Tag Archives: God

Passage of the Day:

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, ² in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. ³ All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh^[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. ⁴ But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. ⁶ And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, ⁷ in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast, Ephesians 2:1-9.

Reflection:

December 4th is my spiritual birthday; the day I placed my faith in Jesus, Romans 10:9-10. Back in December of 1984, I was an emotional wreck, suffering a nervous breakdown in October of my sophomore year of high school. One of my teacher’s, Mr. Horne, noticed this train wreck from afar, inviting me to a Fellowship of Christian Athlete’s Bible Study. While I turned down Ken on numerous occasions, he didn’t give up on me. When I joined the Concord swim team, now as my coach, Ken offered an olive branch in the form of free tickets to an event in Valley Forge. When I heard that Philadelphia professional athletes were speaking, I was sold. While today’s featured passage was not referenced on that cold December night, I was introduced to the concept of becoming alive in Christ.

Prayerful Action:

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do, Ephesians 2:10.

Learning to Love this December as God Forgives You:

For the first 14 years of my life, I was living for myself. I attended church on Sunday to appease my parents. Yet, when an individual takes the leap of faith described in Proverbs 3:5-6, you begin to think about what God can do through you. Just as one Old Testament prophet shared a similar message in Jeremiah 29:11, God has a plan for every Christian’s life. For these good works to become a reality, Christians need to mature spiritually like the words of the apostle Paul in Romans 12:1-2. As 2024 is about to end and another year inches closer, may the Holy Spirit fill you with a desire to become alive again in Christ Jesus. As you do, others will notice the difference in how you love and forgive.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

I went to a Jeff Deyo concert, the original lead singer of Sonic Flood, while living in Columbus, Indiana. When music is your ministry, you’ll go and sing wherever people will open their church. May the lyrics of today’s song inspire you to become alive in Christ each and every day.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor^[i] and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁴⁶ If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?” – Matthew 5:43-47

Reflection:

There are moments in a good sermon where a congregation is challenged to take their commitment of faith to a higher level. If Christians aren’t forced to leave their spiritual comfort zones, faith will become stagnant, eventually resulting in idleness. As Jesus transitions from how to apply the Ten Commandments in modern times toward pure and impure motives, He leaves those attending the Sermon on the Mount with a shocking statement. On the surface, this is call to action is impossible to achieve on your own. Yet, upon further review, Jesus is merely calling followers to do their very best daily.

Prayerful Action:

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect, Matthew 5:48.

Learning to Love this December as God Forgives You:

As you finish your final preparations for Christmas day, most adults will be exhausted, seeking to create a memorable experience for your family. Yet, seeking perfection as a human being often results in disappointment. Therefore, don’t beat yourself up when human nature gets the best of you. In your failures to love others this Christmas season, let Jesus become strong, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. The more you lean on the Lord, Christ’s love will shine, rising above your own weaknesses.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

As you prepare to worship the birth of Christ, sometimes you need to go back to the basics of faith. May the lyrics of Back to the Start prevent you forgetting your new identity in Christ Jesus. As Jesus becomes more in your life and you become less, loving to a higher standard can become a reality through the power of the Holy Spirit.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’^[h] 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. ⁴⁰ And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. ⁴¹ If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. ⁴² Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you, Matthew 5:38-42.

Reflection:

The Sermon on the Mount summarized in Matthew 5-7 reminds me of the Book of Proverbs. Within each passage written by King Solomon, there are nuggets of spiritual truth to extract. When I read these 3 chapters of the Bible, there are tangible acts of faith that serve as goals for each day. As Matthew appeals to Jewish listeners by quoting the Old Testament, Jesus is trying to modernize the teachings of Moses. Rather than seek revenge, Jesus uses the expression going the extra mile to become forgiving servants who emulate God’s character and nature.

Prayerful Action:

Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. ²³ Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, ²⁴ “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to, Luke 13:22-24.

Learning to Love this December as God Forgives You:

Luke once again uses portions of the Sermon on the Mount scattered throughout his gospel. While Matthew records Jesus’ entire speech, Luke discovered that Jesus weaved these spiritual nuggets into everyday conversations. As first century Christians grew concerned over their eternal destiny, Jesus pointed the spiritually curious in the right direction. As someone who is about to begin their 40th year working on earth, many people do just enough to get by. However, as Christians seek to go the extra mile, above and beyond what is expected like the good Samaritan, you will find yourself following the straight and narrow as Jesus suggested. Love goes the extra mile.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

Jesus didn’t just give advice to first century Christians. Jesus led by example, going above and beyond what human beings expect or can process mentally. When love is present in your life, the Holy Spirit will move you to go the extra mile for others.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? ⁴⁷ As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. ⁴⁸ They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. ⁴⁹ But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete,” Luke 6:46-49.

Reflection:

Luke appears to repeat the words of Jesus spoken at the end of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7:24-27. However, in this context, Luke is citing an open-ended question from a first century conversation that Jesus has with Christians. As Jesus noticed these individuals from afar, they wanted to be known as disciples, but their actions did not represent a faith built upon the teachings of Jesus. Faith isn’t something that you do like going to church. Rather, faith is a lifestyle, rooted in a personal relationship with Jesus, Colossians 2:6-7. You may try to be charitable, seeking to rely on your own strength. However, genuine charity can’t be faked.

Prayerful Action:

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. ¹⁸ 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 2:17-18.

Learning to Love this Decembers as God Forgives You:

There is a fine line between being polite and faking faith in the form of charity. Depending upon the relationships that you have with family members, gatherings like Christmas can be difficult. As my parents once told me before arriving at grandparents, “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it!” Despite this warning, some individuals know exactly how to get underneath your skin. This is where faith is tested and if you’re not spiritually prepared, your foundation of faith will be shaken. As you get ready to reunite with family this Christmas, be a doer of the Word.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

When I begin to struggle spiritually, this is one of the songs I lean on for encouragement. May the lyrics of My Anchor help restore your faith by building it on the foundation of Jesus’ teachings.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” ¹⁷ “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” ¹⁸ “Which ones?” he inquired. Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, ¹⁹ honor your father and mother,’^[c] and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’^[d]” ²⁰ “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” ²¹ Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” ²² When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth, Matthew 19:16-22.

Reflection:

If you’re not making much money, emptying your wallet for a worthy cause isn’t that difficult. However, when you’re making over $50K thousand per year or more like this rich young man in the first century, it’s hard to let go of wealth. To those tithing for the first time, looking at the amount on a check before placing this into a giving basket can be depressing. Subsequently, the key to avoiding the same fate of this rich young man is realizing the source of all money.

Prayerful Action:

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows, James 1:17.

Learning to Love this December as God Forgives You:

Once this spiritual truth in James about the source of all blessings is conceived, the fear of giving fades. This is when Christians become open to the words of one Old Testament prophet in Malachi 3:6-10. When a spirit of conviction falls upon believers that they are robbing God by not giving back, the concept of tithing begins to take shape. This opens hearts to charitable convictions, especially during the Christmas season. As Christians begin to grasp the words of King Solomon in Proverbs 3:5-6, trusting in God to provide will transform your desire to give.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

Trusting in the Lord with all your heart can be hard for people with trust issues. However, as Christians mature by seeing God as the giver of all good things, charitable convictions will become a natural part of your life.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. ¹⁷ This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. ¹⁸ There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.¹⁹ We love because he first loved us. ²⁰ Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. ²¹ And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister, 1 John 4:16-21.

Reflection:

If you are ever church shopping, looking for a local church to call your spiritual home, you’ll notice the smallest details most Christians overlook. Unfortunately, this is where you could become judgmental, dissecting every imperfection inside this body of believers. Since there is no such thing as a perfect church, falling short of God’s glory in some shape or form, Romans 3:23, you have to accept specific weaknesses. Maybe the worship music is outdated or subpar? Is the biblical teaching solid, but dry? However, my one non-negotiable for a home church is a spirit of love. As long as love is present, flowing inside and outside of church, I’m willing to accept other shortcomings.

Prayerful Actions:

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.

Learning to Love this December as God Loves You:

At the end of the first century, John becomes the oldest living disciple of Jesus. While other apostles and disciples were put to death for their faith, John was exiled to the Island of Patmos where the book of Revelation was written. If someone wanted to know what Jesus was really like, he could provide specific details from his 3 years as one of Jesus’ spiritual pupils. Yet, from an elder statesman perspective, John had visited enough churches to know which ones emulated the love of Jesus from those which were superficial. Genuine love follows the Golden Rule of loving one another without any exceptions like earthly brothers and sisters. When a spirit of charity in the form of forgiveness is demonstrated by a body of Christian believers, love is made complete.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

The love of God is a mystery to those currently living outside of a loving church. However, to anyone who has experienced a powerful movement of God’s love, this answer is found by listening to the hearts of Christians who have tapped into the power of the Holy Spirit, 2 Peter 1:3-4. Therefore, as you listen to the lyrics of Listen to Our Hearts, may you begin to grasp when love is made complete.

by Jay Mankus