June 6
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1 JOHN 2
18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore, we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. 20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. 21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 2 – 1 John 2:18-22
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1 JOHN 2 THE LAST HOUR WARNING
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
Look around you and be wary of evil things in plenty
The last hour has come when the devil plots to destroy in bounty
As a warning to al of us, let us open our eyes to the antichrists
Do not let them deceive you with their subtle form of lies
To all those who belong to the Lord, equip yourself with the word
Meditate on it day and night so you can overcome this world.
Corruption and wickedness abound among us all
It is the result of the devil’s plot to have mankind fall
God has separated those who belong to him from the world
You will know the antichrist because they lie and twist the word
If you hunger for the truth, you will be delivered from deception
If you fail to follow the laws of God, you will fall into temptation.
To all God’s people: be soldiers for Christ and wear your armor
We do not fight with flesh and blood but against rulers and cosmic powers
Fasten the belt of truth and put on the breastplate of righteousness
Wear the helmet of salvation and be ready to share the gospel of peace
Keep alert and persevere and grow your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
Pray at all times on every occasion that you may have eternal life.
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REFLECTION
• How should a Christian prepare for the last hour since it has already come?
Category Archives: Poem devotionals
1 JOHN 2 DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD OR THE THINGS IN IT
June 5
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1 JOHN 2
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. – 1 John 2:15-17
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1 JOHN 2 DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD OR THE THINGS IN IT
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
The Lord created all things and designed humans in his image for his own delight
God gave man a paradise to live in where they are provided for all their needs
He gave humans authority over many creatures and have dominion over them
When the devil tempted Adam and Eve, the order of God’s creation was destroyed
Humans handed over to Satan the key to rule and man’s nature became sinful
The devil had access to all that was given to man and began to plot their fall.
After the fall, all that are in the world became under the devil’s control
He is now prince of the world and rules over all that is temporal
The kingdom of God on the other hand is unseen and spiritual, it is eternal
All desires of the flesh, the eyes, and the pride of life are not from the Father
Therefore, if someone loves worldly things, they cannot please the Lord
Do not love the world or the things in it, or you put enmity against God.
When you conform to the systems that is in world, you are spiritually unfaithful
The Lord commanded to make him first in all things so that you won’t be sinful
If you follow the laws and the will of God, you will not love earthly things
To submit to God in all things is to kill the flesh and give up all cravings
If you love the world and everything in it, the devil rules your heart
If you love God, you will follow his precepts and you’ll never depart.
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REFLECTION
• What are some of the world systems that are unseen? Which among these systems have the enemy crippled your walk with God?
• Why is it difficult to clearly see how the world systems work?
1 JOHN 2 GOD’S ASSURANCE TO OUR LEVEL OF MATURITY
June 4
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1 JOHN 2
12 I am writing to you, little children,
because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.
13 I am writing to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
because you have overcome the evil one.
I write to you, children,
because you know the Father.
14 I write to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men, because you are strong,
and the word of God abides in you,
and you have overcome the evil one. – 1 John 2:12-14
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1 JOHN 2 GOD’S ASSURANCE TO OUR LEVEL OF MATURITY
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
Our heavenly Father is full of mercy and is very compassionate
He sees your heart, mind and soul in all its stages of maturity
If God has chosen you to belong to him, he assures you of his guidance
He holds your hands as you allow him to lead you out of ignorance
His word and his precepts lovingly provide you with wisdom
If you abide in them, you can live in contentment, joy and freedom.
To all his children, the Lord assures you of his mercy and forgiveness
He wants you to know that he will always lead you to righteousness
To all fathers, God knows all your experiences that made you wiser
He is rewarding you with restful days ahead after much trials
To all young men, the Lord gives his protection and strength
The youth will have work for God’s kingdom to come and extend.
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REFLECTION
• Children refers to the new believers, fathers are those who have longer relationship with the Lord and young men are those who are in that stage where they are equipped with gifts and calling to serve God, which stage are you now? Explain.
1 JOHN 2 TO LIVE IN DARKNESS VS. TO LIVE IN THE LIGHT
June 3
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1 JOHN 2
7 Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. 8 At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. – 1 John 2:7-11
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1 JOHN 2 TO LIVE IN DARKNESS VS. TO LIVE IN THE LIGHT
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
Anyone who does not know God cannot know love
God is love and if you know him, you will follow his laws
A person who is corrupted by the systems of this world is in darkness
One cannot be a servant of God if he continues to rebel and be lawless
As children of the light, we ought to walk in love
We cannot serve God and also walk in the dark.
To live in darkness is to reject the truth and the word
To live in darkness is to love what is offered by the world
To live in darkness is the absence of the presence of God
To live in darkness is to choose the bad over the right and good
To live in darkness is to constantly waver and doubt the Lord
To live in darkness is to be self-centered and not seek the truth.
Those who claim to be servants of the Lord choose to abide in his word
As they obey the precepts of God, the learn to overcome the world
As they live in the light, they begin to eradicate the fear of anything
They only fear God and wouldn’t compromise their lives by sinning
If you live in the light, there is much peace, joy and contentment
If you live in the dark, there is chaos, sorrow and resentment.
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REFLECTION
• How do you gauge whether someone lives in the dark or in the light?
1 JOHN 2 PROOF THAT YOU KNOW GOD
June 2
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1 JOHN 2
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. – 1 John 2:1-6
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1 JOHN 2 PROOF THAT YOU KNOW GOD
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
When Adam and Eve passed on their original sin to mankind
They were under a curse which resulted from God’s wrath
But because of his steadfast love, he gave us a solution
He sent his only begotten Son to be our sins’ propitiation.
Through Christ sacrifice on the cross, God’s wrath was appeased
Man can now be reconciled with God for Jesus brought us peace
If we believe in Jesus Christ, we are required to follow him
He came into this world not with riches but in poverty.
As a follower of Jesus, we must keep his word
We ought not to love or be friends with the world
The proof that you know God is when you follow his laws
If you are lawless and call yourself a believer, you lie.
To merely say that you know Christ is not sufficient
Lip service isn’t enough, God wants your obedience
If you keep his commandments, you can truly say you know him
You don’t know him when you continue to follow your cravings.
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REFLECTION
• How is obedience the ultimate manifestation of a true servant of God?
• Why would we be under God’s wrath when we disobey his laws?
1 JOHN 1 IF WE WALK IN THE LIGHT
June 1
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1 JOHN 1
5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. – 1 John 1:5-10
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1 JOHN 1 IF WE WALK IN THE LIGHT
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
God is light and darkness is exposed by him
The world is dark, full of corruption and sin
If we serve the Lord our God, we will have his light
If we walk in his light, we will surely have life.
To walk in God’s light is to walk in love
Without loving others, we cannot say we love God
If we say we love God but hate a brother
We are lying because we are still in darkness.
To walk in the light is to confess one’s own sinfulness
To deny that you never sin is just outright foolishness
When we lie to ourselves, we do not have the truth in us
If we confess and repent of our sins, we’ll be freed from darkness.
If we walk in the light, we do not conform with the world
If we really love the Lord, we will meditate and be guided by his word
To walk in the light means to please God by following his laws
To rebel and disobey his precepts means we are still in the dark.
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REFLECTION
• What hinders a Christian from walking in the light?
• Why is it a lie to say you love God and hate another person?
1 JOHN WHERE JOY IS COMPLETE
May 31
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1 JOHN
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
– 1 John 1:1-4
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1 JOHN WHERE JOY IS COMPLETE
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
Before anything else existed in the world, darkness loomed
The Lord God was already there even before this gloom
God exuded light was light himself, that covered all this darkness
He was also life that triumphed over death and sadness.
The Father, Son and Spirit began all forms of fellowship
The three Gods in one is perfect unity in a relationship
Perfect love is the essence and very nature of God
He planted that love in every creature alike, woman and man.
All humans were made so that they can relate with God
But sin entered paradise and destroyed this perfect love
Because of sin, it became impossible for man to have perfect joy
So, because of his great love for us, God sent his only Son.
There is no other love that can complete any human being
Only the one true love from above can satisfy our cravings
Without God’s presence in our lives, our joy will not be complete
Fellowship with the Father, Son and Spirit is the relationship we need.
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REFLECTION
• How is it that joy will never be complete if we don’t have a relationship with God?
• Why is it important that we are aware of this need for fellowship with God?
JAMES 5 WHEN YOU BRING BACK A SINNER FROM WANDERING
May 30
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JAMES 5
19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. – James 5:19-20
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JAMES 5 WHEN YOU BRING BACK A SINNER FROM WANDERING
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
Do you know of anyone who has turned their backs to God?
Count it as an opportunity to gain rewards from the Lord
If someone who used to have faith gave it up
They must have met trials that broke that trust.
Pray that the Spirit will guide you how to bring them back
Without prayers and guidance, you won’t succeed to do that
No one can do what only the Spirit can, to lead back the lost
You will only be an instrument to regain the trust they once had.
When you bring back a sinner from wandering, you are being faithful
All believers are called to declare the love of God and his gospel
To do it in your own understanding will be unwise and harmful
To win back the wandering sinners, you need godly wisdom.
Blessed are they who care enough to bring back those derailed
Remember that Jesus died for all the lost and broken-hearted
If you are instrumental for the prodigal saint’s return
You will cover a multitude of sins for yourself as well.
Beloved, let us make it a concern of ours to lead those who are astray
Remember how the good shepherd left the ninety-nine for one lost sheep?
If the Lord God chose them to be part of his sheepfold, but lost track
Isn’t it our responsibility to have compassion for them and lead them back?
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REFLECTION
• How come many of us fear to lead back a sinner who has wandered away from their faith even though James talk about the great rewards we will gain from doing so?
JAMES 5 POWER OF THE RIGHTEOUS PERSON’S PRAYER
May 29
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JAMES 5
16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. – James 5:16-18
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JAMES 5 POWER OF THE RIGHTEOUS PERSON’S PRAYER
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
The Lord calls us to be accountable to each other
He wants us to confess our sins to one another
Sharing our burdens and weaknesses show humility
It exudes an attitude of love and God-dependency
If we keep our sins and adversities to ourselves
We live independently from God’s church and his saints
Let us build up the body of Christ by sharing our troubles
This way, we can pray for one another’s illnesses and trials
Do not be afraid to share your struggles with your brother
Confess your sins to each other so you can grow and mature.
When a righteous person humbly asks for favor
The Lord listens to his requests because of his fervor
When the prophet Elijah pleaded for drought and rain
The Lord answered according to his faith as he prayed
Those who serve the Lord must ask in faith without doubting
For the one who doubts is like the waves of the sea which are unstable
When you pray, believe that you’ve already received it and it will be yours
Make sure you have no grudge on others when you pray to your Savior
Any bitterness and resentment or jealousy will block your prayer
Cleanse your hearts and do not be double-minded and God will answer.
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REFLECTION
• When have you prayed for something that God has granted?
• Why do you think some prayers are not answered?
JAMES 5 THE NECESSITY OF PRAYER
May 28
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JAMES 5
13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. – James 5:13-15
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JAMES 5 THE NECESSITY OF PRAYER
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
When we lift our hearts to the Lord in prayer
He hears us, and with empathy, considers them
When we humble ourselves and ask for God’s help
There is nothing else that would make him delighted
How often must we pray and depend on the Lord?
Just as frequently as we breathe in air; we need to do it much
When we receive a gift or a favor from our heavenly Father
It is necessary to thank him and honor him in prayer
When we constantly go to the Lord for nourishment
We grow our faith and deepen our relationship.
To miss out on praying is almost endangering our souls
It is like cutting the cord between us and our Lord
To neglect to pray is almost a defiance against our Maker
It shows our ingratitude and disrespect to our heavenly Father
As we live in this corrupt world, there’ll always be a reason to pray
We plead to God when we are burdened and going through trials
We cry out to him when we are suffering and undergoing changes
We beg the Lord to deliver us from much evil and tough challenges
We ask him for healing when we are sick and with infirmities
We thank him for each blessing that we receive from him.
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REFLECTION
• In Ephesian 6:18, Paul tells us to pray at all times and in all situations. Do you think Christians really follow this? Why or why not?