May 27
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JAMES 5
12 But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation. – James 5:12
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JAMES 5 SAY YES OR NO AND NOTHING VAGUE
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
The Lord our God is a God of accuracy and precision
On the other hand, the devil is the god of confusion
We were given laws by God so we can walk in love
The evil one steals our peace and brings doom.
From the mouth of God comes only what is true
There is nothing vague or unclear in his words
The devil twists truth to entice people to sin
Be wary of his tricks and don’t let him win.
Let your “yes” or “no” be clear; do not be vague
If you are in-between, it’s from the evil one
When you say “yes” but actually meant “no”
You are lying and not stating what is really true.
We were made in God’s image and likeness
The devil wants to twists that image and accuse us
Let us therefore be vigilant to follow our Maker
We were not designed to participate and do what’s evil.
Do not swear or make vows that you cannot keep
Instead, say “If the Lord wills, I will do this or that”
When you are asked, give a firm and concise answer
When you are vague, you are either lying or hiding something.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think James warns us about vows and oaths and being clear with our yes and no? What happens if we make vows or become unclear with our words?
Category Archives: Poem devotionals
JAMES 5 BLESSED ARE THE STEADFAST
May 26
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JAMES 5
11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. – James 5:11
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JAMES 5 BLESSED ARE THE STEADFAST
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
The Lord is a God who is steadfast in his love
He is committed to be your Father up above
Because we were made in God’s own likeness
We are also able to love much and be righteous.
Remember how Job responded to all adversities?
He still persisted and grew in endurance
He never broke his commitment to God
Even amidst all trials and everything that he lost.
If you remain faithful to the Lord
You will be able to conquer this world
He has blessed you with a loving heart
He expects you to stay true and never depart.
Do not give up when trials come your way
If you depend on the Lord, you will be brave
He equips you with courage and endurance
Press on because he always provides assurance.
Those who continue to be steadfast and firm
They will receive the crown of life promised by him
Hold on to your faith and stay committed to serving God
You will be blessed in your life; you will be able to stay true.
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REFLECTION
• How can the saints remain steadfast in their faith amidst this corrupt world system?
• Why is steadfastness a novelty nowadays even in the lives of believers?
JAMES 5 WHEN WE GRUMBLE
May 25
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JAMES 5
9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. 10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. – James 5:9-10
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JAMES 5 WHEN WE GRUMBLE
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
The moment one decides to grumble
One is likely to see something crumble
It may be a relationship that will slowly collapse
Or it can build anger and also so much mistrust.
As we continue to complain about things not going our way
We are taking control and not trusting that God is our provider
When we declare our discontent, bitter roots get deeper
The more we grumble, the more unwell and hopeless we’ll be.
When we are anxious and complaining, we begin to resent
If we start dwelling on things we don’t have, we will get spent
On the other hand, if we count all that we have been given
We change our perspective and become more contented.
Christ suffered and endured the torment and rejection from man
If we claim to be Christians, we ought to embrace suffering and pain
Grumbling is the opposite of patience and endurance
To grumble is to be entitled; to endure is to be humble.
When we grumble, we are going to be accountable to the Judge
Grumbling is being ungrateful and it questions the fairness of God
Be thankful instead of complaining, no one wants to be with a whiner
Appreciate what the Lord has given you and bring your request in prayer.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think James cautions us from grumbling in these following verses?
• What might be the aftermath of grumbling?
JAMES BE PATIENT AND ESTABLISH YOUR HEARTS
May 24
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JAMES 5
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. – James 5:7-8
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JAMES BE PATIENT AND ESTABLISH YOUR HEARTS
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
God is full of steadfastness and mercy
Because we are made in God’s image, we can be patient
When we deal with difficult people and challenging conditions
We can be assured that if we trust God, he’ll deliver us from those situations.
As you follow God’s laws and walk in obedience to it
Rest assured that you will be guided and led by his Spirit
The result of such submission to his precepts
Will bring fruits of the Spirit, one of which is patience.
Like the gardener who work hard to sow his seeds
He does not give up easily but continue to persevere
He patiently waits for the rain to come so they will grow
He is delighted as each of the crops mature to yield fruits.
Establish your hearts and keep it grounded on his truth
When you do, you will be strong and continue to mature
Hide his words in your heart and you will have wisdom
The Lord will make you endure and continue to live in freedom.
Remain steadfast in your trials and all the suffering
The Lord promised the crown of life to those who love him
If you remain anchored on his promises and precepts
You will grow and mature into the person he made you to be.
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REFLECTION
• If patience is a fruit of the spirit, can humans fabricate it?
• How is the world’s concept of patience different from God’s view of it?
JAMES 5 WARNING TO THE WEALTHY & SELF-INDULGENT
May 23
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JAMES 5
Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. 4 Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. 5 You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.
– James 5:1-6
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JAMES 5 WARNING TO THE WEALTHY & SELF-INDULGENT
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
Do you gather wealth and possessions so you can spoil yourself?
Do you not know that these earthly things will rot and disintegrate?
The mansions and properties you have cannot be taken when you die
All the collections of things you own are meaningless after life.
You have constantly satisfied your desires and cravings
You didn’t concern yourself with other people who are needy
All you ever think about is gaining more things for your own pleasure
Your greed has become your obsession and you constantly want more.
You treat your servants unjustly and kept them from a decent life
You discriminate the poor and deal with them with much bias
The Lord warns all those who continually fatten themselves
God loathes all the those who are wicked and self-indulgent.
It is an abomination to the Lord to glorify one’s own self
What a shameful thing it is to even think you can possess
i
Man is a creature and God is a creator, you own nothing
Therefore, be warned, all you who love money and riches.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think James warns the rich in the following verses?
• What are the dangers of being wealthy according to these verses?
JAMES 4 ALL BOASTING IS ARROGANCE AND IS EVIL
May 22
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JAMES 4
13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. – James 4:13-17
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JAMES 4 ALL BOASTING IS ARROGANCE AND IS EVIL
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
When you make plans, are you certain it will happen?
Do you heavily rely on yourself when you are planning?
Is your life in your own hands or is it in the Lord’s hands?
We don’t know our life; it’s here now and tomorrow it may be gone.
What is the point of planning if we don’t rely on the Lord?
How can we presume that it is aligned with God’s word
If we don’t take counsel from his truth, we will fail
Only the Lord’s plan is foolproof and does not fall.
To be confident that your plans will transpire is foolish
All boasting is arrogance and it is pointless and useless
Unless we walk in the Spirit and depend on God
We will not succeed because the Lord hates the proud.
We do not know what tomorrow will bring
Let us not worry or be anxious for nothing
Instead, let us pray for our plans to happen
Let us grow in our dependence on our Maker.
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REFLECTION
• What is the essence of these following verses regarding certainty of human planning?
• Why does James call it arrogance to be certain of tomorrow’s plans?
• Why shouldn’t we depend on our skills and thinking when we make plans?
JAMES 4 SPEAK NO EVIL AGAINST ONE ANOTHER
May 21
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JAMES 4
11 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?
– James 4:11-12
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JAMES 4 SPEAK NO EVIL AGAINST ONE ANOTHER
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
Think only whatever is worthy of praise, honorable, just and pure
Have your minds reflect on what is lovely, commendable and true
This way, your lips won’t release anything that is evil
Instead, it will encourage and build up your sisters and brothers.
When you speak out your malicious thoughts to someone
It generates an attack towards another person’s honor
If you follow the law to love one another, you won’t declare evil
To judge someone else’s by your own standards is from the devil.
When you say something against your brother, you are a judge
Since our nature is sinful, we are going to be biased and unjust
Only the Lord God is the one who judges truly and rightly
For he knows every thought we have and discerns us deeply.
Speak no evil against one another and declare only what is true
Do not judge your neighbor, you don’t have the picture as a whole
Leave the judging to the Lord for he alone knows each one of us
Show mercy and love to your neighbor and you will not be judged.
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REFLECTION
• Why should Christians put boundaries on one’s thoughts? What happens if we spoke every thought that comes to mind?
• Why does Paul recommend in Philippians 4:8 to think only of what is true, lovely, excellent, honorable, pure, worthy of praise, commendable and just?
• What happens when we speak evil of someone to another person?
JAMES 4 CLOSING OUR HEARTS’ DOOR TO EVIL
May 20
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JAMES 4
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. – James 4:7-10
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JAMES 4 CLOSING OUR HEARTS’ DOOR TO EVIL
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
As long as we are living in this world, we will be a target of evil
The Lord gave us strategies so we can close our heart’s door to the devil
Be accountable for your own actions and let go of all blaming
Pointing your fingers on someone else will keep Satan going
If you admit your part in any form of wickedness, go and repent
That will stop any more progression of the devil’s attempts.
The Lord gave us commands so we can be protected
If we follow these laws, it closes doors to being tempted
Obedience to the Lord is the best armor against the devil
If you submit to God, your selfish nature will certainly dwindle
Get close to the Lord and he will save you from the wicked
Examine your hearts always so you won’t be lured and be tempted.
Do not give in to so much revelry for that is worldly
Instead, be compassionate to one another’s misery
Embrace all trials and suffering so you can grow in your faith
Avoiding all uncomfortable and painful events only hinders your growth
Do not boast about anything for God raises up the humble and meek
Let go of all that is pleasurable to you but seek to only please the Lord.
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REFLECTION
• According to these following verses in the book of James, what are the strategies to keep our hearts’ door closed to the devil?
• Is it effective to just tell the devil to go away and flee? Why or why not?
JAMES 4 ARE YOU A FRIEND OF GOD OR OF THIS WORLD?
May 19
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JAMES 4
4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore, it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” – James 4:4-6
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JAMES 4 ARE YOU A FRIEND OF GOD OR OF THIS WORLD?
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
If you are a Christian, are you truly faithful to the Lord?
Do you compromise your loyalty to God by following the world?
Like a wife is expected to be faithful to her husband
So is the church required to be devoted to God’s only Son.
God is a jealous God and longs for your faithfulness
He wants you to prioritize him and live in righteousness
The Lord gave you his own Spirit when he chose you
This is how he equipped you to stay devoted and true.
To love the things that the world offers shows that you hate God
The world system is evil since Satan is the prince of this earth
Anything that draws you away to prioritize God is spiritual idolatry
You become an enemy of God when you serve gods other than him.
When you love riches and earthly things, you become consumed by them
There will be no room to serve God but only to follow your cravings
God goes against all the worldly, the wicked and the proud
But he blesses and gives favor to all who are meek and kind.
No man can serve two masters; he’ll hate one and love the other
You cannot love God and also love all that the world offers
Either you are a friend of this earthly kingdom or of God’s
Serve only the One true God and you will be called his friend.
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REFLECTION
• How do you know if someone is a friend or an enemy of God according to these following verses?
JAMES 4 PASSIONS AT WAR WITHIN YOU
May 18
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JAMES 4
What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions
– James 4:1-3
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JAMES 4 PASSIONS AT WAR WITHIN YOU
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
Wanting something you do not have can lead to troubles
It distracts you from contentment and leads to quarrels
Expectations from yourself and from others become unrealistic
As you obsess and not have it, you can go ballistic.
When you see something you fancy, it can lead to cravings
These desires can make one incessantly obsessing
It may even lead to plotting to destroy someone
Desires can draw you to conflicts and consume you.
Ask the Lord when you need something
But ask according to his will and not your longings
The Lord meets your needs, not your wants
He grants only what is good for you and not the bad.
When you ask God for something, do it in faith
Having doubts means that you do not totally trust
Meditate on the word, renew your mind and you will please God
If you follow your passions and you will take the wrong path.
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REFLECTION
• Share an instance in your life that caused quarrels and fights with someone. Was James right when he said that it comes from passions at war within you?
• The word “passion” is defined by the dictionary as an object of desire or deep interest. What does James say about desire in James 1:14-15?