Monthly Archives: April 2025

ROMANS 1 BE EAGER TO PREACH THE GOSPEL

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April 20

ROMANS 1
11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. 14 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”– Romans 1:11-17

ROMANS 1 BE EAGER TO PREACH THE GOSPEL
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
When we are chosen to be part of God’s people
He will give us the ability to preach his gospel
We shouldn’t be ashamed to declare the Good News
It has the power to save everyone who believes in Jesus.

In this account, we witness Paul’s eagerness to come to Rome to impart spiritual gifts to both the believers there and also to bring the Good News to those who are Gentiles. He tells them how much he wanted to come but circumstances prevented him from doing so. We are given a glimpse of the faithful character of Paul here as he is very dedicated to do the work that God has given him to bring the news to both believers and unbelievers alike.
Paul declared that he is not ashamed of the gospel. How many of us believers can be bold like him to preach the gospel to those who have not heard of it? Many of us would just want to stay comfortable and just be with like-minded Christians. Like Paul, all believers are called to preach the gospel, not just ministers and preachers. I think there is a fear in many of us that we will be rejected. Especially in our world today where the world system
generates free will and allows for different preferences and choices where they get to choose which one suits their lifestyles and their comforts.

REFLECTION
• Why do you think only some believers take declaring the gospel seriously?

ROMANS 1 GOD CALLS THE GENTILES

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April 19

ROMANS 1
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— 2 the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3 regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, 4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. 5 Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake. 6 And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.7 To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. 9 God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you 10 in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you. – Romans 1:1-10

ROMANS 1 GOD CALLS THE GENTILES
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
Paul calls all those who are in Rome to hear the good news
The gospel God promised through his prophets is now at hand
Paul calls all the Gentiles to obedience through faith in Christ
Grace and peace to all who’ll believe for they’ll be given new life.

According to some sources online, in Jesus’ time, the Roman Empire was at its height, exerting significant influence across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. Rome’s control extended to Judea, including Galilee and Jerusalem, where Jesus lived and carried out his ministry. The Roman occupation brought with it a heavy tax burden on the Jewish population, contributing to a climate of resentment and political unrest. You could just imagine what Paul is going to face as he brings the gospel amidst this political unrest. They didn’t know Jesus Christ and so Paul takes on the charge he had from Jesus to bring the Good News to the ends of the earth. He wasn’t limited to go to those who already know the Lord, but to cater to a world where no one has ever heard of his Lord Jesus Christ. Verse 7 makes this declaration of the gospel so inviting as he addressed these people as loved by God and called to be his holy people.

REFLECTION
• How do you think the Romans felt as they hear that they are loved by God?

JOHN 21 HINDRANCES TO OBEDIENCE

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April 18

JOHN 21
20 Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” 23 So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?” 24 This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true. 25 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.– John 21:20-25

JOHN 21 HINDRANCES TO OBEDIENCE
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
When Jesus told Peter to tend and feed his flock
Peter wanted to know what task is given to John
The Lord told him to follow what is asked of him
Someone else’s charge is none of his business.

In this account, we witness the responsibilities given to Peter and John. Peter was given the responsibility to shepherd the body of Christ, which is the church. John on the other hand was to witness to the Lord’s work and his life and to reveal the truth given to him by God himself. It seems to me that Peter’s personality is so much like many of us. We try to deflect the responsibilities, roles and gifts given to us and justify why we need to obey and do it. We want to know how much work it requires from us and compare it with others.
Barclay comments on this: “Let a man serve Christ where Christ has set him. As Jesus said to Peter: ‘Never mind the task that is given to someone else. Your job is to follow me.’ That is what he still says to each one of us. Our glory is never in comparison with other men; our glory is the service of Christ in whatever capacity he has allotted to us.”

REFLECTION
• What are some of the hindrances to obedience that humans fall into?

JOHN 21 IF YOU LOVE ME

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April 17

JOHN 21
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.” – John 21:15-19

JOHN 21 IF YOU LOVE ME
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
When Jesus asked his disciples if they love him
He wanted proof of the love from them
Loving means to feed and care for his flock
It means to lay down their lives for his church.

Would you easily believe someone if that person tells you he/she loves you? Love isn’t just a feeling that one feels towards someone else. True love is peppered with commitment and responsibility. It is being there for that person for better or for worse. It is to nourish the loved one with care, attention and be able to fulfill their various needs.
A lot of failed marriages could have been saved if the concept of love was truly understood by the couple before they jumped into marrying each other. Instead, the world has bombarded us with a love that is unrealistic just like the fairy tales where boy meets girl and they live happily ever after. In this account, Jesus required his disciples to prove their love for him by feeding his flock and tending to them. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. This is what Jesus expected from them if they claimed they loved him.

REFLECTION
• How is “love” misused and misunderstood in our world today?

JOHN 21 JESUS SERVES HIS DISCIPLES

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April 16

JOHN 21
9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. – John 21:9-14

JOHN 21 JESUS SERVES HIS DISCIPLES
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
When the disciples caught a big catch of large fish
They had 153 large fish but surprisingly the net wasn’t torn
Then they saw someone preparing a meal for them
He invited them to break their fast with fish and bread
They didn’t ask who it was but they knew it was Jesus
He took the bread and gave it to them and so with the fish.

This visit of Jesus to his disciples after his resurrection is the third time and by the previous time, they were already given the Holy Spirit. It is interesting that they initially could not catch anything but when someone told them to cast their nets on the right side of the boat, they had a huge catch. Among themselves, they didn’t ask who told them to do so, but in their hearts, they knew it was the Lord. And when they saw a charcoal fire in place waiting for them as they hauled their catch ashore, they must have the knowledge from the Holy Spirit that it was the Lord.
We witnessed two important things that happened in this account. One was the big catch and the other was the meal prepared for them as they got on land. By now, the Holy Spirit was teaching the disciples that before the Lord showed up, they couldn’t catch anything. But when someone told them to cast their nets on the right side of the boat, there was a bounty of large fish caught. Jesus also served them breakfast after the night’s work.

REFLECTION
• What do you think the big catch and the meal represented in this account?

JOHN 21 LOST IN GRIEF

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April 15

JOHN 21
After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. 8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.
– John 21:1-8

JOHN 21 LOST IN GRIEF
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
After their Lord was gone in their lives
The disciples were lost in grief
Their purposes were now confusing
They went back to their old work of fishing.

When we lost a loved one, it is hard to go on with the life we used to live when they were still with us. Losing someone or something disrupts our routine and makes us confused or lost. The account here shows how the disciples didn’t know what to do next after Jesus died on the cross. So, they tried to go back to the way it was before Jesus called them to his ministry. As they were fishing, they couldn’t find the motivation to do their usual work at catching fish. There was nothing to catch.
This account shows how Jesus cares for the work we do. He blessed them with a big catch knowing how lost and grieving they were. He was reminding them that he was with them especially in the midst of their grief and confusion.

REFLECTION
• Share a time when you felt very lost when you have lost someone or something.

JOHN 20 BELIEVE & YOU WILL HAVE LIFE

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April 14

JOHN 20
26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. – John 20:26-31

JOHN 20 BELIEVE & YOU WILL HAVE LIFE
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
When doubts and unbelief enter our hearts
We are unable to move to our lives forward
We will be tossed to and fro by immobility
If we believe, it needs to be wholeheartedly.

The unbelief of Thomas is very common to us humans, including Christians. Depending on how far we have grown our faith in God, we will have various degrees of struggle with this inconsistency in our beliefs. True faith is not something a Christian can fabricate. It is a free gift given to us by God. We need to receive it and embrace it without trying to understand or add to it.
Like Thomas, we have little minds that only fathom what it can visually see. When we are doubtful, it is the occasion for us to run quickly to the Holy Spirit instead of relying on our own thinking and understanding. The Lord understands every weakness and sinfulness we have. All he wants from us is that childlike trust that we usually give those who care for us when we were little and helpless. He wants us to run to him because he is our Father who wants to provide for all our needs and even our wants if it is for our benefit. We need to believe even if we can’t see in order to have the life God wants for us or else we are going to live like zombies, alive physically but dead spiritually.

REFLECTION
• Share some insights or observations on zombie-like Christian lives.

JOHN 20 THE GIFT OF PEACE & THE HOLY SPIRIT

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April 13

JOHN 20
19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
– John 20:19-25

JOHN 20 THE GIFT OF PEACE & THE HOLY SPIRIT
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
When Jesus visited his disciples who were in hiding
He gave them his peace and he was very reassuring
But the greatest gift is the Holy Spirit whom he breathed on them
Now they have the faith to believe everything he taught them.

When Jesus died on the cross, the disciples must have been devastated and scared. They followed Jesus for three years and now he is gone. They have left all their responsibilities to follow him and now what is going to happen to them. The Jewish leaders are still hunting those who were Jesus’ followers. They must have been so confused and lost without their Master. They didn’t even remember all the teachings that he taught them because they were all concerned for their lives and safety as well. Imagine their surprise when Jesus showed up in their midst. Now all the promises Jesus told them are happening. He rose from the dead and gave them his peace and his own Spirit. What a relief that would have been. It must have alleviated all their fears and doubts because now they have the Holy Spirit to reveal and remind them all they have learned from Jesus.

REFLECTION
• Share some experiences you have that manifested the gift of peace and wisdom.

JOHN 20 BEHOLDING THE RISEN CHRIST

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April 12

JOHN 20
11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.
– John 20:11-18

JOHN 20 BEHOLDING THE RISEN CHRIST
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
Why are you weeping my beloved faithful one?
I had to die on the cross so you can receive eternal life
Do not grieve without hope for I am with you always
Share what you have witnessed to all your brothers.

Weeping would be something one would do when you lose a loved one. As in this case, we see that she must have gone back to the tomb after she called Peter and John and by this time was alone. She had all the time in the world to mourn her beloved Master. She must have been so focused on that area where they laid Jesus and the cloths were all that is left on that stone. When someone spoke to her, her eyes must have been covered with tears and couldn’t see much, so she didn’t recognize her beloved Lord at first. He must have been by the door, behind her which didn’t give her a good view of who it was who was speaking to her. Sometimes, we lose focus of God because we are overwhelmed.

REFLECTION
• What other things could take away our focus on God and fail to recognize him?

JOHN 20 FEAR & PANIC LEADS TO FORGETTING

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April 11

JOHN 20
Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes. – John 20:1-10

JOHN 20 FEAR & PANIC LEADS TO FORGETTING
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
Imagine how the disciples felt when they lost Jesus
They were full of grief from losing their Master
Mary went to see her beloved Jesus’ body to mourn
She was panic-stricken not to find the body of her Lord.

We have witnessed that among Jesus’ disciples, Mary was the one who loved him most. In Luke 8:1-3 we learn how Jesus has freed Mary Magdalene from seven demons. Since then, she followed Jesus and was actually considered as an Apostle according to some commentaries. Though she wasn’t part of the 12 disciples, she was a very faithful follower of Jesus. She was even there when Jesus died on the cross. She faithfully served the One who freed her from her demons and gave her a new life.
In those days, it was customary to visit the tomb of a loved one within three days after the body was buried. They believed the dead’s spirit was still hovering in the tomb. When she didn’t find Jesus’ body, fear overtook her, so she ran to Peter’s house to report her discovery. All of them forgot what Scripture said about him rising from the dead.

REFLECTION
• Share some insights how and why fear and panic could make us forget things.