ExpressYourself4Him

Passage of the Day:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, ⁵ who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶ In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. ⁷ These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. ⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, ⁹ for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls, 1 Peter 1:3-9.

Reflection:

The words of Peter provide a New Testament perspective to the words of an Old Testament prophet. Hosea 4:1-6 details why Israelites lost their way spiritually. Whenever you lack knowledge and or a clear vision for the future, hope slowly erodes until it is gone. Meanwhile, Peter unveils the secret to maintain a living hope. This is the opposite message of modern-day Pollyanna preachers who proclaim that once you enter into a personal relationship with Jesus, everything will fall into place and be smooth. This is not reality as all Christians must experience hardships, testing this newfound faith. This ongoing process is like going through a spiritual furnace, burning off all the imperfections that exist in our lives. As Christian maturity is obtained, possessing a living hope becomes attainable.

Prayerful Action:

Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. ¹⁷ Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. ¹⁸ He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created, James 1:16-18.

Clinging to a Glimmer of Hope this Fall:

As a former athlete who was close to becoming a professional in 2 different sports, I know how many hours of dedication it takes to reach this elite level. Unfortunately, making the necessary sacrifices doesn’t guarantee success. This maturation process separates the best in the world from the wanna be professional athletes like me. Yet, from a spiritual perspective, every trial that you endure prepares you for the future, James 1:2-4. As you fight through these spiritual growing pains, a living hope is waiting for you. As one former disciple once proclaimed, the choice is yours, Revelation 3:20-21.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

While placing your hope in material things is fleeting, experiencing the living hope of Jesus is life changing. May the lyrics of today’s song lead you toward this living hope.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. ²⁷ Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God”? ²⁸ Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.²⁹ He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;³¹ but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint, Isaiah 40:26-31.

Reflection:

Today’s featured passage provides a glimpse into God’s character and nature. Subsequently, whenever you are moved to pray to an invisible God, this cry for help is relying on hope from above. The eloquent words of this Old Testament prophet compare God to a parent of an eaglet. Despite experiencing growing pains as the harsh realities of life set in, those who place their hope in the Lord will have their strength renewed. Like experiencing a second wind of energy on a grueling day at school or work, placing your hope in the God above will provide for all your needs.

Prayerful Action:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus, Philippians 4:6-7.

Clinging to a Glimmer of Hope this Fall:

As I was attending seminary to complete a master’s in theology, I wasn’t sure how I would apply this knowledge. However, when a local chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes asked for a volunteer to present a pregame speech for a visiting college football team, I spoke twice. Serving as a sports chaplain intrigued me. My first speech reminded players of a former Ole Miss cornerback who eventually died due to complications from an injury sustained playing college football. Chucky Mullins became an inspirational speaker, motivating his teammates to never give up hope and to keep fighting. As a Christian, this is what the words of Isaiah has done for me, finding hope from above whenever I turn to the Lord in prayer.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

Today’s song comes from my favorite alternative Christian praise album of all time. May the lyrics of There is No One Like You inspire you to place your hope in the God who reigns above.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. ¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ¹² Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. ¹⁴ I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.^[b] I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile,” Jeremiah 29:10-14.

Reflection:

When I first became a Christian as a teenager, verse 11 was one of the most quoted passages shared with me by friends from high school and college. When you take an initially leap of faith, Romans 10:9-10, other Christians may offer their insight on where Holy Spirit may lead you. However, only God truly knows your future. While you may end up taking detours, getting lost and wasting years on your journey of faith, hopes provides the motivation to keep walking by faith. May other promises in the Bible give you hope for a brighter future.

Prayerful Action:

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him, Hebrews 11:6.

Clinging to a Glimmer of Hope this Fall:

On New Year’s Day 2012, I was informed that I would be losing my job at the end of January. This shocking development forced me to reinvent myself in my early 40’s. The next 16 months were filled with uncertainty, darkness and pain. While at a Christian bookstore, a stranger came up to me and shared a prophecy about my life, similar to the words of Jeremiah 29. While I was skeptical, doubting something so good could ever come true, this prophecy was fulfilled after receiving a job and subsequent promotion with Amazon. As King Solomon once shared, although your plans may not be God’s plans, the Lord’s purpose prevails, Proverbs 19:21.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

Life is a marathon filled with unexpected twists and turns. Yet, when you believe and cling to God’s promises in the Bible, hope for a brighter future will be conceived. This is where hope leads to perfect harmony.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. ²⁵ I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— ²⁶ the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. ²⁷ To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. ²⁸ He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. ²⁹ To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me, Colossians 1:24-29.

Reflection:

As the apostle Paul writes the Church at Colosse about his spiritual battles and labor of love for the Lord, I am reminded of the parable of the Talents in Matthew 25. Whenever you are working, and you don’t see any initial results of the fruit of your labor, it’s easy to lose hope. You may even reach a point when you verbalize to a friend, “is this really worth it?” Yet, God calls Christians to be faithful to your calling and God’s will, Romans 12:1-2. This is the perseverance that enables servants of Jesus to press on, using their God given gifts. This is the hope of glory.

Prayerful Action:

“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. ²⁰ The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’ ²¹ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ – Matthew 25:19-21

Clinging to a Glimmer of Hope this Fall:

I spent my first two years living in South Carolina questioning what I was doing and where I was going. From a professional standpoint, I was going backwards, stepping down from a leadership position to allow my wife to be near her dying mother. Despite having a decade of experience, I felt like my talents were being wasted. Yet, I stuck around, dug deep spiritually and poured my heart into helping others. Although I haven’t experienced the hope of glory like the faithful servants in the Parable of the Talents, my labor of love is impacting co-workers and slowly making a difference. Like the apostle Paul, I press to fulfill God’s calling in my life, Philippians 3:14.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

The lyrics to This Side of Heaven talk about how easy it is to lose our way spiritually. May today’s devotion inspire you to stay on track by pressing on to fulfill God’s calling for your life.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. ⁵ You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. ⁶ So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. ⁸ But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. ⁹ For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁰ He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. ¹¹ Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing, 1 Thessalonians 5:4-11.

Reflection:

When my father passed away the Saturday after Mother’s Day, I received a rhema from God about funerals. Since I’m not sure if my father had a personal relationship with Jesus, I never want to attend another funeral for a family member where the hope of salvation is unknown. Although my father was a loyal member of the Roman Catholic Church, this doesn’t guarantee eternal life. The apostle Paul who helped found the Church in Rome made the requirements clear in Romans 10:9-11. The hope of salvation involves a personal belief and a verbal confession. Since faith is something that is kept private in many of the tradition churches, true believers won’t know for sure who is in heaven until they too shall pass. This is a bitter pill for me to swallow.

Prayerful Action:

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. ¹² Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. ¹³ 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, 1 John 5:11-13.

Clinging to a Glimmer of Hope this Fall:

While the armor of God is described piece by piece in Ephesians 6:10-12, this isn’t the only passage where this spiritual armor is mentioned. In a letter to the Church at Thessalonica, Paul refers to the helmet of salvation as the hope of salvation. If the Devil is the author and father of all lies, John 8:44, minds need spiritual protection. Therefore, as you work out your salvation, Philippians 2:12, put on the helmet of salvation to protect your mind from the ways of the world, Romans 12:2.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

I grew up on the Michael English version of In Christ Alone. Thirty years later, the lyrics of this song point Christians toward the hope of salvation.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

“Yet if you devote your heart to him and stretch out your hands to him, ¹⁴ if you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent,¹⁵ then, free of fault, you will lift up your face; you will stand firm and without fear.¹⁶ You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by.¹⁷ Life will be brighter than noonday, and darkness will become like morning.¹⁸ You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety.¹⁹ You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid, and many will court your favor. ²⁰ But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and escape will elude them; their hope will become a dying gasp,” Job 11:13-20.

Reflection:

Job grew up in a time where people attributed unfortunate events that happened to you as some form of punishment from God. When a series of trials stuck Job’s family, property and his own health, 3 friends came to speak with him. Each believed that Job and or one of his parents had sinned bringing the wrath of God upon him. Zophar came to Job, wanting him to confess his sins so that these curse-like events would cease. Yet, Job did nothing wrong so all he could do was to rest his hope in God.

Prayerful Action:

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. ⁸ Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil, Psalm 37:7-8.

Clinging to a Glimmer of Hope this Fall:

If you live in western North Carolina, perhaps you feel like Job, unsure why disaster has devastated this region. While some towns will try to rebuild, other towns have completely been wiped off the map via floods and landslides. When there is no one left to help, or no one can hear your cries, rest your hope in God. However, don’t be like the parable of a man who was sent a boat and helicopter, but refused as he was waiting for God Himself to arrive. Rest your hope in the Living God.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

As you wait for the whys to gain understanding for your current dilemma, listen for God’s still voice. May the Holy Spirit speak to your heart as you rest in the hope of God.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

What misery is mine! I am like one who gathers summer fruit at the gleaning of the vineyard; there is no cluster of grapes to eat, none of the early figs that I crave.² The faithful have been swept from the land; not one upright person remains. Everyone lies in wait to shed blood; they hunt each other with nets. ³ Both hands are skilled in doing evil; the ruler demands gifts, the judge accepts bribes, the powerful dictate what they desire— they all conspire together.⁴ The best of them is like a brier, the most upright worse than a thorn hedge. The day God visits you has come, the day your watchmen sound the alarm. Now is the time of your confusion.⁵ Do not trust a neighbor; put no confidence in a friend. Even with the woman who lies in your embrace   guard the words of your lips. ⁶ For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises up against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law  a man’s enemies are the members of his own household.⁷ But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me, Micah 7:1-7.

Reflection:

The Old Testament is filled with accounts of hopeless times, often brought on by disobedience, ignorance and trials designed to test your faith. Following the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, survival is one of the positive aspects of this storm. As I continue to pick up of the pieces of fallen trees and limbs, I hope that power will be restored soon. Unfortunately, as assessments are being completed in Aiken County, the amounts of down power lines and electrical poles is prolonging this process. These circumstances have opened my mind to the words Micah, watching in hope for the Lord.

Prayerful Action:

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; ³¹ but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint, Isaiah 40:30-31.

Clinging to a Glimmer of Hope this Fall:

How you respond to everyday situations will influence your degree of hope. If a circumstance catches you off guard, you will likely respond, “God, why is this happening to me?” Meanwhile, Christians who have experienced much more difficult things in life tend to ask God, “what are you trying to teach me Lord?” As the leaves begin to change colors later this month, may the Holy Spirit inspire you to watch in hope for God daily.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

Waiting is one of the hardest things for me to do. Yet, in the waiting for God, watch in hope for God who has provided for others time after time.

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:

As a former high school coach, I learned the hard way that I couldn’t invest all of my time on my current players. After going to back-to-back state tournaments, finishing 4th in my 4th year of coaching, I had to do a complete rebuild as I lost 3 of my top golfers and most of my reserves. After a couple of lean years, I became a recruiter at football and basketball games, trying to convince new athletes to try out for the golf team. Realizing that he would not enter God’s Promised Land, Moses began to mentor Joshua to become Israel’s next spiritual leader. Based upon Joshua’s own words, Moses was passionate about Israel’s future.

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.

Clinging a to Glimmer of Hope this Fall:

Youth pastors across the county go through the same transitional period as coaches every 4 years. When a strong leader heads off to college, these teenagers are hard to replace. While there will also be various personalities within a same group setting, developing strong spiritual leaders requires time and energy. As I near retirement in 4 years, one of the callings I sense from the Holy Spirit is to invest in the lives of teenagers like my high school coaches and teachers poured their lives into me. When passion is absent from your life, it’s hard to become excited about anything. Yet, when passion is conceived, God can give you a vision and hope for future generations.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

In this day and age, without discipleship, churches continue to die. Therefore, may today’s devotion inspire you to become passionate with hope for future generations as a holy war continues in the spiritual realm.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. ² This is what the ancients were commended for. ³ By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. ⁴ By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead. ⁵ By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.”^[a] For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. ⁶ And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him, Hebrews 11:1-6.

Reflection:

Today’s passage comes from the chapter known as the Bible’s Hall of Faith. This initial portion serves as an introduction, necessary qualities for the special recipients of this spiritual club. Although apostle Paul elevates charity, love in action above hope and faith, these 2 theological virtues often go hand in hand. Hope is a byproduct of faith. However, when doubt interrupts this spiritual union, James 1:6-8, hope and faith become a mere word without any substantial meaning. Perhaps, this is what led one first century leader to claim faith without deeds is dead.

Prayerful Action:

But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds, James 2:18.

Cling to a Glimmer of Hope this Fall:

Life is full of cycles where you draw close to God only to slide back into bad habits of selfishness. As a fairly new resident of South Carolina, I was excited to live in an area known as the Bible belt. Yet, being good, kind and nice only take you so far in life. Subsequently, when I was in need following the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, only one Christian neighbor put their faith in action, spending an entire afternoon helping me cut down 2 large trees that nearly landed on my roof. The next time you find yourself verbally telling a neighbor that you’ll help out, combine hope with faith so that your actions will demonstrate the love of Jesus in your neighborhood.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

Today’s song is one of the best illustrations of combining hope and faith. When a Christian demonstrates this through their actions, these followers become the hands and feet of Jesus.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

If you falter in a time of trouble, how small is your strength! ¹¹ Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. ¹² If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it?
  Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done? ¹³ Eat honey, my son, for it is good;  honey from the comb is sweet to your taste. ¹⁴ Know also that wisdom is like honey for you:  If you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off, Proverbs 24:10-14.

Reflection:

Today’s featured passage brings me back to my coaching days. I can recall times when my baseball team struggled to recover from one bad inning in the field which often cost us the game. When I addressed this team in the dugout between innings, heads were down, shoulders shrugged and the energy to fight back was gone. I wish I had a copy of the wise saying in verse 10 back then. Unfortunately, the first sign of adversity causes most Christians to run and hide rather than face conflict head on. If you want to grow in your faith like the earthly brother of Jesus, embrace every time of trouble as a means to mature spiritually. And when you do fail, place your hope in God for a fresh start.

Prayerful Action:

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind, James 1:5-6.

Clinging to a Glimmer of Hope this Fall:

Going back to my baseball speech, if you get a hit 3 out of every 10 at bats, you’re considered a great hitter. Subsequently, you have to develop a similar perspective when it comes to your spiritual life, Romans 3:9-12. If all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory, keep battling like a hitter in the middle of a long 0 for streak. When you do falter, bounce back by remembering the words of an Old Testament prophet, Lamentations 3:23. God’s offers a fresh start every morning. Therefore, don’t beat yourself by dwelling on all of your failures. Instead, place your hope in God’s promise to offer you a fresh start every morning.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

Some days seem longer than others, even though all days are 24 hours in length. Nonetheless, sometimes you have to let go of bad yesterday’s by turning your attention to the dawn of a new day.

by Jay Mankus