fruit:

As a child, I remember singing the song,”I’ve Got That Joy Down in My Heart.” Now as an adult, I’m finally learning to grasp the meaning of this joy. This internal gladness comes from standing on God’s promises in the Bible. As you live and learn as a Christian, seeing some of these promises come to fruition in your life, spiritual gladness is strengthed. While I still experience low points in life, verses like 1 John 5:13 reminds me that my faith in Christ has not been a waste of time.

Song of the Day:

The next time you experience a spiritual dry spell, look for hope in God’s promises in the Bible to refill gladness in your heart. As I continue to cope with the loss of my father, I claim the promise of Philippians 1:6, knowing that God is not done with me yet.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰ idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹ and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God, Galatians 5:19-21.

Reflection:

Depending upon your cable provider or streaming service, television channels are filled with acts of the flesh. American television producers have gone from following the mantra to sex sells to anything goes. Between dramas, movies and network series, most of the popular shows are built upon one of these fifteen acts of the flesh. The longer running series likely have explicit scenes featuring all of these at some point in an episode to spice things up. Since everyone has at least one guilty pleasure, the time has come to wrestle control back from a sinful flesh.

Prayerful Action:

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry, Colossians 3:5.

Preparing Your Fields to Bear Spiritual Fruit:

A few of my spiritual mentors over the past 40 years have mentioned a key point in terms of wrestling control back from the flesh. “If you’re addicted to your flesh, you’re not a spiritual threat to the Devil.” This advice given to me years ago is that once you seize control back from the Devil, Ephesians 4:27, there will always be another thorn in your flesh that will pop up to grab your attention. Like the apostle Paul in Romans 8, Christians have to remember their obligation to live according to God and the Holy Spirit, Galatians 5:25. While you may lose several spiritual wrestling matches, God’s grace and mercy is new every day to begin anew, Lamentations 3:21-23.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

The lyrics of Song of the Harlot point to the inner struggle of people who can’t control their bodies. May the words of this song inspire you to wrestle control back from your flesh.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. ² Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. ³ For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”^[a] 4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope, Romans 15:1-4.

Reflection:

If you are a man, being gentle often results in negative stereotypes. The most common label attached to gentle Christians is that they are pushovers. Perhaps, the context of gentle in the Bible is simply misunderstood. If you are in a position of leadership like the apostle Paul, be gentle in the form of a genuine fruit of the Spirit. While you may be tempted to use a position of authority to tear down others, be gentle but not weak.

Prayerful Action:

Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, ² to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone, Titus 3:1-2.

Preparing Your Field to Bear Spiritual Fruit:

I’ve been blessed to be part of some amazing churches over the past 30 years. Subsequently, when I attend or visit a church that is stuck in tradition, I try to be gentle but not weak. When opportunities arise to share my previous experiences at megachurches, I openly share specific ministries that have impacted my life. Perhaps, I come across as “been there done that.” Therefore, as the apostle Paul adds gentleness to the list of God’s spiritual fruits, I need to work on being gentler and humbler in the presence of young Christians.

Song of the Day:

As a former fan of U2, the Violet Burning provides amazing lyrics with their classic sound of the 1980’s. As you strive to live out the fruits of the Spirit in June, may you come to terms with God’s agape love, gentle and patient with fellow believers.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” ³⁷ He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. ³⁸ Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” ³⁹ Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” ⁴⁰ Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. ⁴¹ “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak,” Matthew 26:36-42.

Reflection:

A former high school coach once told me, “You’ll know who your true friends are when you experience hardships and trials in life.” Jesus had spent 3 years of his life disciplining, investing and teaching 12 men. Yet, in his greatest time of need, none of them could stay up late at night to pray for Him for an hour. Jesus points to the struggle that exists in remaining faithful, “the Spirit of God is willing, but human bodies are weak.”

Prayerful Action:

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God,” Mark 10:27.

Preparing Your Fields to Bear Spiritual Fruit:

The human mind is capable of doing great things. Yet, when doubt enters the minds of Christians in the form of negative thoughts, certain things seem impossible. As a former Bible teacher, I would often go back to the Garden of Eden. Eve knew the only rule God established, the one boundary that was off limits. Nonetheless, the moment she opened her mind to the possibility that God was somehow holding her back, Genesis 3:4-6, faithful was pushed aside for a Turkish delight. The only way to continually to bear spiritual fruit in a fallen world is to lean on the strength of Jesus during your weak moments in life, Philippians 4:13.

Song of the Day:

My father and father-in-law lived in a period of life in America where corporations valued their employees, working their entire career with the same company. Unfortunately, as companies focus their attention on cutting costs and pleasing stockholders, faithfulness is rarely seen today. As you wrestle to live in, but not of the world, trust in Jesus to maintain faithfulness in a fallen world.

by Jay Mankus