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.

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?

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?

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?

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?

April 26

PROVERBS 16

²⁸ A dishonest man spreads strife,
    and a whisperer separates close friends.
²⁹ A man of violence entices his neighbor
    and leads him in a way that is not good.
³⁰ Whoever winks his eyes plan dishonest things;
    he who purses his lips brings evil to pass.
³¹ Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.
³² Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
    and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
³³ The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.

                                                                                   – Proverbs 16:28-33

PROVERBS 16 MIGHTY ARE THOSE WHO RULE THEIR SPIRIT

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When someone is quick to react and easily angered

He is governed by his cravings and not by God’s Spirit

A violent man is driven by jealousy and bitterness

They will do what will gratify the cravings of their flesh

If one relies on God, they can starve their human nature

They will be stronger than any conqueror or mighty ruler.

In these following sayings, we are given a picture of what life looks like if we live an honest and pure life as compared to someone who is a corrupt and a selfish man. Verse 28 cautions us from these dangerous people: the liars and cheaters who easily bring about conflicts and the gossipers who spread lies to destroy relationships. Verse 29 points to the violent man who provokes others to gain control and power over anyone who doesn’t give them the control, attention and adulation. They want things their way and sulk if they don’t get it. Verse 30 warns us about the flatterers and manipulators who deceive others so they can sow evil and wickedness stealthily without being discovered. Verse 31 refers to those who have lived wise lives in the fear of the Lord who gets the crown of glory. They just didn’t chronologically age but matured their faith and dependence on God alone.

Let’s bring our focus on verse 32 as it talks about those who have great self-control and prudence. Who are these people? They are those who are slow to anger, slow to speak, quick to listen as the book of James also describes. They examine their hearts and mirror their actions based on the law of love. They do not react to provocations but they keep still and know that God is in control. They are not afraid of those who terrorize others into submission to control, but they allow the Spirit of God to lead them to do what is right. They are mightier than any ruler or conqueror of nations because they have God’s strength.

REFLECTION

·       How can a patient person be as strong as conquerors of nations or victors of war?

April 25

PROVERBS 13

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 13:10-14

PROVERBS 13 INSOLENCE BRINGS CONFLICTS & STRIFE

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When one is driven by anger and bitterness, they can be impertinent

Because of their self-focused mindset, they want attention in an instant

Rudeness can trigger even the most patient and most loving person

Insolence exudes a toxic, triggering and impulsive negative reaction

Be watchful and don’t think of yourself only, but treat others with respect

Impatience and anger destroy relationships, so don’t be impudent.

We live in a very fast-paced and instant-gratification world today. Nobody wants to wait or to be set aside. Self-centered people do not want to be ignored or they will explode and make someone else’s life a living hell. These narcissists do not care about anyone but themselves. They want to be the center of the universe. They dramatize their grandiose sense of their importance and perform in whatever way they can to get their demands for attention satisfied.  They have no skill at listening or paying attention to others because they do not care for anyone else but themselves. It is so sad to watch our world hit rock bottom when we see people like these. But the bible talked about the prevalence of these self-centered people in 2 Timothy 3. In the last days, people will be lovers of self, boastful, arrogant, lovers of money, abusive, ungrateful and disobedient.

The saying focuses on those who do not heed the word of God and walk in the fear of the Lord. When we do not know the purpose of our lives, we live for the “self.” God created us so that we can have a relationship with him and so He can be praised and glorified by all the people he made. Because of sin, this design of God for humankind was twisted and turned to give glory to “self.” That is why it is impossible for the impudent to live peaceful and joyful lives. They will always create chaos and strife.

REFLECTION

• Why do you think people become impudent or rude?

April 24

JEREMIAH 3

¹¹ And the Lord said to me, “Faithless Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah. ¹² Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, “‘Return, faithless Israel,
declares the Lord. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, declares the Lord;
I will not be angry forever. ¹³ Only acknowledge your guilt, that you rebelled against the Lord your God
and scattered your favors among foreigners under every green tree, and that you have not obeyed my voice, declares the Lord. ¹⁴ Return, O faithless children, declares the Lord; for I am your master;
I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.” – Jeremiah 3:11-14

JEREMIAH 3 THE MERCIFUL ANGER OF THE LORD

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

Human anger cannot be compared with the Lord’s wrath

God’s fury is towards sin and all that is wicked in the world

Man’s anger is self-centered and aimed at satisfying the flesh

While God’s wrath is about bringing back man to do what is right

Human anger produces what is earthly, wicked and unspiritual

God’s wrath is just and merciful; it intends to restore his people.

In this book of prophecy, Jeremiah speaks to Israel who have breached their covenant with God. As a prophet, Jeremiah’s role is to bring God’s message to his people and to mediate and enforce the covenant that the people of God made with the Lord. The prophet’s role is to admonish and bring the message of God to them so that they could be corrected and be reminded of the consequences of when they breach their covenant with the Lord God Almighty.

In verse 11, the Lord proclaims their unfaithfulness to God and compares them with Judah. As far as faithlessness was concerned, they were worse than Judah. In verse 12, we are given a glimpse of the mercy of God when he asked Jeremiah to tell his people that God will forfeit his anger if they turn away from their idolatry. They were asked in verse 13 to admit to their rebellion against God when they yoked with the pagan nations around them which led them to disobey God’s laws. In verse 14, you hear God pleading with them to turn away from their idolatry and remember that He is their master and not those pagan gods. Only a loving father would do what God did. It was out of love and not punishment that he gave this message to the Israelites. His anger was towards the consequences of their idolatry and not on his people themselves. We see that his anger is merciful, not punishing or condemning. It is out of love.

No human being can be as gracious and merciful as God. When we get mad, it is mostly about something that we didn’t get our way done or we become powerless and have no control over something. James 1:19-20 caution us to be slow to anger because the anger of man does not produce God’s righteousness. James 3:15-16 describes human wisdom as earthly, demonic, selfish and unspiritual. The source of this wisdom stems from envy & jealousy. God’s wisdom focuses on righteous jealousy and merciful anger.

REFLECTION

·       How must a Christian react to man’s anger and to God’s anger?

April 23

2 KINGS 17

 ¹³ Yet the Lord warned Israel and Judah by every prophet and every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways and keep my commandments and my statutes, in accordance with all the Law that I commanded your fathers, and that I sent to you by my servants the prophets.”¹⁴ But they would not listen, but were stubborn, as their fathers had been, who did not believe in the Lord their God. ¹⁵ They despised his statutes and his covenant that he made with their fathers and the warnings that he gave them. They went after false idols and became false, and they followed the nations that were around them, concerning whom the Lord had commanded them that they should not do like them. ¹⁶ And they abandoned all the commandments of the Lord their God, and made for themselves metal images of two calves; and they made an Asherah and worshiped all the host of heaven and served Baal. ¹⁷ And they burned their sons and their daughters as offerings and used divination and omens and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger. ¹⁸ Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them out of his sight. None was left but the tribe of Judah only.¹⁹ Judah also did not keep the commandments of the Lord their God, but walked in the customs that Israel had introduced. ²⁰ And the Lord rejected all the descendants of Israel and afflicted them and gave them into the hand of plunderers, until he had cast them out of his sight. – 2 Kings 17:13-20

2 KINGS 17 STUBBORNNESS & IDOLATRY PROVOKE GOD’S ANGER

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When the Lord has chosen you as one of his children

He will give you the ability to follow and please him

But when your flesh and love for the world overtakes you

You will probably succumb to the flesh and turn against God

You will become persistent in getting your longings gratified

It will lead you to idols that you will obsess to chase and satisfy

The rebellion and chasing idols will surely provoke God’s anger

Because he is holy and steadfast in his love, you will receive his justice.

The account in this book of Kings presents the story of the provocation of the Israelites to God’s anger. The Lord has sent many prophets and judges to Israel and Judah to warn them not to follow the footsteps of their wicked ancestors, but they seem to be deaf to these admonitions. The following sins that they did were explicitly enumerated in verses 14-17 which provoked the wrath of God.

·       They didn’t listen to the warnings and continued to be stubborn and didn’t believe in God

·       They despised the laws that God has made for them to obey and broke the covenant

·       They chased pagan idols and followed the practices of the pagan nations around them

·       They abandoned all the commandments of God and built images for Asherah and Baal

·       They burned their own children for offerings and used divination

Doesn’t our current world practice these sins as well as they did in the Old Testament time?

REFLECTION

·       How does our world today provoke God’s wrath? What sins do we commit similar to theirs?