Category Archives: Truth

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. ⁵ May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, ⁶ so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Romans 15:1-6.

Reflection:

There was a common saying that parents in Delaware taught their children when I was growing up. “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it!” The point of this expression was to focus on the positive aspects in the lives of a family member or neighbor. Near the end of his letter to the Church at Rome, the apostle Paul brings up circumstances that Christians may find themselves in. Rather than treat new Christians like a Pharisee, magnifying all of their flaws, Paul calls Roman Christians to build up one another in an encouraging manner. Most people don’t respond well to criticism. However, when people are affirmed in an uplifting manner, these spoken words can make their day or start to turn around a bad week.

Prayerful Action:

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing, 1 Thessalonians 5:11.

Building Up Bible Believing Behavior:

Encouragement is often conceived within someone’s perspective on life. If you see a glass that is half-empty but look at it as a blessing to be half-full, you are on the right track toward becoming an encouraging person. Unfortunately, the root of bitterness described in Hebrews 12:15 has a way of corrupting your soul. If you surround yourself with negative or sarcastic people, Psalm 1:1-2, you’ll eventually become negative and or sarcastic. While changing bad habits can be extremely difficult, start by asking yourself, “am I building others up or tearing them down?” This subtle thought may stop you from trashing others and trigger ways to start to build others up with encouragement.

Song of the Day:

The attached song is about a conversation that many people who live in large cities avoid each day, passing buy homeless standing at a busy intersection, begging for money. If Christians develop encouragement, they will begin to look for ways to help people like the child in the lyrics of Two Pennies. May today’s blog serve as a building block for encouragement.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: ² Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. ³ For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. ⁴ They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. ⁵ But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. ⁶ For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing, 2 Timothy 4:1-8.

Reflection:

Determination is the process of establishing something exactly by calculation or research. Individuals that possess this behavior display firmness of purpose and a resolute spirit. Depending upon your aspirations and personal interests, determination is often conceived by setting goals. From a spiritual point of view, determination begins by putting on the mind of Christ, Colossians 3:1-4. This is what the apostle refers to while writing a teenage pastor in the passage above. Fighting the good fight of faith requires determination.

Prayerful Action:

Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. ²⁷ No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize, 1 Corinthians 9:26-27.

Building Up Bible Believing Behavior:

As a former long-distance runner, I understand the apostle Paul’s analogy to the Olympic fans of Corinth. Perhaps, Paul is referring to the importance of mind over matter. One of the tee shirts I often saw working out in college was “No Pain No Gain.” Developing determination requires a willing to push your body to its limit. Anyone whose life verse is Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength,” gives Christians a spiritual goal which often breeds determination.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

In Romans 7, the apostle Paul details his failures to control his own body. However, in the final verse, Romans 7:25, Paul gives credit to Jesus for delivering him from sin. Sometimes developing determination is simply grinding a day out to start anew tomorrow. This is how Paul fought the good fight.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

Then Moses went out and spoke these words to all Israel: ² “I am now a hundred and twenty years old and I am no longer able to lead you. The Lord has said to me, ‘You shall not cross the Jordan.’ ³ The Lord your God himself will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you, and you will take possession of their land. Joshua also will cross over ahead of you, as the Lord said. ⁴ And the Lord will do to them what he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, whom he destroyed along with their land. ⁵ The Lord will deliver them to you, and you must do to them all that I have commanded you. ⁶ Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” ⁷ Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. ⁸ The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged,” Deuteronomy 31:1-8.

Reflection:

Sometimes when you meet an individual for the first time, you get the impression that they are merely following a script. Perhaps, this person is afraid to be who they really are, playing it safe in this initial discussion. As for Joshua, he reminded consistent, despite being outnumbered as one of the twelve spies sent to do reconnaissance of God’s Promised Land. Caleb and Joshua each gave a positive review of Canaan, believing in God’s power and promise to Israel. Joshua possessed the same courage as David, seeing beyond the physical features of Goliath toward an Almighty God.

Prayerful Action:

“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go,” Joshua 1:7.

Building Up Bible Believing Behaviors:

When Americans think about courage, images of the cowardly lion in The Wizard of Oz may pop into your head. Despite his size, this character lacked the courage to face his fears until a trip with Dorothy to see the Wizard. The 2011 film entitled Courageous provides different scenarios where the cast is forced to rise above the trials in their lives. Recognizing that this will be difficult to achieve on their own, an accountability group is formed to help one another with the obstacles in their path to becoming courageous. As Joshua is introduced as Moses’ successor to lead Israel into the Land of Canaan, he calls everyone to be strong and courageous. Joshua realized that this journey isn’t going to be easy to complete, but if you bear down, we’ll make it safely to the other side. This is courage in action.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

As a former stutterer, I never imagined that I would become a teacher and preach from time to time. If I allowed my fears as a child to remain within, my path in life would have been much different and limited. If courage led David to slay a giant, this quality can help you defeat the giants preventing you from being a courageous Christian today. Have faith to stand tall.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. ⁹ God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you ¹⁰ in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you. ¹¹ I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— ¹² that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. ¹³ I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters,^[d] that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles. ¹⁴ I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. ¹⁵ That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome. ¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. ¹⁷ For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last,^[e] just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith,” Romans 1:8-16.

Reflection:

We now live in a hypersensitive culture where if you say the wrong thing, there’s a chance your reputation will be forever ruined. A few have been arrested, others cancelled, and some have lost their job due to pressure from social media. As the apostle Paul writes a first century letter to the Church at Rome, Christians were being arrested and beaten with some suffering a martyr’s death like Stephen in Acts 7. Since there was a belief that Jesus’ second coming was going to happen in their lifetime, many Christians were willing to risk their lives for their faith. This was the mindset behind the boldness of first century apostles within the early church.

Prayerful Action:

Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness, Acts 4:29.

Building Up Bible Believing Behaviors:

While Peter is forever known as the disciple who publicly denied knowing Jesus in Matthew 26:69-74, he did learn from this mistake. Peter gives this advice to first century Christians struggling with standing up for their faith: Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats^[b]; do not be frightened,” 1 Peter 3:13-14. According to one of Jesus’ disciples, Peter was crucified upside down, feeling unworthy to die like Jesus, John 21:15-19. This spiritual transformation was a direct result of a conscience decision to make boldness a spiritual priority.

Song of the Day:

Following Peter’s advice about boldness, he adds a disclaimer in 1 Peter 3:15-16, “do this with gentleness and respect.” Boldness doesn’t give you the right to condemn people. Rather, boldness simply expresses to others where you stand spiritually.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death,^[a] and of faith in God, ² instruction about cleansing rites,^[b] the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. ³ And God permitting, we will do so. ⁴ It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, ⁵ who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age ⁶ and who have fallen^[c] away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. ⁷ Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. ⁸ But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned, Hebrews 6:1-8.

Reflection:

The presence of apathy is visible when individuals lack interest, enthusiasm, or concern about their current spiritual condition. In the film A League of Their Own, Tom Hanks and Gina Davis are having an animated conversation when Davis’ character, Dottie Hinson, informs her manager that she is leaving the team. Dottie confesses that baseball got too hard. Manager Jimmy Dugan replies,”It’s supposed to be hard. If it wasn’t, everyone would play.” The same could be said about demonstrating Christian behavior. The apostle Paul lists fruits of the Holy Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. However, to make this a reality by living out these traits requires discipline, effort and focus. This is how Christians can avoid apathy.

Prayerful Action:

If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, ²⁷ but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God, Hebrews 10:26-27.

Building Up Bible Believing Behavior:

The apostle Paul makes an interesting comment in the letter to the Church at Philippi. “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, Philippians 2:12.” These words provide a sense of urgency which speaks to Christians who limit their faith to just Sunday. Don’t just worship the Lord at church or in the presence of other believers. Rather, the way you avoid apathy is by continuing to work out your salvation 7 days a week at home, in your neighborhood and at work.

Song of the Day:

While today’s song is often used to help women with self-image problems, one of the ways I confront apathy in my own life is taking time to reflect upon a spiritual mirror, the Bible. The more I read the Bible, I am inspired to push through apathetic thoughts by drawing closer to the Lord. May today’s devotion encourage you to break free from apathy.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” ³⁷ They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. ³⁸ He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? ³⁹ Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” ⁴⁰ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. ⁴¹ And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” ⁴² They gave him a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³ and he took it and ate it in their presence, Luke 24:36-43.

Reflection:

During my final semester of college, I kept on having the same reoccurring nightmare. Initially, I didn’t think anything of it. Perhaps, a byproduct of a lack of sleep and too much studying. However, as I vividly saw this white rat suddenly get bit by a poisonous snake, I immediately woke up pondering, “where is this coming from?” After consulting with a few friends and mentor, I realized that I was the rat and the snake was the Devil. I was a victim of fear, always playing spiritual defense. Rather than always being forced to react, the Holy Spirit showed me how to become proactive in my faith.

Prayerful Action:

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. ⁵ We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ, 2 Corinthians 10:4-5.

Building Up Bible Believing Behavior:

Victimology is the possession of an outlook, arising from real or imagined victimization, that seems to glorify and indulge the state of being a victim. Meanwhile, fear is a strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger. The best way for Christians to no longer become of victim of fear is by adopting the apostle Paul’s advice in the passage above. Only spiritual weapons can demolish strongholds over your life. Rather than giving the Devil a foothold, Ephesians 4:27, start by taking your thoughts captive so that any previous fear that exists will flee from your mind. Or as one of Jesus’ disciples once penned, perfect love drives out all fear, 1 John 4:18. Memorizing Bible verses like these will build up Bible Believing Behavior over time.

Song of the Day:

Today’s culture embraces and promotes victimology. However, from a spiritual perspective, you’re only giving the Devil a foothold over your life if you play the victim card. May today’s devotion help you overcome fear by experiencing the freedom Jesus promised in John 10:10. By the end of 2024, may you be able to proclaim, “I’m not longer a victim of fear.”

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ⁶ But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. ⁷ And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. ⁸ Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. ⁹ “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, ¹⁰ your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. ¹¹ Give us today our daily bread. ¹² And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. ¹³ And lead us not into temptation,^[a] but deliver us from the evil one.^[b]’ ¹⁴ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins,” Matthew 6:5-15.

Reflection:

Despite growing up in a Roman Catholic Church, I never realized that Jesus placed a condition on forgiveness. At the end of the Lord’s Prayer (Our Father), the forgiveness that God bestows upon you is dependent upon how you forgive other people. Subsequently, if there is one Christian behavior that all believers should strive to emulate in 2024, it is forgiveness.

Prayerful Action:

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. ²⁵ And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins,” Mark 11:24-25.

Building Up Bible Believing Behaviors:

Forgiveness is more than just a word. Genuine forgiveness includes the ability to forget and move on. When someone tells you, “I forgive you, but I’ll never forget what you did,” this is not biblical forgiveness. A first century historian declares in Acts 17:30, “God commands all people everywhere to repent!” In fact, Jesus teaches that if someone sins against you and they don’t know it, it’s your responsibility to talk to this individual and bring your concerns to this individual. As Christians mature and begin to follow Jesus’ call to forgive, Bible believing behaviors are conceived.

Song of the Day:

One of my favorite songs that illustrates the importance of forgiveness is by Crossway. This Country/Christian group does an amazing job of pointing out how human nature influences our ability to forgive. May today’s message and song inspire you to develop a spirit of forgiveness.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” ²⁷ So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian^[a] eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, ²⁸ and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. ²⁹ The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” ³⁰ Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. ³¹ “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. ³² This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. ³³ In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.”^{[b] 34} The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” ³⁵ Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. ³⁶ As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” ^{[37] [c] 38} And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. ³⁹ When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. ⁴⁰ Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea, Acts 8:26-40.

Reflection:

There are some mornings when I wake up when I don’t feel like doing anything. Yet, I turn off my alarm and roll out of bed to begin another day on earth. In the days of one Old Testament prophet, God was searching for a willing participant, Ezekiel 22:30. Unfortunately, no one came forward to fill this void. When it comes to behavior, you have to possess a will deep down inside. If this desire is absent, you’ll be like a child who doesn’t care or simply doesn’t what to do what their parents want.

Prayerful Action:

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” – Isaiah 6:8

Building Up Bible Believing Behavior:

When Philip got up on the day that Luke records in today’s featured passage, he immediately responds to an angel of the Lord. Philip doesn’t use the excuse, “but I already have plans.” Nor does Philip hesitate or question this calling. Rather, Philip listens and obeys by walking south on a desert road. As a willing participant, Philip’s eyes were wide open, diligently searching for an opportunity to be a vessel of God. When this chance to serve was recognized, Philip not only kept in step with the Holy Spirit, Galatians 5:25, but began running with the Spirit. This is the model for being a willing participant.

Song of the Day:

The more that Christians begin their days praying to become a willing participant, God will open your eyes to opportunities that you previously passed by without a thought. Keep in step with the Holy Spirit so that Christian Behaviors will be lived out in the month of May.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. ⁴ Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. ⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; ⁶ and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; ⁷ and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. ⁸ For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins, 2 Peter 1:3-9.

Reflection:

Anyone can expect great things to happen when your life is filled with countless blessings. However, the moment you hit a rough patch in life filled with disappointment, failure and trials, your faith is put to the test, 1 Peter 1:6-7. This is when you have to dig deep, recalling all of the former instances in your past when God has lifted you up from the depths of despair and depression. This is Jesus’ call to action to his disciples in the below passage.

Prayerful Action:

When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” ²⁶ Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible,” Matthew 19:25-26.

Retracing Your Steps:

When I was sixteen, a doctor at A.I. Dupont’s Childrens Hospital told me that my athletic career was over. After running the final mile of a cross country meet with a sprained ankle, I torn all of my tendons in my left ankle as the bone in my leg was twisted 180 degrees in the wrong direction. From a purely scientific perspective, this doctor was correct. However, when my friends from the Fellowship of Christian Athletes laid hands upon me before exiting Concord before my surgery, something supernatural was about to occur. Four months later, I was standing on the podium at the University of Delaware’s Natatorium receiving a bronze medal for the 200 Individual Medley Team Relay. A scar on my left ankle in the shape of a J provides me of a daily reminder that God has done and can-do great things in my life.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

The attached song gave me the strength to press on when my wife’s mom passed away in 2022. May the words of I Choose to Believe serve as a daily prayer to help you live with the mindset to expect God to do great things in your life.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder,^[a] and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ ²² But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister^[b][c] will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’^[d] is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. ²³ “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. ²⁵ “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. ²⁶ Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny, Matthew 5:21-26.

Reflection:

Jesus appears to know in advance what would happen if Christians put their trust in lawyers rather than the power of God to heal. God doesn’t want Christians to take the easy way out by letting a third party settle your differences. Rather as you prepare your hearts for communion or reflect upon your relationships in prayer, take the time to mend and restore these friendships. This is a call to action in the Sermon on the Mount.

Prayerful Action:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:^[a] The old has gone, the new is here! ¹⁸ All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:  2 Corinthians 5:17-18.

Retracing Your Steps:

When I was a youth director in Columbus, Indiana, one of the key leaders in the youth group was devastated when I replaced the person she loved. One day her mother came to me in tears confessing, “I’m so sorry that my daughter hates you.” After a few months of prayer and consultation, I was able to restore this relationship. When I moved on to Chicago, I actual met Shara at O’Hare International Airport, spending time talking before her parents picked her up. This is just one example of how God can restore broken relationships.

Song of the Day:

Not every relationship can be saved. Sometimes you have to wait until God changes another person’s heart before reconciliation is achieved. If today’s blog finds you in this situation, fast and pray for God to do a miracle by restoring this relationship.

by Jay Mankus