Tag Archives: Christianity

Passage of the Day:

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh^[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love. ¹⁴ For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”^[b] 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. ¹⁶ So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh, Galatians 5:13-16.

Reflection:

One of the obstacles that you’ll see in movies and television is that most characters have inner/personal demons that often result in self-destructive acts. According to the apostle Paul, the greatest obstacle to charity is the human flesh. This is a generic term which is expanded upon in Galatians 5:19-21. These 15 sinful acts speak to the depravity of the human condition. Whenever you seek to do something charitable, these earthly desires inside of you are waging war against your soul. These are the obstacles to charity.

Prayerful Action:

Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul, 1 Peter 2:11.

Learning to Love this December as God Loves You:

The apostle Paul devotes an entire chapter to this topic in Romans 7:1-25. This serves as a public confession of a flesh that was out of control. Whenever you give into these sinful desires, the next time you are tempted, the harder and harder it becomes stop. This is why addictions are so difficult to overcome. However, when you rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to intercede on your behalf, you can be victorious in overcoming these earthly desires, 1 Corinthians 10:13. Lean on the Holy Spirit to help you overcome obstacles to charity this holiday season.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

Level Head shares stories of fallen believers from God’s grace, held captive by specific fleshly desires. May today’s lyrics remind you of the obstacles to charity and God’s power to rescue you from the poor choices of your past.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

For I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. ⁸ But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, ⁹ because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.¹⁰ When Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is carrying on the work of the Lord, just as I am. ¹¹ No one, then, should treat him with contempt. Send him on his way in peace so that he may return to me. I am expecting him along with the brothers.¹² Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was quite unwilling to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity.¹³ Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. ¹⁴ Do everything in love, 1 Corinthians 16:7-14.

Reflection:

Life in general is all about managing the people in your spheres of influence. As the apostle Paul kept in step with the Holy Spirit, Galatians 5:25, his ministry team grew beyond Silas, relying on spiritual leaders like Timothy to help plant new first century churches. Unfortunately, time is not always on the side of Christian missionaries. When you find yourself under pressure, your true character is exposed. If you add the spiritual dimension of Ephesians 6:12 to this equation, it’s easy to lose your cool. This is why Paul urges Corinthian Christian to do everything in love.

Prayerful Action:

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God, 1 John 4:7.

Learning to Love this December as God Loves You:

No one is immune to human nature, Romans 3:9-12. Subsequently, charity and love aren’t something that you can manufacture in your own strength. John reminds fellow first century Christians that love comes from God. As you enter into a personal relationship with Jesus, this source of love can gradually shine through you. As Christians learn to rise above their current circumstances, the power of love can transform congregations, even in today’s progressive age.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

Today’s song comes from the Change Your World Album. Debuting shortly after Huey Lewis’ Power of Love song, the lyrics of Give It Away compliment today’s message on love. May today’s song inspire you to be a shining light of charity and love this Christmas season.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

If I speak in the tongues^[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,^[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing, 1 Corinthians 13:1-3.

Reflection:

First century Corinth was no different than living in the United States of America in 2024. Nearly everywhere you go or travel, there is someone that means well, but love is absent from their lives. Based upon the words chosen by the apostle Paul, Corinthian Christians could talk a game good, but their actions were void of love. You probably know someone in life who knows the Bible inside and out, but when it comes to demonstrating this knowledge in public, chaos and confusion follow. Subsequently, learning to become charitable by living out the love of Jesus in your heart takes time.

Prayerful Action:

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love, Galatians 5:6.

Learning to Love this December like God Loves You:

One of the Christian mottos I was introduced to in college was “talk softly and carry a big stick.” Although I wasn’t sure what the big stick was, this analogy was likely based upon Matthew 16:24-27. As Jesus was explaining expectations for His disciples, one of these requirements to take up the cross. Depending upon what Bible commentary you prefer, Christians should take the cause of Christ, the gospel, with them whenever they go in life. As Christian’s pray for and seek to become more charitable, love will slowly shine through as you give Jesus away.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

As someone who had a bad temper in my past, changing to become more like Jesus has its own set of growing pains. May today’s song Love in Action inspire you to shine the love of Jesus as a form of charity.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. ³⁵ One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: ³⁶ “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” ³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’^[c] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^[d] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments,” Matthew 22:34-40.

Reflection:

For three years, Jewish religious leaders tried to deceive, trick and test Jesus’ knowledge of the Law. Today’s passage is their final attempt, seeking to make Jesus de-emphasize of the Ten Commandments. Instead, Jesus gives a modern understanding of keeping these ancient rules. Breaking the Commandments into two categories, keeping God’s Law comes down to 2 decisions: loving God and loving your neighbor. If you love God with all your heart, you will keep the first 4 commandments. Meanwhile, by loving your neighbor as yourself, you’ll uphold the final 6. When you do, love in action is charity.

Prayerful Action:

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock,” Matthew 7:24-25.

Learning to Love this December as God Loves You:

As a former baseball, basketball, cross country, and golf coach, it’s easy to notice who has been practicing and who is just showing up. Sometimes the most talented athletes rely on their past successes instead of seeking to maximize their God given abilities. Unfortunately, Christians can fall into similar bad habits, going through the motions rather than hungering and thirsting for righteousness. As Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount, He calls listeners to put God’s Words into action. When Christians exercise love, acts of charity follow.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

When Christians learn to become doers of the Word, they begin to emulate Jesus. May the words of What Would Jesus Do inspire love in action in the form of charity this December.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

“To the angel^[a] of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits^[b] of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. ² Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. ³ Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you, Revelation 3:1-3.

Reflection:

Every day there are countless unknowns: good, bad or indifferent. Tomorrow could be the best day of your life or the worst day you’ve ever experienced. Based upon today’s featured passage, members of the Church at Sardis were going through the motions as a Christian. Yet, according to the angel, many were sleeping with a faith void of any spiritual fruit. The warning in this passage reminds me of Jesus’ parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30. None of the servants knew when their master would return. Subsequently, each one needed to live each day as if their master would return any minute. If you were in this situation, is your faith ready?

Prayerful Action:

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.²¹ To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. ²² Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches,” Revelation 3:20-22.

Fueling your Faith this Spiritual Season:

King Solomon points to a devise that sharpens tools, making the analogy that fellowship with godly Christians sharpens your faith, Proverbs 27:17. Although I tried to become a lone ranger Christian early on in my faith journey, I realized that I couldn’t do this alone. Another New Testament author builds upon this concept in Hebrews 10:23-25, urging first century Christians to keep meeting with one another outside of church. The more you surround yourself with a positive environment, you’ll find that your faith will be ready for Jesus’ second coming.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

Listening to Christian songs weekly has a way of keeping my faith alive outside of church. Sometimes, the melody mixed with special lyrics inspires me to be more active spiritually. May the words of Never Let Go motivate you to seize each day with a vibrant faith.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. ⁵ And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. ⁶ And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love, 2 John 1:4-6.

Reflection:

As a child, you begin crawling on your knees. Once cognitive skills develop, you may opt to hold a parent’s hand as you slowly take your first steps. When balance is obtained, you can walk on your own, walking faster and faster as confidence grows within. As John writes to first century Christians scattered throughout the Mediterranean Sea region, he compares faith to a child learning to walk. However, Christians must learn to walk in the truth of the Bible, following in the footsteps of the Berean Church.

Prayerful Action:

As soon as it was night, the believers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. ¹¹ Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true, Acts 17:10-11.

Fueling Your Faith This Spiritual Season:

Walking in faith begins with checking and scanning the Bible to discover if what a teacher said is consistent with and supports God’s Word. The apostle Paul adopted this spiritual discipline in a letter to the Church at Thessalonica, with more specifics. Paul urged first century Christians to test everything, cling to what is good and reject every kind of evil, 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22. This is the mindset you need to walk in faith in an everchanging world. When you add this to loving one another and obeying God’s commands, walking in faith becomes attainable.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

Today’s song is from the Facing the Giants soundtrack. As you rely on the Bible for your source of truth, you too can walk in faith as you face the spiritual giants of this age.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. ² Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, ³ now that you have tasted that the Lord is good, 1 Peter 2:1-3.

Reflection:

My mother made my lunch for me during the school year until I graduated high school. As a swimmer and runner, I couldn’t have soda, and my coaches encouraged me to eat peanut butter along with fruits and veggies. This bag lunch that I kept in my locker never excited me, unless left over Halloween candy was added in as a surprise. As Peter writes to first century Christians scattered throughout the Middle east due to spiritual persecution, he addressed the spiritual appetite young believers should crave. Peter compares the words of the Bible to babies craving their mother’s breastmilk. The more Christians listen to, meditate upon, and study the Bible, your faith will increase, and your soul will be satisfied.

Prayerful Action:

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ, Romans 10:17.

Fueling your Faith this Spiritual Season:

Everything once in a while, I’ll starve myself for an extending period of time as I’m fixated on completing an important project. When I’m finally finished, I binge eat by devouring an entire pizza or lose myself in munchies as I watch television. Apparently, Peter had heard of or witnessed young Christians who hadn’t changed their habits after entering into a personal relationship with Jesus. This concerned inspired the words of today’s featured passage. Since the illiteracy rate was high in the first century, letters addressed to churches were read out loud so that the entire congregation could hear and understand this spiritual advice. May the words of Peter inspire a faith that craves spiritual milk.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

One of the signs of growth is being able to eat meat. May today’s song inspire you to move beyond spiritual milk to honey and spiritual meat found in God’s Word.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” ¹⁴ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. ¹⁵ Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” ¹⁶ As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. ¹⁷ If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them, James 4:13-16.

Reflection:

Today’s passage addresses the concept of being amoral. The book definition of amoral is lacking a moral sense; unconcerned with whether something is right or wrong. From a spiritually sense, amoral is simply not knowing the Bible’s stance on a particular action, behavior or deed. As the earthly brother of Jesus addresses Christians in the first century about how fragile life can be, James urges his listeners not to overlook sins of omission. While James’ Jewish parents taught him what not to do, Christians are called to stand up for what is right in the absence of others. This is a call to be proactive in your faith, not just on what not to do, but how you should live in the absence of goodness.

Prayerful Action:

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children ² and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God, Ephesians 5:1-2.

Fueling Your Faith This Spiritual Season:

When I was attending Elementary School in New Jersey, my teacher claimed that there was a camera in our classroom. If this teacher didn’t personally observe a behavior that was missed, she said that she would go back and watch the film to catch the guilty individual. After tripping a girl walking back to her seat, this threat worked as I was overwhelmed by guilt, publicly confessing my transgression. Rather than walking around each day like a religious zealot focusing on what not to do, Christians should set their hearts and minds on emulating God’s example so that sins of inaction cease.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

God will give you at least one opportunity to share your faith with someone in church, at school or work daily. Rather than let this chance to shine slip by, seize this moment so that your faith matures to a point where sins of omission aren’t overlooked. When your faith becomes the core of your addiction for Jesus, acts of faith will prevail.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. ² Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. ³ Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. ⁴ Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, ⁵ to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. ⁶ Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. ⁷ In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness ⁸ and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us, Titus 2:1-8.

Reflection:

Sound faith is found in individuals who cling to biblical Christian doctrine based upon the apostles teaching. This is demonstrated when faith is expressed through the love of Jesus. As the apostle Paul writes a letter to a leader of the Church in Crete, he understands the cultural obstacles that Titus is up against. From a modern perspective, this would be like being the pastor of the church located on the Las Vegas strip. There are people losing control daily, falling prey to the acts of the flesh, Galatians 5:19-21. Subsequently, when a person in Crete put their faith in Jesus, there were plenty of sinful desires that a new convert needed to purge from their lives. This spiritual transformation was likely a slow process due to the wild lives of a typical Cretan. Developing a sound faith takes time, the process of arriving where God wants you.

Prayerful Action:

For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.^[c] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. ¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. ²⁰ Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it, Romans 7:18-20.

Fueling your Faith this Spiritual Season:

Romans 7 is the apostle Paul’s confession of his own struggle with the sinful nature after converting to Christianity on the Road to Damascus, Acts 9:1-19. In a letter to the Church at Corinth, Paul speaks about a thorn in his flesh, either a physical ailment or spiritual war raging inside of Paul’s soul, 2 Corinthians 12:6-7. Therefore, if today’s devotion finds you far from living a sound faith, God will make everything beautiful in His time, Ecclesiastes 3:11. As you follow the advice in Colossians 3:1-8 to take off your past desires by putting on Jesus, a time will come when you’ll start to live out a sound faith.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

From time to time, I let certain parts of my life slide. The longer I let bad habits reign in my life, the harder it becomes to break free from my past. May today’s song inspire you to start purging the things in your life pulling you away from God so that you can get back on track to develop a sound faith.

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, 2 Timothy 4:1-7.

Reflection:

As a former high school coach, I tried to prepare my students for situations that they would likely encounter at some point in the heat of battle. If an athlete is honest about their performance, there is likely at least one area or thing that they could practice, elevating their God given talents. As a teenage pastor, Timothy likely dealt with older believers and Christians that looked down upon him due to his age. Despite the various spiritual barriers and obstacles Timothy endured, fighting the good fight of faith. This requires keeping your head in the game of life, whether you’re getting blown out or don’t have your A game. This is Paul’s call to all people of faith.

Prayerful Action:

But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. ¹² Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses, 1 Timothy 6:11-12.

Fueling your Faith this Spiritual Season:

My church small group is currently participating in a Navigators Bible Study. The expectations and goal of this course is reaching a point where you’re reading the Bible every day. Just as an athlete needs to practice in the offseason to improve, the Christian faith shouldn’t take a day off. Faith and sports each require self-discipline, making time daily to work out physically and spiritual, 1 Timothy 4:8. As you learn to keep your head in all situations and endure hardship, listen to and keep in step with the Holy Spirit, Galatians 5:16, so that in time you’ll fight the good fight of faith.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

I learned more about coaching baseball during the season when my team only won a handful of games. After each loss, I pointed out the barriers that stood in the way of experiencing victory. As a Christian, may you learn from yesterday’s failure so that you’ll press on in faith to fight another day.

by Jay Mankus