March 9

ISAIAH 57

And it shall be said, “Build up, build up, prepare the way,

 remove every obstruction from my people’s way.”
¹⁵ For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,

who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place,
and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
¹⁶ For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry;
for the spirit would grow faint before me, and the breath of life that I made.
¹⁷ Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry, I struck him; I hid my face and was angry,

but he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart. – Isaiah 57:14-17

ISAIAH 57 GOD REVIVES THE LOWLY & CONTRITE

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

All those chosen by the Lord, prepare the way for him

Remove all hindrances against uprightness; stop the habit of sin

There is only One God who stands up high and mighty

Bow down to him alone and do not make images of anything

God is close to those who confesses their sins and repentant about them

He revives anyone who knows they’ve sin against a just and loving God

So, all of you who are lowly and contrite, come to the Lord who is full of mercy

You will be forgiven and renewed if you faithfully long to please Him only.

In this prophecy of Isaiah to the Israelites, he warns them of idolatry and shows them that the only way to the right path is through humility and a contrite heart. In verse 14, he guides them to prepare the way. What was he talking about when he say to prepare which way? If you go to Psalm 1, David talks about the way of the wicked and the way of the righteous. He blesses those who walk not according to the advice of the wicked, or those who don’t take part in anything that perpetuates evil or tolerates injustice, mocking God or rebelling against him. In verse 15, he reminds the people of God of his majesty, holiness and power. He was illustrating a God who cannot be defied or mocked since he sits high in his throne and is eternal. How can someone who belongs to God mock him? It is easy to think that we can obey God just like that. But if we do not understand the true nature of our sinfulness against the character of our true God, how can we be able to truly serve him? Our natural tendency is to go against him and create our own little gods. When we do so, we are mocking the Almighty God by trying to create something that doesn’t belong to him. We can only be either in the camp of Satan or in God’s camp. We cannot create an in-between god who caters to our own pleasures and also please God himself. He will not tolerate it. The only way to go is the way of the lowly or the humble. They recognize their smallness compared to an All-powerful God. They have a contrite heart to know they have displeased the true God.

REFLECTION

• What other ways do we mock God that many people do not recognize easily?

March 8

1 CORINTHIANS 1

²⁶ For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; ²⁸ God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, ²⁹ so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. ³⁰ And because of himyou are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, ³¹ so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” – 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

1 CORINTHIANS 1 GOD CHOSE THE LOWLY & WEAK

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

The world dictates standards based on nobility & knowledge

But God chooses the weak and the lowly to mock their ideals

The Lord despises the things the world elevates into power

So, he humiliates them by making the vulnerable stronger

In their weaknesses, God brings his glory by empowering them

So that the rich and strong cannot boast about anything.

In this letter of Paul to the Corinthian church, he points out whom God chooses to bring into salvation. They are those who are poor, needy, weak and lowly. Jesus didn’t die for the rich and powerful. These kinds of people do not need a higher being, they have their riches and power as their gods. When Paul teaches the Corinthian church about those who were elect by God, it sounds like a mockery against these shallow people whose lives are anchored on all their material possessions. God’s choice of his people is totally against the system of the world. He elevates the poor, needy, weak and lowly. He humiliates the proud, the rich, strong and the wise.

Since those who think highly of themselves would never think of others or anyone higher than them, they are very independent and self-sufficient. It will never cross their minds that someone is higher than them. This is why we are advised in Matthew 6 to gather riches in heaven rather than earthly things which rusts and get stolen or destroyed. Instead, we are supposed to gather good deeds to harvest in heaven because where our treasures are, our hearts will also be there.

In verse 27, Paul mentions foolish here as someone who is considered a simpleton, uneducated, uncultured, not refined. Interestingly, God chooses these people to shame the wise. The world considers educated, rich, cultured and refined as the way to go, but God uses the foolish to humiliate these people who put down the poor, weak and lowly. Why does God do this? Because these people are idolizing their own wealth, knowledge, power and control. They are rebelling against God in their idolatry.

REFLECTION

·       How can we ensure that we don’t become the object of God’s wrath from these verses?

March 7

MATTHEW 23

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, ² “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, ³ so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. ⁴ They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. ⁵ They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, ⁶ and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues ⁷ and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. ⁸ But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. ⁹ And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. ¹⁰ Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. ¹¹ The greatest among you shall be your servant. ¹² Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. – Matthew 23:1-12

MATTHEW 23 THE HUMBLE WILL BE EXALTED

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

To seek adulation for oneself is the way the haughty lives for

Every effort they do is all about being lifted up

They act and do all kinds of deeds as a way to perform

Everything they do is grandiose so they can get attention

The humble on the other hand keeps silently what they do

They don’t want to be recognized for their good

They serve other people’s interests and know their importance

Because they humble themselves, God will exalt them also.

In this account, we see Jesus’ teaching on humility. It is interesting how he gave the Pharisees as an example of the opposite of a humble person. Jesus used the proud Pharisees as a lesson to watch out for. He didn’t want them to follow the way of the proud and hypocrites.

• They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders
• They do all their deeds to be seen by others
• They preach but do not practice what they preach
• They love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues 
• They love being greeted in the marketplace and called Rabbi

How could we translate these haughty ways in our society now? How can you identify the haughty person? They like to parade their knowledge and be honored and respected for it. They make rules and expectations for others that are hard to follow and they are difficult and make others’ lives hard. They do not follow what they teach others. They are entitled and want the best of anything and everything. They love accolades and titles and positions to feel great, powerful and important. Sadly, this is the opposite of what Jesus sampled for us. God expects a servant’s heart from his people, not a boastful, proud one.

REFLECTION

• Share insights how God exalted the humble. You can share your own or examples in the
• bible.

March 6

PHILIPPIANS 2

 So, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, ² complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. ³ Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. ⁴ Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. ⁵ Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. ⁹ Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. – Philippians 2:1-11

PHILIPPIANS 2 CHRIST’S EXAMPLE OF HUMILITY

If we look and follow at Jesus’ example of humility

We can have a new mindset and overcome difficulties

When Jesus became human and gave up his divinity

Humility became possible to follow for all of humanity

Love is the foundation he sampled for us to workout humility

In loving others, we begin to get out of our selfish tendencies

Our minds change from self-focused to other-centeredness

We think less of ourselves and become aware of others around us.

In this letter of Paul to the church at Philippi, he emphasizes humility as sampled by Jesus Christ himself. He gives a guideline for the believers to follow to walk in humility because he knows that on their own, they won’t be able to walk in it. These are the instructions he gave to the believers:

1. Be encouraged as you walk in Christ
2. Be comforted knowing that you are loved
3. Walk in the Spirit by obeying his conviction
4. Be compassionate and sympathetic towards others
5. Please God by being united with other believers and having the same mind as Christ
6. Do not boast or seek after selfish ambitions
7. Do not think highly of yourself
8. Be interested in others genuinely and not just after your own interest
9. Have a servant’s heart just like Christ did, outdo one another in service
10. Obey to the point of death

If you take in detail each of these directives, you will find that no one can follow any of them if one is proud. Humility is the key virtue that leads believers to follow the example that Jesus laid out.

REFLECTION

• Which among these instructions are you struggling with and why?

March 5

PSALM 25

⁸ Good and upright is the Lord;
    therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
⁹ He leads the humble in what is right,
    and teaches the humble his way.
¹⁰ All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,
    for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

                                                                                  – Psalm 25:8-10

PSALM 25 HUMILITY LEADS TO RIGHTEOUSNESS

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When we serve the Lord Jesus Christ

We begin to think less of ourselves

Christ himself gave up his divinity

So that he could redeem all of humanity

We ought to follow his example of meekness

It is the only path that leads to righteousness.

King David wrote this psalm. It is a heartfelt prayer for guidance, forgiveness and protection from the enemy. We witness David’s intimate knowledge of his God. He recognizes that he is good and upright and that he ultimately knows what is best for him. He sees his God very well and never forgets to praise and honor his character. He talks about God’s steadfast love and faithfulness to keep his promises.

David mentions humility as the path to righteousness. Without it, we will not be able to do what is right and learn the ways of the Lord. Have you ever heard of a proud person with much wisdom? Proverbs 16:18 tells us that pride directly leads to folly and destruction. Talk to a haughty person and you will not be heard. He has no room for learning because he is so full of himself. He cannot take anything that doesn’t come from himself. In Proverbs 23:9, we are advised by Solomon not to speak in the hearing of fools for they will despise the wisdom of your words. Proud people are no different from fools. They have an unteachable spirit. They elevate themselves too much for them to hear anything from anyone. How can you teach anyone who thinks they already know everything? They are so full of themselves to allow anything that can be good for them. They despise anyone that will make them feel that they are lesser than them. The haughty people are driven by control and power. They have to be superior over everyone else.

Pharaoh, King Nebuchadnezzar and Haiman are some examples in the bible who were very proud and foolish. Their pride led them to destruction and ruin. Pharaoh manifested his extreme haughtiness by refusing to acknowledge God which led to the ten plagues in Egypt. King Nebuchadnezzar boasted of building Babylon by his own power which led him to a period of madness. Haman demanded reverence from Mordecai and plotted to annihilate the Jews.

REFLECTION

• Share some insights on how humility is the path to righteousness.

March 4

ROMANS 12

¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. ¹⁷ Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. ¹⁸ If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. ¹⁹ Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” ²⁰ To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. – Romans 12: 14-21

ROMANS 12 BE HUMBLE & NOT WISE IN YOUR OWN EYES

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

Jesus sampled to us what it looks like to be humble

It is to be other-centered rather than self-centered

It is not partial to the simple-minded, poor and lowly

He is interested in others and never proud and haughty

He pursues peace at all cost and aim to live with others in love

He does not avenge the wrong done to him but leaves it all to God

The humble does not think highly of himself or elevates his ego

He does not boast but shares his knowledge to build others.

In this account, Paul gives us an illustration of how the believer can be humble. Here are some of his instructions to them:

• Bless those who maltreat you and do not curse them
• Rejoice with those who are suffering and also those who are joyful
• Live harmoniously with others and do not be quick to react
• Do not boast, but especially associate with the poor and lowly
• Don’t think highly of yourself or boast about your knowledge or achievements
• Be genuinely interested in others to starve your ego
• Do not avenge anything wrong done to you, instead pray for them and leave vengeance to God
• Be honest and think and do only what is honorable and true and what builds others up
• Pursue peace at all cost and guard your heart and mind and mouth
• Do not be quick to anger or react because that shows your ego being triggered and you are catering to your flesh
• Love your enemies and attend to their needs
• Respond with good deeds when someone is wicked to you.

Looks like we only need to focus on what Jesus Christ sampled for us so we can live a humble life.

REFLECTION

• Among the instructions to be humble Paul gave us, which one are you struggling the most?

March 3

PROVERBS 18

¹² Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty,   but humility comes before honor.
¹³ If one gives an answer before he hears    it is his folly and shame.
¹⁴ A man’s spirit will endure sickness,  but a crushed spirit who can bear?
¹⁵ An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
¹⁶ A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before the great.

                                                                                – Proverbs 18:12-16

PROVERBS 18 HUMILITY PRECEDES HONOR

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When we give in to our nature, pride comes easily

In our sinfulness, we are unable to walk in humility

When we automatically gratify our desires and cravings

We are giving in to the flesh and begin to be more prideful

Humility precedes honor that is why Jesus sampled it for man

Without emulating him, we will be living in sin and shame.

In these following verses Solomon gives us a wise proverb on haughtiness or pride. In verse 12, he gives us the aftermath of a heart that is proud which is ruin or destruction. In verse 13, he shows us that a haughty person boasts and reacts before he actually hears others which leads him to foolishness and shame. In verse 14, he shows us again another manifestation of a proud person: it cannot endure suffering or sickness but it shows that he has a spirit that is crushed because it doesn’t long to please the Lord but to please himself. Verse 15 shows the unteachable spirit that the proud possess. They cannot hear wisdom because they are so busy glorifying and raising themselves up. When we hear these wise sayings, it is wise for us to examine our hearts and heed Solomon’s advice.

The term haughty is defined in biblehub.com as an attitude of arrogance, pride, and disdain towards others. It is characterized by an inflated sense of self-importance. Notice that the highest in rank of importance in a haughty person is their inflated sense of self. They raise themselves up to a pedestal based on their own standards. They cannot think of others because they are so full of themselves. Their world revolves around their needs, their wants and desires and their appetites. Greed, power and pride are what powers them up.

Why is a haughty person an abomination to the Lord as Proverbs 16:5 mentions? Remember the first sin of Adam and Eve? It has to do with pride because they wanted to know everything that God knew. In other words, they wanted to elevate themselves higher than they really are. They want more than what they have and cannot be satisfied with what they already have. A haughty person cannot see others. They definitely cannot see God because their god is “self-love.” This is why Jesus set an example of humility for us all when he who is a God gave up his divinity to become human.

REFLECTION

• What are some manifestations of a haughty person as different from a humble one?

February 28

EPHESIANS 4

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, ² with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, ³ eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. ⁷ But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. ⁸ Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high, he led a host of captives,
 and he gave gifts to men.” ⁹ (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? ¹⁰ He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) ¹¹ And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, ¹² to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, ¹³ until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, ¹⁴ so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.  – Ephesians 4:1-14

EPHESIANS 4 MATURING OUR FAITH THROUGH GRACE

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When Jesus Christ died on the cross for us, we were freed from sin

We no longer have to stay in bondage to evil and wickedness

Grace was given to each one of us according to Christ’s gift

He died for us so we can move forward to our purpose and calling

Grace gives us courage to face all of life’s struggles and battles

It makes us hopefully focused on eternity awaiting all of God’s people.

In this account, Paul points out the importance of changing prisons from the world to Christ’s. It is ironic that Paul uses the word “prisoner of Christ” since being a slave of Christ would mean so much freedom. Opposite such freedom is bondage to sin which unbelievers are enslaved with. As a slave of Christ, they were all called to humility, gentleness, patience, love and self-control. It is very different from being a slave of the world which lives for arrogance or pride, selfishness, partiality, and pleasure-seeking feats.

Verse 7 explains how the shift from world-focused to kingdom-seeking lifestyle was brought about by the grace given to the elect through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Without that precious gracious undeserved favor, no one has the ability to change their selfish nature. If one does not believe and know Jesus, there is no way they can escape the power of Satan’s dominion. But how many Christians truly understand this amazing grace? Because we have been born in the world and a lot of us raised without the true knowledge of our God, our minds and hearts have been twisted by culture and the world systems because they are subconsciously ingrained in us at birth. Unless we are born of God, we won’t be able to escape such self-indulgent prison.

REFLECTION

• How can Christ’s blood pave the way to our maturity of faith?