August 11
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WASHING HIS DISCIPLES’ FEET
13 Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. 2 During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, 4got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself.5 Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 6 So He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.” 8 Peter said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” 9 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.” 10 Jesus said to him, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, “Not all of you are clean.” – John 13:1-11
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This gospel account of John on Jesus’ washing the feet of His disciples is an amazing picture of humility at its best. At the beginning of this chapter, once again, Jesus manifests His deity and his great capacity to love. He knows everything and sees all things. He knows that the hour has come for Him to leave this world and be reunited with His Father. He is aware that Judas Iscariot was already manipulated by the devil to do this plot to sell Jesus so he can have more money. So, at the last supper with His disciples, He wanted to role model to them what a true disciple is. So, He poured water into a basin and began to wash each of their feet. In those times, people clean themselves up especially their feet because they didn’t have any form of transportation but they use their feet to walk all day to all places. Naturally, they would usually be dirty. Among the twelve disciples, no one took the initiative to do the washing of the feet of each other. It was the most menial task that someone can do, a lowly act. So, Jesus took the initiative to do it. He wanted to teach them that being a follower of Him meant being a servant to one another. It is interesting that Peter didn’t want Jesus to do it because he couldn’t fathom why the Master would serve the servants. What a humble way to lead others.
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REFLECTION
• How is the idea of leadership very different in God’s economy from the world’s?
Tag Archives: Christian poem
THOSE WHO SEEK THE LORD LACK NO GOOD THING ILMA’S VLOG
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May 25
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THOSE WHO SEEK THE LORD LACK NO GOOD THING
I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
9 Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!
10 The young lions suffer want and hunger;
But those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.11 Come, O children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD. – Psalm 34:1-11
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This psalm enumerates the benefits of those who seek and fear the Lord. The psalmist never failed to forget to praise and bless the Lord at all times. He promised faithfulness in continually doing so with his mouth, making it a habit to speak to exalt the Almighty. When he sought the Lord, he answered and rescued him from all fears and troubles. What is amazing is the fact that the Lord assigns angels to encamp around those who seek him and those who revere him. They don’t lack any good thing. What amazing promises are given to those who stay faithful and incessantly give God glory! So, how come, many believers fail to continually seek the Lord, make him a priority and fear him?
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ADORATION: Praise the Lord for providing protection and keeping his promises to those who love him. Hallelujah to our Lord and Savior.
CONFESSION: Forgive me for forgetting to always be expectant that you are my Deliverer.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for your steadfast love despite my failure to be faithful to you.
SUPPLICATION: May all believers constantly be reminded of God’s promises and steadfast love. May they give the Lord all the glory and praise.
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REFLECTION
• Share a testimony when the promise of lacking nothing good came upon you?
• How do you feel about knowing that angels are encamped around Christians?
DELIVER ME, O LORD, FROM EVIL ILMA’S VLOG
March 25
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DELIVER ME, O LORD, FROM EVIL
Deliver me, O LORD, from evil men; preserve me from violent men,
2 Who plan evil things in their heart and stir up wars continually.
3 They make their tongue sharp as a serpent’s,
And under their lips is the venom of asps.
4 Guard me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from violent men,
Who have planned to trip up my feet.5 The arrogant have hidden a trap for me,
And with cords they have spread a net; beside the way they have set snares for me.
6 I say to the LORD, You are my God; give ear to the voice of my pleas for mercy, O LORD!
7 O LORD, my Lord, the strength of my salvation,
You have covered my head in the day of battle.
8 Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked;
Do not further their evil plot, or they will be exalted!
9 As for the head of those who surround me,
Let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them! 10 Let burning coals fall upon them!
Let them be cast into fire, into miry pits, no more to rise!
11 Let not the slanderer be established in the land;
Let evil hunt down the violent man speedily!
12 I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted,
And will execute justice for the needy.
13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name;
The upright shall dwell in your presence. – Psalm 140:1-13
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David prays for protection from various kinds of people, the evil men, violent ones, the wicked ones, the arrogant and the slanderer. He asks for deliverance from a God whom he knows will surely protect the upright who dwells in His presence. His hope is infectious.
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ADORATION: Praise the Lord who can deliver us from all kinds of evil.
CONFESSION: I believe that you have covered all those who are righteous, my Lord.
WHO IS LIKE THE LORD OUR GOD? Poem Devotional
February 12
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WHO IS LIKE THE LORD OUR GOD?
Praise the LORD! Praise, O servants of the LORD,
Praise the name of the LORD! 2 Blessed be the name of the LORD.
From this time forth and forevermore!
3 From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised!
4 The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens!
5 Who is like the LORD our God, who is seated on high,
6 Who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?
7 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
8 To make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people.
9 He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the LORD! – Psalm 113:1-9
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According to the ESV Bible Study footnotes this short hymn of praise celebrates the way in which the great God who rules over all takes notice of the lowly. Such a God is indeed worthy to be praised by all mankind. Psalms 113-118 have been used in connection with Passover. These psalms likely provided the hymn that Jesus and his disciples sang after the Passover meal (Matt 26:30).
This hymn elevates a God who sees all especially even the poor and the lowly (verse 7). It is amazing to remember that he is a God of Justice (verse 7-9) who brings equality to those who are poor and deprived. God’s people must never forget this one and only God who loves all his creation. We must revel and worship this God who is faithful, just and loving.
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ADORATION: You are one of a kind. We praise you Lord of all creation, full of love and mercy. You are just and fair to all of mankind. You are holy and righteous.
CONFESSION: Forgive me when I fail to be fair to others especially when I forget those who are in need and hurting.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for your unwavering and unfailing love and mercy to undeserving people like us.
SUPPLICATION: May all the earth give glory to God who is one of a kind and full of mercy.
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REFLECTION
• How can believers maintain a posture of worship to the one true God daily?
MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE TO THE LORD Poem Devotional
February 10
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MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE TO THE LORD
Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things!
His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.
2 The LORD has made known his salvation;
He has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
4 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth;
Break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
5 Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody!
6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn
Make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD!
7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it!
8 Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together
9 Before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity. – Psalm 98:1-9
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This psalm is a celebration of God’s marvelous deeds for his people. This psalm reminds me of New Year’s celebration in my country of origin, the Philippines. Filipinos celebrate the coming of the year with a big bang, loud firecrackers and fireworks that probably lasts for a minimum of an hour and a maximum of four hours. Why can’t we do that for God who made all things? This psalm shouts and gives praises to the Lord who granted deliverance for the house of Israel. It also tells the whole world that God can do the same for all nations and it invites all people to praise the Lord.
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ADORATION: Shout and make noises to rejoice because the Lord is good. Praise him forever! He delivers his people from all evil and brings peace and joy to all mankind.
CONFESSION: Forgive me Lord when I am not expressing gratitude that declares your love.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for being faithful and a promise keeper.
SUPPLICATION: May all people declare and shout out loud their praises to the Lord.
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REFLECTION
• Why is rejoicing and making noises to the Lord something all Christians must do?
THE STEADFAST LOVE OF GOD ENDURES Poem Devotional
February 9
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THE STEADFAST LOVE OF GOD ENDURES
Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man?
The steadfast love of God endures all the day.
2 Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit.
3 You love evil more than good, and lying more than speaking what is right.
4 You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue.
5 But God will break you down forever; he will snatch and tear you from your tent;
He will uproot you from the land of the living.
6 The righteous shall see and fear, and shall laugh at him, saying,
7 “See the man who would not make God his refuge,
But trusted in the abundance of his riches
And sought refuge in his own destruction!”
8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God.
I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever.
9 I will thank you forever, because you have done it.
I will wait for your name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly. – Psalm 52:1-9
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This psalm is one of the contemplative poems of David. He wrote this as he was fleeing from Saul who wanted him killed (1 Sam 21 and 22). David tried to seek help from the priest Ahimelech and when Saul heard about the help he got from the priest, his whole family and the other priests, 85 of them were all killed. It was Saul’s chief Doeg, who executed the whole priestly clan. It is amazing to see David trust the Lord despite the knowledge of the evil things that Saul and Doeg have done. He still relied in the Lord. He knows that God is steadfast in his love and that he will deliver him from all wickedness.
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ADORATION: Praise the Lord for his steadfast love that endures forever.
CONFESSION: Forgive me when I don’t totally trust in your unwavering love, O Lord.
THANKSGIVING: I am grateful for the stability I am given because of your faithfulness.
SUPPLICATION: May all believers recognize and realize that without your relentless love, we are nothing. May their faith grow and may they only rely on your steadfast love.
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REFLECTION
• How can David still be full of hope despite the wickedness of his enemies?
GOD IS KING OVER ALL THE EARTH Poem Devotional
GOD IS KING OVER ALL THE EARTH
Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
2 For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth.
3 He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet.
4 He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves.
5 God has gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
7 For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm
8 God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.
9 The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham.
For the shields of the earth belong to God; he is highly exalted! – Psalm 47:1-9
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The ESV bible study states that this psalm celebrates God’s rule over all the earth. The promises to Abraham (47:9) that all people will be blessed in him (Gen 12:3), are founded on the fact that there’s only one true God. All mankind owes him love and loyalty.
How often do people show love and allegiance to God in this very corrupt world we live in? We could learn from the Israelites how they revel at the God who is king over all the earth. It is infectious how they revere, love and glorify the one true God of all creation.
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ADORATION: Praise the King over all the earth. You are mighty, majestic and unparalleled. We clap our hands and shout to God with loud songs of joy.
CONFESSION: Forgive us when we get distracted with the busy-ness and craziness of this world and forget that you are in control and that you are to be exalted.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for all the unconditional love you give to undeserving people like us.
SUPPLICATION: May you be known by the whole humanity! May they see you as the king over all the earth and bow down to you alone.
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REFLECTION
• If God is king over all the earth, how come even those who commit to Christ forget to celebrate this truth?
• How would you act when you are be face to face with the God who created all things? What would you do and what would be your posture?
TRUST IN THE NAME OF THE LORD OUR GOD Poem Devotional
February 6
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TRUST IN THE NAME OF THE LORD OUR GOD
May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble!
May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!
2 May he send you help from the sanctuary and give you support from Zion!
3 May he remember all your offerings and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices!
4 May he grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans!
5 May we shout for joy over your salvation,
And in the name of our God set up our banners!
May the LORD fulfill all your petitions! 6 Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed;
He will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving might of his right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
But we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
8 They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright.
9 O LORD, save the king! May he answer us when we call. – Psalm 20:1-9
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This psalm is a royal psalm and is paired with Psalm 21. It is a prayer requesting God to grant David triumph in the battles he fights. It is a blessing to the king as he fulfills his anointing to save the Israelites. It is a hopeful declaration of trust that the Lord will anoint and bless their king because the Lord himself chose and anointed David.
How often do we pray for our leaders and rulers? 1 Timothy 1-4 encourages us to pray for those in authority so that we will live peaceful and godly lives. This psalm is a good reminder for us to lift up our leaders and rulers in prayer. This way, they may fulfill how God intended them to lead the people assigned to them and propagate peace in their region. When we pray for authorities, we participate in the kingdom plan to be fulfilled.
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ADORATION: Praise and bless you Lord! We shout for joy for you have redeemed us all.
CONFESSION: Forgive me when I forget to pray for those who are leading our nations.
THANKSGIVING: We are grateful for all our leaders. Thank you that you are in control.
SUPPLICATION: May all leaders have a servant leadership like Jesus did. May they see their roles as opportunities to pursue peace and humility and bring peace to all nations.
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REFLECTION
• What benefits do we reap when we pray for all leaders and rulers?
MY SOUL WAITS FOR THE LORD Poem Devotional
February 3
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MY SOUL WAITS FOR THE LORD
Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD! 2O Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!
3 If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.
5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;
6 My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning,
More than watchmen for the morning.7 O Israel, hope in the LORD!
For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption.
8 And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities. – Psalm 130:1-8
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This psalm is an individual lament, expressing repentance and trust in God’s mercy. The psalmist reaches out from the depth of his agony. The plea for God to hear him is so marked in this cry for forgiveness. He recognizes his sinfulness and magnifies at how God could stand such sins he has committed, but also sees hope because he knows how great is God’s faithfulness and mercy. He waits on the Lord’s forgiveness after the acknowledgement of his sins with an expectancy that is such a picture of hope and new life.
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ADORATION: You are the Maker of all things. Mercy and grace abound in you and you give it so generously to all your creation. Praise the Lord, he is all good and faithful.
CONFESSION: Forgive me when I forget to magnify at the generosity of your heart and when I forget to bow down on my knees to ask forgiveness and depend on you.
THANKSGIVING: I am grateful for all that you are and all that you grant us. You fulfill all my needs.
SUPPLICATION: May all believers have a repentant heart and always hopefully wait on the Lord’s mercy whenever they recognize their sins.
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REFLECTION
• How can we develop a heart that cries to God especially when we realize our sinfulness and pride?
• How is righteous lamenting different from condemning oneself when we are convicted of sins?
THEY HAVE AFFLICTED ME FROM MY YOUTH Poem Devotional
February 2
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THEY HAVE AFFLICTED ME FROM MY YOUTH
“Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth”—let Israel now say—
2 “Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth, yet they have not prevailed against me.
3 The plowers plowed upon my back; they made long their furrows.”
4 The LORD is righteous; he has cut the cords of the wicked.
5 May all who hate Zion be put to shame and turned backward!
6 Let them be like the grass on the housetops, which withers before it grows up,
7 With which the reaper does not fill his hand
Nor the binder of sheaves his arms,8 nor do those who pass by say,
“The blessing of the LORD be upon you!
We bless you in the name of the LORD!” – Psalm 129:1-8
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This psalm is a song of ascents or a pilgrim song which reflects what God’s people have endured and how God has sustained them. Verse 2 “afflicted me from my youth” indicates the longsuffering and “yet they have not prevailed against me” shows that because God has been faithful to walk alongside with them, they have endured. The psalm shows the trust that the Israelites have for the Lord, knowing that he will defend them from all those who hate them or plan evil against them. Because of their dependence and faith on the Lord, we can see how they can ask the Lord such protection and know in their hearts that they will be heard and that they will be blessed just like how a child believes that their own parents would grant them their requests.
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ADORATION: Lord, you are magnificently omniscient and omnipotent. You are a great Father to all your children, providing and protecting all your loved ones.
CONFESSION: Forgive me when I do not endure the trials that come my way and when I become proud and forget that it is you who defends me.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for all the opportunities you give me to constantly rely on you.
SUPPLICATION: May all your people bear all their trials and sufferings knowing that you have them covered and that you are in control. May we learn to let go of taking things into our own hands.
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REFLECTION
• How can we deepen our dependency on God in this very “self” focused world?