Category Archives: Poem devotionals

1 PETER 5 SENSIBLENESS & WATCHFULNESS LEAD TO SELF-CONTROL

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May 6

1 PETER 5

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. – 1 Peter 5:6-11

1 PETER 5 SENSIBLENESS & WATCHFULNESS LEAD TO SELF-CONTROL

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

Be on guard when you are called in the kingdom of the Lord

Remember that you have an enemy seeking to devour you

As you live in this corrupt world, be firm in your trust in Him

This will keep you protected from temptations to sin

Seek the word of God so you will have sensibleness

It will make you discern wickedness versus righteousness

Watch your mouth, mind and heart; align it with God’s will

Always be connected to the Lord and all his chosen people.

Peter reminds the believers of the adversary who is constantly at work to steal, kill and destroy the people of God and derail them from serving God and his kingdom. The first thing he mentions in this account has to do with humility and trusting in him alone. It is easy to forget to lean on the Lord when we are so busy living in this corrupt world system. We are bombarded with noise, distractions and accusations that hinder our maturity in our faith. We live in a chaotic and disorderly world where boundaries are not kept and so there is so much confusion and anxiety perpetuated on us humans.

Peter brings us back to the early Christians’ dilemma. They are not far from our troubles and challenges as believers. He instructs the believers to first have humility and trust in the Lord, then obey his laws so that in that obedience, there is no open door for the devil to get in. In verse 9, he reminds us not to let the enemy isolate us into thinking that we are alone in what we are going through. That’s one of Satan’s tactics. He will detach us from reality and then accuse us, distracting us from leaning on the Lord and shifting it to our own strength. As soon as we allow him to do this to us, we have just let him into our consciousness. That little opening is all he needs so that he can destroy any progress we have done to keep in the path of righteousness and stay faithful to serving God. In verse 10, he emphasizes the importance of going through the adversities and suffering as it will make us endure and stronger so that we will be established in God’s grace alone. Then we can have self-control as a result of this sensibleness, and watchfulness to be mature in our faith and be salt and light to this world.

REFLECTION

  • Why is it important for us to have a soldier mindset in order to have self-control?

MARK 9 CUT OFF WHAT WILL MAKE YOU SIN

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May 5

MARK 9

42 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43 And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, 48 ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ 49 For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”– Mark 9:42-50

MARK 9 CUT OFF WHAT WILL MAKE YOU SIN

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When you serve the Lord Jesus Christ, you can’t be out of control

You are accountable for every deed you do and every word you utter

You are responsible for shining your light especially to children

You will be judged and punished if you cause these little ones to sin

So, remove anything in you that will make you disorderly

The Spirit guides you to choose the path that is true and holy

If your tongue makes you sin, meditate and memorize Scriptures

If your mind devises sinful thoughts, make it obedient to Jesus Christ

Cut off right away what will make you sin at its onset

If you allow it to grow, it will insatiably satisfy the flesh.

Mark, the writer of this account, is a close companion to Paul and Barnabas during their missionary journey. He narrates Jesus’ words very clearly and with such boldness. When he talked about little ones, he was referring to the early and new Christians. These words were cautionary so that the people of God are responsible for maturing the faith of those who are new believers instead of being a stumbling block for their growth.

Jesus boldly presents the importance of living an uncompromised life. We are shown that whatever part of us compromises our purity or holiness, we need to remove it right away. What happens when we don’t? We will feed the desires of the flesh since that is human nature. Mark is stressing the importance of cutting it in the bud before it grows full blown. It may sound literally cruel to cut off a part of your body, but it is symbolic of the spirit that Mark is referring to. In the book of James, he mentions that our tongue comes from hell itself. We use it to praise God and also to curse someone. That is just how sin has imprinted our flesh with such corruption. If we are in Christ, there is hope for man because the Holy Spirit corrects us when we tend to feed the cravings of our flesh. We must therefore cut off anything that will compromise our path to righteousness. If we allow even a tiny inch, we will be eaten up.

REFLECTION

·       Why is it important to cut off evil desires as soon as it manifests itself?

PROVERBS 4 THE PATH TO SELF-CONTROL

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May 4

PROVERBS 4

Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many.
11 I have taught you the way of wisdom;    I have led you in the paths of uprightness.
12 When you walk, your step will not be hampered,   and if you run, you will not stumble.
13 Keep hold of instruction; do not let go;  guard her, for she is your life.
14 Do not enter the path of the wicked,  and do not walk in the way of the evil.
15 Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on.
16 For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong;
    they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,

  which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
19 The way of the wicked is like deep darkness;

    they do not know over what they stumble. – Proverbs 4:10-19

PROVERBS 4 THE PATH TO SELF-CONTROL

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

Walk in the way of righteousness and you’ll have prudence

You won’t be catering to your cravings or gratify your flesh

Meditate on God’s word and make sure you accept and do it

It will protect you from the enemy’s schemes, plots and tactics

Walk in love and you will be on your progress to self-regulation

This is your protection from being provoked with unruly emotion

Love is patient, it is kind, it is not rude or arrogant, it builds up

Love is the only way to have self-control, so don’t stray from this path.

We live in a world that is corrupt and self-focused. Each person wants attention and there is not much room for thinking of other people’s needs. In these following sayings, the writer advises the readers to walk the path of righteousness in order to live a life of integrity. So many things can stir and provoke us to be dysregulated, frustrated or angry, but the word of God leads us away from such reactions.

Solomon gives us wisdom on how to have self-control in these following verses. In verses 11-12, he gives an antidote to the corruption of this world. If they accept the word of God and follow it, they may not be free from the temptations of the system, but they will have wisdom to know how to discern the spirits working in each incitement. In verse 13, he warns the readers to ensure that they cling to the word and guard it with their lives because it is the source of life itself. In verses 14-17, Solomon exposes the tactics of the wicked. He shamelessly discloses their ways so that it could be avoided at all cost. This will give them strength and courage to face all trials and tribulations with much confidence and boldness. In verse 18, he shows them the way to go, the path of the righteous which shines so bright.

REFLECTION

·       Share insights how the word of God can make sure you aren’t derailed by the wicked.

2 PETER 1 COMMIT TO PURSUE SELF-CONTROL

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May 3

2 PETER 1

3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us tohis own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities, you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ– 2 Peter 1:3-11

2 PETER 1 COMMIT TO PURSUE SELF-CONTROL

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

The believer’s walk is a constant battlefield as we live in the world

This is why God gave us His own Son, his Spirit and his precious word

He did not leave us to be defeated by the corruption around us

He filled our hearts with much promises, hope and wisdom

Let us then commit to pursue a life of discipline and control

Without such training, we will fail to defeat this spiritual battle

Seek God, make him first and meditate on his word day and night

In everything, rely on God and pray in the Spirit at all times.

In this account, Peter discusses what it takes to confirm our calling and our election. He reminds the believers that it is God’s divine power that allows us to face our sinful desires with courage and strength. In verse 4, he focuses on the promises that God has given to all those who are part of his covenant. These promises allow us to escape the corruption of the world. Like any healthy prescription for the body, Peter prescribes us to have virtues couple our faith. Just like the book of James tells us that faith without actions is dead in James 2:17 and 2:26.

Peter gives us his spiritual supplement for our bodies in this letter as the following:

  • Do your best to act out your faith by good works
  • Commit to pursue self-control with knowledge and wisdom
  • Rejoice in trials and press on to walk in righteousness & godliness
  • Show brotherly affection and walk constantly in love

By taking the spiritual supplement for our bodies, we will be able to walk in the calling given to us.

REFLECTION

  • Why is it important for us to commit to a self-controlled life as Christians?

TITUS 2 TRAINING FOR SELF-CONTROL

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May 2

TITUS 2

6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. 9 Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

                                                                                        – Titus 2:6-14

TITUS 2 TRAINING FOR SELF-CONTROL

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When you were chosen by your Lord Jesus Christ

You have been regenerated and given a new life

You no longer crave for the old things you used to love

The Holy Spirit changed all your desires into pleasing God

He also showed your undisciplined and unruly tendencies

God gave you his word so you can see all your iniquities

The Lord God gave you the ability to say “yes” to his Spirit

Obey the word and you will be able to resist the devil.

In this letter to Titus, Paul urges his spiritual son to train for self-control so he could pass on the same training of the older men to the younger men in the church. It is teaching by example that Paul counsels Titus to do so. What did this self-control training look like? He gave them some pointers to follow to regularly grow in this fruit of the Spirit by the following guidelines:

  • Show yourself as an example of good works in all respects
  • In teaching, they must exhibit integrity and dignity
  • Be of sound speech so no one can find fault in them
  • Bondservants are to be submissive to their masters in everything
  • Be well-pleasing and avoid quarreling
  • Renounce ungodliness and worldly passions

Sounds like a lot of work, doesn’t it? But this training is not just for Titus and the early Christian believers but for all Christians now. It should not be viewed as work to do because it is the Spirit working in our hearts and not us. Our part is to lean on God’s leading towards our maturity of faith.

REFLECTION

  • Which of the guidelines do you still struggle with as you train for self-control and share details?

1 CORINTHIANS 9 RUN THE RACE WITH SELF-CONTROL

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May 1

I CORINTHIANS 9

21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. – 1 Corinthians 9:21-27

1 CORINTHIANS 9 RUN THE RACE WITH SELF-CONTROL

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When you are in Christ Jesus, you will run the race

It is a competition to be content and humble as Christ

Self-control is needed for one to be able to sustain this fight

It is a race of endurance to bear all the struggles in this life

An athlete for Christ prepares well for this race by training

The workout involves much leaning on the Spirit’s prodding

It is by starving the flesh and following the righteousness of God

It is by humbly rejoicing in all trials and tribulations that comes.

Have you ever run or competed in any kind of contest or race? It takes long hours, daily pressing on and several failing, falling and getting up again. You practice and push yourself to your limits until you are ready to face the other people you are competing with so you can win the prize and take it home. I used to compete in art and photo competitions and there are lots of preparations and time for practice and conceptualizing to do until the deadline comes. I also competed for some bicycle races in my 40’s and although I may have not won first prize for any of these contests, I was fulfilled with the process, the training and the discipline that went with all these challenges. It made me strong and able to endure and keep on going.

The apostle Paul wrote about a different kind of race in this letter to the church at Corinth. He refers to an eternal race where the prize is not a trophy or any perishable item, but it is a reward given by the Lord himself. Paul focuses more on the process of running the race rather than how to win and get the prize itself. He points out that self-control is essential in the race itself as well as the winning. He mentions that every athlete must exercise such discipline or they won’t survive the race. Although the prize is very important in the race, the preparation for it is as vital as well. Running the race for Christ is not the same as performing in a race in this world. The worldly race is focused on perfecting and performing while Jesus’ race is on pressing on struggles and depending on God’s strength.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think “self-control” is central in the race towards Jesus Christ?

1 KINGS 11 GOD’S WRATH ON IDOLATERS & THE DISOBEDIENT

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April 30

1 KINGS 11

9 And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice 10 and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods. But he did not keep what the Lord commanded. 11 Therefore the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this has been your practice and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes that I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and will give it to your servant. 12 Yet for the sake of David your father I will not do it in your days, but I will tear it out of the hand of your son. 13 However, I will not tear away all the kingdom, but I will give one tribe to your son, for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem that I have chosen.” – 1 Kings 11:9-13

1 KINGS 11 GOD’S WRATH ON IDOLATERS & THE DISOBEDIENT

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When you were chosen by God to be his own people

You were set apart from all the sinful and the unfaithful

He gave you His own Spirit so you could walk with Him

He gave you a new creation to cut off from your habitual sin

You will receive his wrath if you don’t keep his commandments

There will be consequences and you will receive his judgement

If you were chosen by Him and continue to live in transgressions

It is inevitable for you to experience his absence in continued rebellion.

In this account, we witness the wrath of God over Solomon’s turning away from the Lord. How sad it is to watch Solomon’s fate from a very good start ruling God’s nation with so much wisdom and anointing and ended up so far away from God by his disobedience to his laws and by not keeping his covenant with the Lord. According to sources, Jeremiah may have written this book. It is easy for us to revel at how much the Lord has given Solomon wisdom, only to find out later that he couldn’t even follow a lot of those wise sayings that he has been giving to his people.

We still see a merciful and just God in this narrative. Solomon wasn’t punished in his lifetime but the kingdom will be removed from his sons. This is a good lesson for us to remember that when we disobey the laws of God, it is not only us who will bear the consequences of our disobedience, but the coming generations as well. In verse 10, the writer mentions the idolatry that Solomon got involved with. He first disobeyed God’s law by marrying a pagan princess. Then he learned the gods of his wife, which he later on bowed down to. Can you imagine having 700 wives and 300 concubines? How far has he gone from serving God to serving all these little gods that his women had taught him to idolize?

This could still be very true to our days now if we don’t keep our faith pure for the Lord. If we yoke with unbelievers and learn their ways, we are compromising our faith and bringing wrath to ourselves.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think it is for our good as Christians to set apart from unbelievers and idolaters?

PROVERBS 20 WHO PROVOKES THE KING TO ANGER

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April 29

PROVERBS 20

Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.
2 The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life.
3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.
4 The sluggard does not plow in the autumn;  he will seek at harvest and have nothing.
5 The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?
7 The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him! – Proverbs 20:1-7

PROVERBS 20 WHO PROVOKES THE KING TO ANGER

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

As you serve the Lord Jesus Christ, always pursue peace

It is wise for a believer to stay away from discord and fights

Avoid anything that harms someone, is unloving and is ungodly

If you don’t refrain from such evil acts, you will lose your integrity

Defiance and insubordination provoke any king to bring upon his wrath

You are also inciting rebellion not only to your ruler but also against God

It is honorable for a man to control himself and evade all forms of quarrels

Let go of pride and embrace humility, you’ll surely avoid wrath & discord.          

The writer of these following sayings warns the readers to ensure that the king is honored and obeyed by his subordinates. In verse 2, it describes the terror of a king which is likened to a growling lion. The readers of these proverbs are given guidelines on who or which kinds of people provoke the king’s wrath. It would be wise for them to avoid anything that will incite the king’s anger lest they lose their lives.

From these following verses, we can clearly see which kinds of people may provoke the king’s wrath:

  • Drunks & brawlers – A brawler is a person who engages in noisy, rough, or physical fights, often in public, and is known for being combative, aggressive, and quarrelsome. Can you imagine if they are also drunk?
  • Sluggards are next in the list. A sluggard is a person who is habitually lazy, idle, and slow-moving, often preferring sleep or inactivity over work. They avoid responsibility, makes extreme excuses to avoid labor, and fails to follow through on tasks.
  • The unfaithful and wicked are the next group that provokes the king’s wrath- they are traitors and deserve to be killed for their treason.

Isn’t it interesting that these kinds of people also incite God’s anger? God hates the quarrelsome, the irresponsible and lazy people and mostly, the adulterous and idolaters who don’t have commitment to him. They only serve themselves and have no loyalty to anyone. They do not submit to authority. They do not obey rules.

REFLECTION

  • Which kinds of people mentioned here are most stealthy and hard to discover in churches?

ROMANS 2 IMPENITENT HEARTS STORE UP GOD’S WRATH

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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

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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?