Category Archives: Truth

Passage of the Day:

“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. ¹⁵ I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! ¹⁶ So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. ¹⁷ You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. ¹⁸ I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see, Revelation 3:14-18.

Reflection:

The opening of the Book of Revelation serves as a spiritual evaluation for 7 first century churches. This faith report card begins with what these body of believers are exceling in. Immediately following these positive comments, John details what area or areas each church needs to improve upon moving forward. Unfortunately, the members in Laodicea were rebuked as God was disappointed by their lack of consistency. Some days these Christians pleased the Lord, but a spiritual complacency likely brought on by procrastination was recently making God want to vomit. Bearing spiritual fruit is based upon the daily choices that you make in life. When Christians start going through the motions in their faith, a lukewarm spirit is conceived.

Prayerful Action:

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. ²⁰ Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me, Revelation 3:19-20.

Preparing Your Fields to Bear Spiritual Fruit:

A sign that someone doesn’t love you is that they stop caring about you. According to John, God disciplines those whom He loves. Like a coach or teacher that wants you to succeed in life, God is like a strength and conditioning coach seeking to push you so that you’ll reach your spiritual potential. As you examine your own spiritual life this June, seek humility like the apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 1:15. As a spiritual mentor once told me, “The closer you get to God, the more the Holy Spirit will reveal your imperfections. Rather than being offended by spiritual criticism, make it a goal to please the Lord daily this month. If you can do this once, you can do it again. When you please the Lord a couple days in a row, you can make this a habit.

Song of the Day:

The lyrics to the attached song provide an example of how easy it is to procrastinate before you study the Bible and or pray. Rather than continue to distance yourself from the Lord, seize this moment to spend time with God today.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” ¹⁴ Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. ¹⁵ One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” ¹⁶ Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding, Acts 19:13-16.

Reflection:

When I first became a Christian on December 4th, 1983, I had no idea what I was doing. My high school swim coach who became my spiritual mentor helped me immensely along this journey of faith. However, I can’t imagine what it would be like to go through life without a spiritual counselor like Ken. Perhaps, the 7 sons of Sceva were lost, grasping at straws when they tried to improvise spiritually in today’s featured passage. This is the difference between walking with God daily and winging it.

Prayerful Action:

How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. ¹⁰ I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.¹¹ I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you, Psalm 119:9-11.

Preparing Your Fields to Produce Spiritual Fruit:

Since moving from the Northeast portion of the United States to the south, I’ve noticed two obvious differences. First, metropolitan cities like Philadelphia are outspoken, often fighting back when their opinions or rights have been ignored. Meanwhile, South Carolinians are laid back, polite and reserved. Second, there is a degree of professionalism in the northeast as individuals prepare themselves each day of work. On the other hand, my interactions in the south have witnessed more of a relaxed, read and react style with a tendency to just wing it. As the disciples were about to panic in Mark 1:36-37, Jesus already knew what to do and where to go, Mark 1:38-39. When you walk with God daily, the Holy Spirit provides a clear vision and path to take in life, Galatians 5:25.

Song of the Day:

Those individuals who like to go through life flying by the seat of their pants, winging it daily, take the easy way out. However, the lyrics of today’s song remind Christians that walking with God means facing your obstacles and trials head on. As you go through the fire, 1 Peter 1:6-7, maturity and growth will develop as you seek to sow spiritual seeds in June.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. ² For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. ³ Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. ⁴ I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. ⁵ And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began, John 17:1-5.

Reflection:

About the same time news broke of Grayson Murray’s death, I was on my way to my father’s funeral in Delaware. Being raised Roman Catholic, I was taught to follow the Ten Commandments and partake in the Holy Sacraments. Unfortunately, most Catholic churches still teach works-based salvation, making the devout believe they will receive eternal life. When I started reading the Bible on my own in high school, I began to see another perspective in verses like Romans 5:8 and 6:23. Subsequently, as I said my final goodbyes to my dad, I found myself wishing his eternal life into existence rather than knowing for certain.

Prayerful Action:

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. ¹⁴ This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us, 1 John 5:13-14.

Preparing Your Fields to Bear Spiritual Fruit:

I never want to attend another funeral where I am unsure of this person’s eternal salvation. Over the course of my life attending church services, I’ve heard numerous sermons on eternal life. The most controversial was one using Matthew 7:13-14 to point out that there will be less people in heaven than expected. Unfortunately, too many Christians pretend, play make believe and fool many with their act, but these individuals won’t fool God. Therefore, stop playing games with God by taking eternal life serious now in your living days.

Song of the Day:

Rather than take turns playing God, focus on your own life. The apostle Paul provides great advice in Philippians 2:12 against becoming complacent. Stop wishing things into existence by working out your salvation with fear and trembling like Jeffrey Dalmer.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” ¹¹ He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. ¹² Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. ¹³ This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. ¹⁴ In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. ¹⁵ For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’^{[a] 16} But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. ¹⁷ For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. ¹⁸ “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: ¹⁹ When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. ²⁰ The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. ²¹ But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. ²² The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. ²³ But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown,” Matthew 13:10-23.

Reflection:

I was taught early on in school that April showers bring May flowers. If you take this seasonal lesson and apply this to the spiritual realm, may flowers are a byproduct of weeding, watering and planting bulbs at the right time each Spring. If you’re too eager and plant too soon, freezing temperatures and or frost will either kill or stunt the growth of these plants. Meanwhile, if you wait too long to plant, arid and dry conditions can result in wilting flowers.

Prayerful Action:

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you, John 15:16.

Preparing Your Fields to Bear Spiritual Fruit:

The next 30 days will be devoted to bearing spiritual fruit. After sharing the Parable of the Sower to a large crowd, Jesus’ twelve disciples were confused, asking for further clarification. Today’s passage provides clarity to the point Jesus was trying to impress upon this audience: search for the right spiritual environment so that you can begin to blossom. The soil and surroundings in which you are planted will influence the fruit that you bear. Seek out fertile, good soil.

Song of the Day:

The lyrics of the attached song by Wes King talks about being filled with the fullness of God. Christians who are eager and willing to keep in step with the Holy Spirit, Galatians 5:25, will make the effort to search for the right environment/spiritual soil where they will blossom this June.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. ¹² It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, ¹³ while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, ¹⁴ who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. ¹⁵ These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you, Titus 2:11-15.

Reflection:

The students at the Methodist Church in Colombus, Indiana where I served as youth director came up with an acronym to describe their youth group BLAZ. The B is for Bible, L for love, A for and and Z for Zeal. During a portion of my time in 1993, a revival broke out as the Holy Spirit led teenagers to give their hearts to Jesus. This was the most spiritually mature students that I ever led or was a part in my 15 years of youth ministry. The two common traits my student leadership team possessed was a yearning for God and a zeal to grow in their faith.

Prayerful Action:

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. ¹¹ Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord, Romans 12:10-11.

Building Up Bible Believing Behaviors:

As today marks another end to a month this year, I thought combining two godly behaviors would provide a strong finish for May. Yearning is the intense longing for something, often in the form of a feeling or strong sensation deep inside of you. Meanwhile, biblical zeal is a single-minded desire fueled by enthusiasm and devotion. Although everyone tends to wear down emotionally over time, those that yearn for and possess a zeal for God will be elevated spiritually. This is the importance of adding yearning with zeal.

Song of the Day:

Passage of the Day:

“Anyone who strikes a person with a fatal blow is to be put to death. ¹³ However, if it is not done intentionally, but God lets it happen, they are to flee to a place I will designate. ¹⁴ But if anyone schemes and kills someone deliberately, that person is to be taken from my altar and put to death. ¹⁵ “Anyone who attacks^[c] their father or mother is to be put to death. ¹⁶ “Anyone who kidnaps someone is to be put to death, whether the victim has been sold or is still in the kidnapper’s possession. ¹⁷ “Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death. ¹⁸ “If people quarrel and one person hits another with a stone or with their fist^[d] and the victim does not die but is confined to bed, ¹⁹ the one who struck the blow will not be held liable if the other can get up and walk around outside with a staff; however, the guilty party must pay the injured person for any loss of time and see that the victim is completely healed,” Exodus 21:12-19.

Reflection:

Following the introduction of the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20, God spends the next few chapters laying out a series of civil laws regarding how you should treat your neighbor. Moses goes into greater details of these laws in the Books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy. The founding fathers of the United States based their judicial system on the laws God gave to Moses. However, when courts banned teachers and students from praying out loud in public schools, 1962, Judeo-Christian values started to fade. One year later the public reading of the Bible during homeroom was also banned. Forty years later, 2002, the Ten Commandments were banned from being displayed in courthouses. This is what you get after 80 years of removing the Bible and prayer from public education, a former president convicted of 34 crimes that weren’t clear during Trump’s trial.

Prayerful Action:

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles, Psalm 34:17.

Beneath the Surface:

Like the great empires of the past, America is on the verge of collapse. As democratic and progressive leaders have followed the Saul Alinksy playbook by overwhelming the systems in America, this is what you get. Despite settlers from Europe coming to America to fulfill the Magna Carta, this religious founding has been removed from history textbooks. Now America finds itself like Israel rejecting God for a king in 1 Samuel 8. Only God knows the future, but for today, the apostle Paul’s prophecy in 1 Timothy 4:1-2 has been fulfilled. People now believe what their itching ears want to hear.

American Justice was founded on the belief that human beings are innocent until proven guilty. Apparently, if your name is Donald J. Trump, this doesn’t apply. Perhaps, a word from King Solomon is a good place to end: God makes all things beautiful in His time, Ecclesiastes 3:11.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

One day Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute. He went in to spend the night with her. ² The people of Gaza were told, “Samson is here!” So they surrounded the place and lay in wait for him all night at the city gate. They made no move during the night, saying, “At dawn we’ll kill him.” ³ But Samson lay there only until the middle of the night. Then he got up and took hold of the doors of the city gate, together with the two posts, and tore them loose, bar and all. He lifted them to his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron. ⁴ Some time later, he fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah, Judges 16:1-4.

Reflection:

No matter how disciplined that you are, we have all done something that we regret. During an unexpected temptation or weak moment, all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory, Romans 3:9-12. Yet, it’s one thing to tell a lazy lie than to end up participant in some sort of X-rated moment. Although all sin is considered the same, James 4:17, committing sexual acts cause you to sin against another soul, 1 Corinthians 6:15-16.

Prayerful Action:

Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body, 1 Corinthians 6:18.

Building Up Bible Believing Behaviors:

When I grew up, X-rated content was limited to adult bookstores. Unfortunately, after forty years of pushing the envelopes, even things like coloring books have become X-rated. Curse words, perversity and nudity have become accepted in American culture as sexual content continues to sell. Nonetheless, Jesus calls His followers to strive for perfection, Matthew 5:48. While everyone has their own version of kryptonite, flee from these desires so that you avoid X-rated moments.

Song of the Day:

James 1:13-15 serves as a warning against giving into temptation. May the lyrics of God Help Me empower you to resist temptation.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?” ²³ Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. ²⁴ Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. ²⁵ “All this I have spoken while still with you. ²⁶ But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. ²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid, John 14:22-27.

Reflection:

Regardless of your spiritual state, there will always be questions that you have for God to answer. Judas wondered why Jesus only revealed Himself to twelve men. Rather than openly respond, Jesus focuses on what is truly important. Listening, knowing and obeying the Bible’s teaching are the three essentials to becoming a follower of Jesus. Therefore, if you want to wake up in God’s Spirit, emulate Jesus’ practices in Mark 1.

Prayerful Action:

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed, Mark 1:35.

Building Up Bible Believing Behaviors:

As a former assistant golf professional, there are numerous techniques available to teach individuals how to swing a golf club. Since human beings possess different abilities, heights and strength, you have to customize your instruction to each individual. In the same manner, some people love the mornings and others are night owls. The goal is when you enter God’s presence through prayer and Bible Study, do this when you are most awake. As you figure out your most productive time to be with God, you’ll be in a better position spiritually to wake up in the Holy Spirit.

Song of the Day:

Whenever I have moving times in prayer or studying the Bible, I tend to have my most productive days at work. This was the inspiration behind today’s title, to wake up in God’s Spirit.

by Jay Mankus