ROMANS 2 IMPENITENT HEARTS STORE UP GOD’S WRATH

April 28

ROMANS 2

Therefore, you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. 2 We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. 3 Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

6 He will render to each one according to his works: 7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 but for those who are self-seekingand do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. 11 For God shows no partiality.

                                                                                         – Romans 2:1-11

ROMANS 2 IMPENITENT HEARTS STORE UP GOD’S WRATH

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

God has called man to submit to his authority and give him praise

But sin has twisted that purpose by giving glory to himself instead

These hard-hearted people compare themselves with others

They want to glorify themselves thinking that they’re better

What is hidden from them is the wrath of God that is coming

They’re busy finding people who’ll give them constant supply

Their hearts are hardened and oblivious to their folly

They think they are exempt from the ruin from God’s fury.

In this letter, Paul stresses to the Romans the importance of accountability. Many believers do not take this warning seriously on the repercussions of sin, wrongdoing, oppression, transgression and iniquity. God is a God of boundaries. The law of sowing and reaping applies to all mankind, especially to all those whom he has chosen. The golden rule applies to all of us. We expect to harvest what we have sown. If you’ve sown nothing in serving God, you are going to experience his wrath and judgement in the end. The law of sowing and reaping is not just for farmers. It is a law of the spiritual world as well. The book of James clearly illustrates this law in James 5:  7-8 when he says “7 Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” He was focusing on the importance of patiently waiting how the seeds will grow into the crops that will bless them and be sustained by it. James wants us to be patient like them and to sow good seeds so they can reap a good harvest by relying on God’s grace.

REFLECTION

·       Why is accountability important for Christians? What happens when they miss out on this?

NAHUM 1 AN AVENGING AND WRATHFUL GOD

April 27

NAHUM 1

2 The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord is avenging and wrathful;
the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries   and keeps wrath for his enemies.
3 The Lord is slow to anger and great in power,   and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty.
His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
4 He rebukes the sea and makes it dry,   he dries up all the rivers;
  Bashan and Carmel wither;  the bloom of Lebanon withers.

5 The mountains quake before him; the hills melt;

  the earth heaves before him, the world and all who dwell in it.
6 Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the heat of his anger?
   His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken into pieces by him.
7 The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.
8     But with an overflowing flood, he will make a complete end of the adversaries,
    and will pursue his enemies into darkness.– Nahum 1:2-8

NAHUM 1 AN AVENGING AND WRATHFUL GOD

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

The Lord God is the personification of righteousness and holiness

Because he is love, he cannot tolerate all kinds of evil and wickedness

He protects his own and expects loyalty to all those whom he has chosen

But to those who are adversaries to his people, he shows his vengeance

If you belong to God, there is no reason to fear because he covers you

But if you hurt his beloved people, you will receive no mercy but his wrath.

According to bibleproject.com, an important aspect of the ancient TaNaK (Hebrew bible) is that the 12 prophetic works of Hosea through Malachi, sometimes referred to as the Minor Prophets, were designed

as a single book called The Twelve. Nahum is the seventh book of The Twelve. It is a collection of poems announcing the downfall of one of Israel’s worst oppressors, the ancient empire of Assyria and its capital city, Nineveh. The Assyrians arose as one of the world’s first great empires, and their expansion into Israel resulted in the total destruction and exile of the northern kingdom and its tribes (2 Kgs. 17). Their armies were violent and destructive on a scale that the world had never seen before. Israel and its neighbors awaited the downfall of Assyria, which eventually came in the year 612 B.C.E. as the Babylonians rose up and began a rebellion that overtook Nineveh and brought down the Assyrian empire. This is the context of the character of God showcasing his avenging and wrathful character. The Lord hates evil and he has to annihilate evildoers if needed. The Lord avenges his beloved people.

This account is an oracle concerning Nineveh. Many false churches preach only a one-sided God who is loving but misses out on the avenging and wrathful character of God who is jealous, avenging and angry at all forms of evil, especially if done against his beloved people. He is merciless to the wicked.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think false religions miss out on the avenging and wrathful side of God?

PROVERBS 16 MIGHTY ARE THOSE WHO RULE THEIR SPIRIT

April 26

PROVERBS 16

28 A dishonest man spreads strife,
    and a whisperer separates close friends.
29 A man of violence entices his neighbor
    and leads him in a way that is not good.
30 Whoever winks his eyes plan dishonest things;
    he who purses his lips brings evil to pass.
31 Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.
32 Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
    and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.

                                                                                   – Proverbs 16:28-33

PROVERBS 16 MIGHTY ARE THOSE WHO RULE THEIR SPIRIT

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When someone is quick to react and easily angered

He is governed by his cravings and not by God’s Spirit

A violent man is driven by jealousy and bitterness

They will do what will gratify the cravings of their flesh

If one relies on God, they can starve their human nature

They will be stronger than any conqueror or mighty ruler.

In these following sayings, we are given a picture of what life looks like if we live an honest and pure life as compared to someone who is a corrupt and a selfish man. Verse 28 cautions us from these dangerous people: the liars and cheaters who easily bring about conflicts and the gossipers who spread lies to destroy relationships. Verse 29 points to the violent man who provokes others to gain control and power over anyone who doesn’t give them the control, attention and adulation. They want things their way and sulk if they don’t get it. Verse 30 warns us about the flatterers and manipulators who deceive others so they can sow evil and wickedness stealthily without being discovered. Verse 31 refers to those who have lived wise lives in the fear of the Lord who gets the crown of glory. They just didn’t chronologically age but matured their faith and dependence on God alone.

Let’s bring our focus on verse 32 as it talks about those who have great self-control and prudence. Who are these people? They are those who are slow to anger, slow to speak, quick to listen as the book of James also describes. They examine their hearts and mirror their actions based on the law of love. They do not react to provocations but they keep still and know that God is in control. They are not afraid of those who terrorize others into submission to control, but they allow the Spirit of God to lead them to do what is right. They are mightier than any ruler or conqueror of nations because they have God’s strength.

REFLECTION

·       How can a patient person be as strong as conquerors of nations or victors of war?

PROVERBS 13 INSOLENCE BRINGS CONFLICTS & STRIFE

April 25

PROVERBS 13

10 By insolence comes nothing but strife,
    but with those who take advice is wisdom.
11 Wealth gained hastily will dwindle,
    but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
    but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
13 Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself,
    but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded.
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
    that one may turn away from the snares of death.

                                                                               – Proverbs 13:10-14

PROVERBS 13 INSOLENCE BRINGS CONFLICTS & STRIFE

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When one is driven by anger and bitterness, they can be impertinent

Because of their self-focused mindset, they want attention in an instant

Rudeness can trigger even the most patient and most loving person

Insolence exudes a toxic, triggering and impulsive negative reaction

Be watchful and don’t think of yourself only, but treat others with respect

Impatience and anger destroy relationships, so don’t be impudent.

We live in a very fast-paced and instant-gratification world today. Nobody wants to wait or to be set aside. Self-centered people do not want to be ignored or they will explode and make someone else’s life a living hell. These narcissists do not care about anyone but themselves. They want to be the center of the universe. They dramatize their grandiose sense of their importance and perform in whatever way they can to get their demands for attention satisfied.  They have no skill at listening or paying attention to others because they do not care for anyone else but themselves. It is so sad to watch our world hit rock bottom when we see people like these. But the bible talked about the prevalence of these self-centered people in 2 Timothy 3. In the last days, people will be lovers of self, boastful, arrogant, lovers of money, abusive, ungrateful and disobedient.

The saying focuses on those who do not heed the word of God and walk in the fear of the Lord. When we do not know the purpose of our lives, we live for the “self.” God created us so that we can have a relationship with him and so He can be praised and glorified by all the people he made. Because of sin, this design of God for humankind was twisted and turned to give glory to “self.” That is why it is impossible for the impudent to live peaceful and joyful lives. They will always create chaos and strife.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think people become impudent or rude?

JEREMIAH 3 THE MERCIFUL ANGER OF THE LORD

April 24

JEREMIAH 3

11 And the Lord said to me, “Faithless Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah. 12 Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, “‘Return, faithless Israel,
declares the Lord. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, declares the Lord;
I will not be angry forever. 13 Only acknowledge your guilt, that you rebelled against the Lord your God
and scattered your favors among foreigners under every green tree, and that you have not obeyed my voice, declares the Lord. 14 Return, O faithless children, declares the Lord; for I am your master;
I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.” – Jeremiah 3:11-14

JEREMIAH 3 THE MERCIFUL ANGER OF THE LORD

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

Human anger cannot be compared with the Lord’s wrath

God’s fury is towards sin and all that is wicked in the world

Man’s anger is self-centered and aimed at satisfying the flesh

While God’s wrath is about bringing back man to do what is right

Human anger produces what is earthly, wicked and unspiritual

God’s wrath is just and merciful; it intends to restore his people.

In this book of prophecy, Jeremiah speaks to Israel who have breached their covenant with God. As a prophet, Jeremiah’s role is to bring God’s message to his people and to mediate and enforce the covenant that the people of God made with the Lord. The prophet’s role is to admonish and bring the message of God to them so that they could be corrected and be reminded of the consequences of when they breach their covenant with the Lord God Almighty.

In verse 11, the Lord proclaims their unfaithfulness to God and compares them with Judah. As far as faithlessness was concerned, they were worse than Judah. In verse 12, we are given a glimpse of the mercy of God when he asked Jeremiah to tell his people that God will forfeit his anger if they turn away from their idolatry. They were asked in verse 13 to admit to their rebellion against God when they yoked with the pagan nations around them which led them to disobey God’s laws. In verse 14, you hear God pleading with them to turn away from their idolatry and remember that He is their master and not those pagan gods. Only a loving father would do what God did. It was out of love and not punishment that he gave this message to the Israelites. His anger was towards the consequences of their idolatry and not on his people themselves. We see that his anger is merciful, not punishing or condemning. It is out of love.

No human being can be as gracious and merciful as God. When we get mad, it is mostly about something that we didn’t get our way done or we become powerless and have no control over something. James 1:19-20 caution us to be slow to anger because the anger of man does not produce God’s righteousness. James 3:15-16 describes human wisdom as earthly, demonic, selfish and unspiritual. The source of this wisdom stems from envy & jealousy. God’s wisdom focuses on righteous jealousy and merciful anger.

REFLECTION

·       How must a Christian react to man’s anger and to God’s anger?

2 KINGS 17 STUBBORNNESS & IDOLATRY PROVOKE GOD’S ANGER

April 23

2 KINGS 17

 13 Yet the Lord warned Israel and Judah by every prophet and every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways and keep my commandments and my statutes, in accordance with all the Law that I commanded your fathers, and that I sent to you by my servants the prophets.”14 But they would not listen, but were stubborn, as their fathers had been, who did not believe in the Lord their God. 15 They despised his statutes and his covenant that he made with their fathers and the warnings that he gave them. They went after false idols and became false, and they followed the nations that were around them, concerning whom the Lord had commanded them that they should not do like them. 16 And they abandoned all the commandments of the Lord their God, and made for themselves metal images of two calves; and they made an Asherah and worshiped all the host of heaven and served Baal. 17 And they burned their sons and their daughters as offerings and used divination and omens and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger. 18 Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them out of his sight. None was left but the tribe of Judah only.19 Judah also did not keep the commandments of the Lord their God, but walked in the customs that Israel had introduced. 20 And the Lord rejected all the descendants of Israel and afflicted them and gave them into the hand of plunderers, until he had cast them out of his sight. – 2 Kings 17:13-20

2 KINGS 17 STUBBORNNESS & IDOLATRY PROVOKE GOD’S ANGER

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When the Lord has chosen you as one of his children

He will give you the ability to follow and please him

But when your flesh and love for the world overtakes you

You will probably succumb to the flesh and turn against God

You will become persistent in getting your longings gratified

It will lead you to idols that you will obsess to chase and satisfy

The rebellion and chasing idols will surely provoke God’s anger

Because he is holy and steadfast in his love, you will receive his justice.

The account in this book of Kings presents the story of the provocation of the Israelites to God’s anger. The Lord has sent many prophets and judges to Israel and Judah to warn them not to follow the footsteps of their wicked ancestors, but they seem to be deaf to these admonitions. The following sins that they did were explicitly enumerated in verses 14-17 which provoked the wrath of God.

·       They didn’t listen to the warnings and continued to be stubborn and didn’t believe in God

·       They despised the laws that God has made for them to obey and broke the covenant

·       They chased pagan idols and followed the practices of the pagan nations around them

·       They abandoned all the commandments of God and built images for Asherah and Baal

·       They burned their own children for offerings and used divination

Doesn’t our current world practice these sins as well as they did in the Old Testament time?

REFLECTION

·       How does our world today provoke God’s wrath? What sins do we commit similar to theirs?

JONAH 4 THEATRICS FROM THE PROUD, BITTER & ANGRY MAN

April 22

JONAH 4

But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. 2 And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. 3 Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” 4 And the Lord said, “Do you do well to be angry?”5 Jonah went out of the city and sat to the east of the city and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, till he should see what would become of the city. 6 Now the Lord God appointed a plantand made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant. 7 But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. And he asked that he might die and said, “It is better for me to die than to live.” 9 But God said to Jonah, “Do you do well to be angry for the plant?” And he said, “Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die.” 10 And the Lord said, “You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. 11 And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?” – Jonah 4:1-11

JONAH 4 THEATRICS FROM THE PROUD, BITTER & ANGRY MAN

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When the root of bitterness and anger entwine it craves attention

And it hosts a pity party with much drama, theatrics and emotions

It invites many guests to watch its longing for grandiosity

It focuses on the offence done to them so they can wallow in pity

The bitter person makes a big deal out of trivial things

They cannot see what is behind their irrational thinking

Because they are so focused on their “self-preservation”

It becomes impossible for them to receive Christ’s salvation.

In this chapter of the book of Jonah, we are given a glimpse of his character. It clearly gives us all sinners a picture of our fallen nature, the selfish self-centered inclination. In the previous chapters, we are given the storyline of this offensive anger of Jonah. He was given instruction by God to give a warning to the Ninevites who were so wicked to repent or else they would be destroyed.  But instead of following God’s order, he turns the other way and went to Tarshish. And God brought a whale to swallow him so that he could reflect on his actions, but it was also a foreshadowing of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Later on, he was out of the whale and still for the second time, he didn’t follow God’s order. He was enraged. What was he angry about? He was saving his reputation as a prophet that God will not punish them and he will look like a fool since he presumed that they are so bad that they cannot repent.

REFLECTION

  • What are the sins that led to Jonah’s anger? Why was he so dramatic about all these?

PROVERBS 10 HATRED STIRS UP STRIFE

April 21

PROVERBS 10

11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
    but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
12 Hatred stirs up strife,    but love covers all offenses.
13 On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found,
    but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense.
14 The wise lays up knowledge,  but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.

                                                                                            – Proverbs 10:11-14

PROVERBS 10 HATRED STIRS UP STRIFE

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

As servants of the Lord, we are to follow the law of love

All those who commit to Christ follow and obey this law

Believers are called out of the world that has self-focused mindset

Because they are now a new creation since Christ set them free

While the world embraces a view that has partiality and hatred

All believers are called to shine the light of God and love these haters

Those who hate much will reap a harvest of conflict, strife and division

They wouldn’t know what peace is like because they do not know Christ.

In these sayings, we are led to look at one of the main causes of strife. The writer identified that source as “hatred.” One of the definitions from the bible I have gathered from some sources defines it as active hostility/malice which is a profound aversion or malicious desire to cause harm, often characterized by resentment and bitterness. The Hebrew word for hatred is “sane” (pronounced saw-NAY) often used in the Old Testament to indicate intense dislike or a lack of affection such as in Genesis 29:31 where Leah was “unloved” or “hated.” Can you imagine being hated? What does it do to the recipient of such disdain? I can testify to what that does to someone who constantly receives such intense hostility. It is a mixture of a state of fear, insecurity and revolt inside me. I have this stirring inside me to fight back and prove to that hater that I have value and that I am a human and need not be minimized or cancelled out. It stirs anger because of being looked down upon.

This is exactly what the writer was saying here when he said that hatred stirs up strife. The other half of that phrase says “love covers all offense.” In 1 John 4:8, it says “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” From this verse we can now conclude that those who are haters do not know God or else they won’t have that hostility and malice against anyone. This saying is a good reminder for us all Christians to be watchful of those things and people we hate since God created all things.

REFLECTION

·       Why do you think hatred fills the hearts of some people? How do you respond to this hatred?

PROVERBS 30 PERSISTENT ANGER LEADS TO DISCORD

April 20

PROVERBS 30

32 If you have been foolish, exalting yourself,
    or if you have been devising evil,
    put your hand on your mouth.
33 For pressing milk produces curds,
    pressing the nose produces blood,
    and pressing anger produces strife. – Proverbs 30:32-33

PROVERBS 30 PERSISTENT ANGER LEADS TO DISCORD

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When one cannot process the reasons for their anger

It will continue to persist and have dysregulated retorts

It may manifest as little annoyances or irritations

And may grow into hidden implosions or immense explosions

The more anger is covertly hidden, the more destructive it is

Its roots get deeper into the heart and destroy the spirit

Do not be foolish to allow the evil devises crafted by the world

Confront your anger by sitting still and meditating on God’s word.

This chapter of Proverbs written by Agur is a reminder of the importance of the word of God as he said in Proverbs 30:5-6 “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.6 Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.” It is reiterated in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 when Paul says “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” Agur warns us to guard our mouths so that no evil will come out of it or no lies that are propagated to distort the word of God. He cautions us to stop devising evil against others and to watch that what we sow, we will also reap.

Agur warns us also about the persistence of anger leading to discord, disunity and eventually breaking down of relationships. He cited very practical ways how consequences follow anything we sow in verse 33. He shows us the inevitability of cause-and-effect relationship between stirring up anger and producing conflict. Barnes’ comment on this verse as “Churning … wringing … forcing – In the Hebrew text it is one and the same word. “The pressure of milk produces curds, the pressure of the nose produces blood, the pressure of wrath (i. e., brooding over and, as it were, condensing it) produces strife.” This is probably why we are told in Proverbs 15:1 that a soft answer turns away wrath while a harsh word stirs up anger. If one continues to use a lot of harsh words, there is surely an expectation of division, disunity and conflict which leads to more heated arguments and broken relationships.

REFLECTION

·       How can we stop anger at its core? Why is it important to do this?

PROVERBS 37 REFRAIN FROM ANGER & WORRYING

April 19

PROVERBS 37

7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
    fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
    over the man who carries out evil devices!

8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
9 For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.

10 In just a little while, the wicked will be no more;
    though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.
11 But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace. 

                                                                          – Proverbs 37:7-11

PROVERBS 37 REFRAIN FROM ANGER & WORRYING

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

If you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, you will be still before him

There is no more reason for you to worry and fret over anything

Because he is the source of all and Maker of everything

He knows what you need and give only what will make you right

Refrain from worrying about anything; it only reflects mistrust

When you constantly fuss, you are not relying on Christ

Be still and know that the Lord is in control and is your provider

Anxiety and fretting will only lead you to more frustration and anger.

Many people think that worrying is just part of life. Some even think that if you love someone, it is okay to worry about them. But when we worry about something that we don’t have control over, are we not trying to overstep or violate the boundary that God has put between divine and human? We do not see everything that God sees because he is supernatural and we only see the natural. When we worry about our loved ones, are we not forgetting that God loves them more than we do?

Matthew 6:25 says 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?  And in verse 34 of the same chapter, Matthew says 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. In 1 Peter 5:7 it encourages us believers to cast all our anxieties upon God because He cares for us. So even if the bible does not explicitly say worry is a sin, it clearly shows a lack of true faith. When we are overly worried and anxious, we are taking God out of the picture who is All-seeing and All-knowing. We are trying to take control of things we have no control over. Isn’t that also a form of idolatry? When we worry, we are trying to solve our issues that sometimes can be used by God for us to lean and depend more on him than on ourselves. It gives us a reminder that we don’t know much, but God does.

REFLECTION

  • Do you think worrying leads to frustration, anxiety and anger? Is it a sin to worry?