Author Archives: ilmaarts

PROVERBS 13 WALK WITH THE WISE

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October 21

PROVERBS 13

15 Good sense wins favor, but the way of the treacherous is their ruin.
16 Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly.
17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing.
18 Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction,
    but whoever heeds reproof is honored.
19 A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul,
    but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.
20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
    but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

                                                               – Proverbs 13:15-20

PROVERBS 13 WALK WITH THE WISE

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When you are in the company of wise people, you become wise

But if you are surrounded by fools, you will become one as well

Those who follow the way of the righteous will have good sense

But those who defy truth do not know what is good for them

So, walk with the wise so you can live a life of freedom

If you choose to be with fools, you will surely suffer harm.

Have you ever had an encounter with stubborn, haughty and deceived people? They think they know what they are talking about but they use a lot of words and yet they are empty and do not make sense. Just spend an hour with them and you will be exhausted because they just go around in circles and never drive their point. That is because they don’t have a clue what they are saying. They are great pretenders trying to appear they know things because their minds are actually empty and meaningless.

Now have you ever been in the company of righteous and wise people? Your mind gets awakened and they are very concise and clear with what they are saying. They make their points come across because they speak truth and not lies. They don’t go in circles. They mean what they say and use less words.  They also walk their talk. Surround yourself with these wise people and before you know it, you will be infected by their wisdom.

REFLECTION

  • Share an experience you’ve had with wise people and how they affected you.

PROVERBS 13 WHOEVER DESPISES GOD’S WORD

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October 20

PROVERBS 13

8 The ransom of a man’s life is his wealth,
    but a poor man hears no threat.
9 The light of the righteous rejoices,
    but the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
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 13:8-14

PROVERBS 13 WHOEVER DESPISES GOD’S WORD

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When someone does not listen to the word of God

His life will be full of troubles and he will grope in the dark

The word of the Lord is a lamp to our feet

When there is no light, we will stumble and fall

Whoever despises God’s commands and his word

Will be living in strife and struggle with the world.

John 17:17 says that the word of God is truth. When we do not know God, we will be groping in the dark as we live in this world. Solomon speaks about the aftermath of not heeding and not living in truth. He says in verse 13 that it brings ruin and destruction to those who disobey and defy the truth. 2 Timothy 3:16 says that all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. The word is the way to the righteous path that leads to God.

REFLECTION

  • What changes happened to you when you followed the word of God?

PROVERBS 13 GUARD YOUR MOUTH TO PRESERVE LIFE

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October 19

PROVERBS 13

A wise son hears his father’s instruction,
    but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
2 From the fruit of his mouth a man eats what is good,
    but the desire of the treacherous is for violence.
3 Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life;
    he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
4 The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
    while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.
5 The righteous hates falsehood,
    but the wicked brings shame and disgrace.
6 Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless,
    but sin overthrows the wicked.
7 One pretends to be rich,yet has nothing;
    another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.

                                                                   – Proverbs 13:1-7

PROVERBS 13 GUARD YOUR MOUTH TO PRESERVE LIFE

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

Watch what comes out of your mouth so only good comes out of it

Those who are reckless in their speech will only cause conflict and ruin

Speak only what is true, honorable, lovely and of good report

Refrain from harsh words, indecent speech and things that are untrue

When you guard your mouth, you will build up and encourage others

When you don’t watch out what you say, you may only cause trouble.

It is interesting why many people do not guard their mouths. When one does not know the truth, it will be very hard for them to watch what they say. Philippians 4:8 says think only whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy. If one follows this boundary that God has given us to think about, we would surely guard our mouths and preserve life. What would a world without such boundaries of thinking look like? It would be full of chaos and conflict, wouldn’t it?

REFLECTION

  • Why is it important for us to align our thoughts with God’s truth?

PROVERBS 12 THE PATH OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

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October 18

PROVERBS 12

22 Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
    but those who act faithfully are his delight.
23 A prudent man conceals knowledge,
    but the heart of fools proclaims folly.
24 The hand of the diligent will rule,
    while the slothful will be put to forced labor.
25 Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down,
    but a good word makes him glad.
26 One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor,
    but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27 Whoever is slothful will not roast his game,
    but the diligent man will get precious wealth.
28 In the path of righteousness is life,
    and in its pathway there is no death.

                                                                     – Proverbs 12:22-28

PROVERBS 12 THE PATH OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

The way of the righteous always leads to life

There is no darkness or evil but only light

Those who choose to walk on this upright path

They will always be protected by the hand of God

The righteous one will be a guide to his neighbor

He will lead them to the way that is precious

Because this path of righteousness leads to the Almighty

Let us all take this route towards everlasting eternity.

Solomon tells us in these following verses the path of righteousness. He laid down the difference between the way of the wicked and the way of the righteous. He highlights the benefits of taking the road to uprightness where there is no death but only life. Many people take the easy way which is the one that takes them to death.

REFLECTION

  • Why are there many who do not take the path of righteousness?

PROVERBS 12 WISE IN HIS OWN EYES

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October 17

PROVERBS 12

15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
    but a wise man listens to advice.
16 The vexation of a fool is known at once,
    but the prudent ignores an insult.
17 Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence,
    but a false witness utters deceit.
18 There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,
    but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
19 Truthful lips endure forever,
    but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
    but those who plan peace have joy.
21 No ill befalls the righteous,
    but the wicked are filled with trouble.

                                                       – Proverbs 12:15-21

PROVERBS 12 WISE IN HIS OWN EYES

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

The wise do not assume they know things, they seek counsel

Fools on the other hand don’t care about other people’s guidance

A fool is right in his own eyes, he has tunnel vision

The wise are humble and consult truthful viewpoint

When someone think highly of himself, he is depraved

The wise in their own eyes bring confusion and conflict.

Have you ever encountered people who always think they are right and never listen to anyone’s viewpoint or advice? I have known so many people like these. What drives them to be like this? When one does not recognize a higher being than them, they will surely think that they are the center of the universe. Everything revolves around them and that everyone must acknowledge them and bow down to them. This is called idolatry. When one defies the truth that someone who is higher than them, they become fools.

REFLECTION

  • What happens when you argue with people who are wise in their own eyes?

PROVERBS 12 RESULTS OF WORKING HARD

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October 16

PROVERBS 12

8 A man is commended according to his good sense,
    but one of twisted mind is despised.
9 Better to be lowly and have a servant
    than to play the great man and lack bread.
10 Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast,
    but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.
11 Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread,
    but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.
12 Whoever is wicked covets the spoil of evildoers,
    but the root of the righteous bears fruit.
13 An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips,
    but the righteous escapes from trouble.
14 From the fruit of his mouth a man is satisfied with good,
    and the work of a man’s hand comes back to him.

                                                                – Proverbs 12:8-14

PROVERBS 12 RESULTS OF WORKING HARD

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When a man is patiently diligent at working hard

He will have a bounty of blessings and plenty of bread

He will not be discouraged by any trouble that comes his way

For he has good sense to know that it will build his character

The lazy on the other hand will have nothing to reap

For he has not worked hard and cannot expect results from it.

In our world today, entitlement is prevalent. We have become so used to getting things the easy way. When someone is given everything to him on a silver platter, there is no reason for that person to work hard. He just waits for others to give it to him and do not understand the importance of work. Paul talks in 2 Thessalonians 3 that if anyone is not willing to work, let him not ea. They were commanded and encouraged in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. Imagine a world of no work.

REFLECTION

  • Why is working hard a very important valuable concept in life?

PROVERBS 12 ON LOVING DISCIPLINE

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October 15

PROVERBS 12

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, 

  but he who hates reproof is stupid.
2 A good man obtains favor from the Lord,

   but a man of evil devices he condemns.
3 No one is established by wickedness,

   but the root of the righteous will never be moved.
4 An excellent wife is the crown of her husband,
    but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.
5 The thoughts of the righteous are just;

   the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
6 The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,

    but the mouth of the upright delivers them.
7 The wicked are overthrown and are no more,

   but the house of the righteous will stand. – Proverbs 12:1-7

PROVERBS 12 ON LOVING DISCIPLINE

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

The Lord disciplines whom those he loves

Those who live for themselves hate being reproved

Those who love the Lord their God heed to guidance

But the wicked resort to hatred and avoidance

The children of the Lord accept correction

They love to be given advice and instructions

Because of their faithfulness to God’s commands

They live peaceful lives and are full of wisdom.

Does anyone love discipline while they are receiving it? Our human nature hates being corrected or told what to do but Solomon gives us a good reminder that those who love the Lord will always welcome being guided and instructed. The fools and the wicked on the other hand are very insecure and self-centered people who would not entertain any thought on what others think. It is wise for God’s people to heed God’s guidance.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think discipline is an essential part of a believer’s life?

PROVERBS 11 THE BENEFIT OF SEEKING GOD

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October 14

PROVERBS 11

25 Whoever brings blessing will be enriched,
    and one who waters will himself be watered.
26 The people curse him who holds back grain,
    but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it.
27 Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,
    but evil comes to him who searches for it.
28 Whoever trusts in his riches will fall,
    but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.
29 Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind,
    and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,

    and whoever captures souls is wise.
31 If the righteous is repaid on earth,
    how much more the wicked and the sinner!

                                                 – Proverbs 11:25-31

PROVERBS 11 THE BENEFIT OF SEEKING GOD

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When a person serves the Lord, they seek good

They do not make a habit of doing wrong

They faithfully obey the laws of the Lord

Which results in overcoming the ways of the world

They prioritize to please the God they serve

Which results in an outpouring of blessings.

Solomon continues to enumerate some of the aftermath or benefits of seeking God in the last verses of this chapter in the book of Proverbs. One of the results of seeking righteousness is the outpouring of blessings. Those who seek God flourish like a green leaf as verse 28 describes. They are like a tree planted by the riverbank where their leaf never withers or gets dried up because they are nourished by the water. Christ is the living water that keeps us fed and constantly alive.

REFLECTION

  • What benefits have you reaped after you committed to serving God?

PROVERBS 11 A CROOKED HEART IS AN ABOMINATION TO GOD

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October 13

PROVERBS 11

19 Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live, but he who pursues evil will die.
20 Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the Lord,
    but those of blameless ways are his delight.
21 Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished,
    but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman without discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good, the expectation of the wicked in wrath.
24 One gives freely, yet grows all the richer;
    another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.

                                                          – Proverbs 11:19-24

PROVERBS 11 A CROOKED HEART IS AN ABOMINATION TO GOD

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

The Lord hates those who do evil, it is a disgrace to him

Those who continue to live in sin will not go unpunished

But those who are devoted to righteousness will be blessed

Their children will receive blessings and be delivered

All those who generously give and extend help to others will prosper

While those who withhold what they have to others will surely suffer.

Many people think they can go on doing wicked things without any consequences, but eventually, they will not go unpunished. Solomon describes how God hates evil in these following verses. It is an abomination to the Lord. Solomon talks about the things that the Lord hates in Proverbs 6:16-18: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren. Here in verse 20, he sums up all these things God hates as done by people who have a crooked heart.

So, how can one avoid this crooked heart that we all by nature have? Solomon gives us an answer in these following verses. Those who are blameless, pure and seek to pursue righteousness will surely be receiving many blessings and also have deliverance from sin.

REFLECTION

  • Can someone who does not know God go against his sinful nature? Why or why not?

PROVERBS 11 WHEN THERE IS NO GUIDANCE

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PROVERBS

October 12

PROVERBS 11

13 Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets,
    but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.
14 Where there is no guidance, a people falls,
    but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
15 Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm,
    but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.
16 A gracious woman gets honor, and violent men get riches.
17 A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.
18   The wicked earns deceptive wages,

   but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward.

                                                                   – Proverbs 11:13-18

PROVERBS 11 WHEN THERE IS NO GUIDANCE

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When one does not seek counsel, he will surely fall

It is unwise to think that you know it all

The Lord knows all things and sees all things

It is foolish to think that you can stand on your own

When there is no guidance, there is chaos and destruction

A wise person listens to advice; a wicked man ignores it.

Solomon continues to lay down differences between the righteous and the wicked and the consequences that their actions bring about. Verse 14 of this chapter stood out to me as it lays the foundation for living a life of humility and dependence on God. All the resources God provides for us comes from him alone and we ought to humbly glorify him with what we were given. Arrogance and pride are opposites of humility which lead people to bring glory to themselves instead of thanking and praising God.

A proud and arrogant person would never acknowledge the existence of God because that will defy his self love. Naturally, they would never seek counsel from anyone since that would mean that they are not the center of the universe. Because of their foolishness, they will surely fail and fall in whatever they pursue.

REFLECTION

  • What does Romans 1:28 say about those who do not acknowledge God?