SUFFERING FOR DOING GOOD Poem Devotional

November 7
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SUFFERING FOR DOING GOOD
A poem by ILMA
Who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good?
But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you
So, don’t worry or be afraid of threats but worship Christ as Lord of your life
And if someone asks about your hope, always be ready to explain it.
Do this in a gentle and respectful way and keep your conscience clear
Then if people talk against you, they’ll be ashamed when they see your good life Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, than to suffer for doing wrong!
Christ suffered for our sins once for all time, he never sinned, but he died for us all.
Don’t be afraid to do things for the Lord for that is the right thing to do
Do not give in to your evil desire, instead, listen to the Spirit of the Lord
Make a sacrifice and follow the example of the Lord when he died for us
Carry your own cross like Jesus did and always do what is right and good.
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MEMORY VERSE
But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So, don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. – 1 Peter 3:14
Read: 1 Peter 3:13-22
There are heroes that the world give recognition. Some people look up to them because of what they have achieved but in God’s economy, those who are real heroes are those who suffer for doing good. They are the ones who constantly want to obey the will of God and go through suffering just to be able to do what is right.
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REFLECTION
• Have you ever suffered because you made the right decision?
• Why are we asked to be sacrificial in showing our love for others?
• How can we avoid looking at the negative side of suffering?

TURN AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD Poem Devotional


November 6
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TURN AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD
A poem by ILMA
All believers must be of one mind and sympathize with each other
Love each other, be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude
Don’t repay evil for evil and when people insult you, don’t do the same
Instead, pay them back with a blessing, that’s according to.
Keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies
If you want to enjoy life and see happy days and pursue peace
God watches over those who do right and he hears their prayers
But the LORD turns his face against those who do evil.
Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good?
But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you
It is better to suffer for doing good, to suffer for doing wrong!
Christ died for us to bring you safely home to God.
He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.
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MEMORY VERSE
For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. – 1 Peter 3:10-11
Read: 1 Peter 3:8-22
In this chapter, we are cautioned on many things so we can enjoy life. One of the most important things we learn from this chapter is to keep our tongues from evil and our lips from telling lies. It guarantees a life of peace and a reward of salvation from God.
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REFLECTION
• Why is having one mind among believers important in the kingdom of God?
• Why would it be good to suffer for good?
• What is the reward of suffering for righteousness?
• What reward awaits those who turn from evil and do good?
• Why shouldn’t a Christian take revenge?

CORNERSTONE AND LIVING STONE Poem Devotional

November 5
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CORNERSTONE AND LIVING STONE
A poem by ILMA
Christ is the living cornerstone of God’s temple
Though he was chosen by God, the people rejected him
We are the living stone building into his spiritual temple
Through Christ’s sacrifice, we can please the Father.
So, get rid of all evil behavior and stop all your deception
Do not let hypocrisy, jealousy or unkind speech in your heart
Like newborn babies, you must crave spiritual milk to grow
By growing, you will experience salvation into it’s fullest.
The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone
He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall
They stumble because they do not obey God’s word,
So, they meet the fate that was planned for them.
But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people
You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession
As a result, you can show others the goodness of God,
He called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
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MEMORY VERSE
You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor. – 1 Peter 2:4
Read: 1 Peter 2:1-10
It is only in Jesus that we can have growth. We need to remember that we are royal priesthood like him if we are believers of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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REFLECTION
• Why is Jesus considered the cornerstone that the builders rejected?
• Shouldn’t be Christians expected to be rejected as Jesus was?
• Why are we believers considered royal priesthood?

JOY IN TRIALS Poem Devotionals


November 3
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JOY IN TRIALS
A poem by ILMA
When you encounter trials, don’t be discouraged
Instead, look at the upside of it and take courage
These trials will show your faith is genuine
It will test how you are going to endure.
Such trials will make you strong like being tested on fire
It will bring much praise and glory when Christ is revealed
When you love Christ even though you’ve never seen him
The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your soul.
This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know
They prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you
They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you
This Good News has been preached by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.
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MEMORY VERSE
So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. – 1 Peter 1:6
Read: 1 Peter 1:6-12
When we encounter adversities in life, we often become discouraged or hopeless or desperate. But there is actually an upside to trials. They grow us. We learn to endure and become able to have patience to suffer long. When our faith grows, we become almost perfect, needing nothing. It gives us a chance to be refined through the fire just like how gold and silver are put to the test in fire.
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REFLECTION
• How can one have the ability to look at the bright side to challenges and trials in life?
• Why are such trials important for our maturity as Christians?
• Why do worldly people see trials as a bad thing? What are they missing when they look at it this way?
• How can we train ourselves to see trials as a test that we need to pass?

THE POWER OF PRAYER Poem Devotional


November 2
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THE POWER OF PRAYER
A poem by ILMA
When you are undergoing trials, praying must be your recourse
If you are happy and joyful, you should sing praises
When you are sick, you must call the elders of the church
Let them pray over you and anoint you with oil in the name of the Lord.
Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick and God will make them well
If someone has committed any sins, they will all be forgiven
If you confess your sins to each other and pray for one another
You can be healed and the prayer of a righteous person has power.
Elijah prayed for rain and his earnest prayers brought rain
Then when he prayed again for no rain, it was granted again
If someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back
That person who save them from death will bring forgiveness of many sins.
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MEMORY VERSE
Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. – James 5:16
Read: James 5:13-20
Many people do not realize and value the importance of prayer. The book of James gives us a reminder of the importance of prayer and how it can bring about miracles and impossible things. This chapter also talks about the importance of bringing back those who have wandered from the truth and the reward that is awaiting them.
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REFLECTION
• Why is confessing your sins to each other and praying for one another important in order for healing to happen?
• How can you learn to pray like Elijah?
• What makes prayers answered?
• How often do you pray for the lost souls?

THE VIRTUE OF PATIENCE Poem Devotional


November 1
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THE VIRTUE OF PATIENCE
A poem by ILMA
All of us believers are commanded to be patient as we wait for Christ’s return
Just like the farmer who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and spring
They enthusiastically look forward to the seeds to bear fruits and ripen
We be hopeful and endure all that we go through until Jesus comes again.
Don’t complain about each other or you will be judge
Since the heavenly Judge will standing at the door!
Learn from the story of Job, a man of great endurance
Despite all of the things he lost, his patience and faith remained.
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MEMORY VERSE
Be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen.
– James 5:7
Read: James 5:7-12
In the bible, the quality or virtue of patience is presented as either forbearance or endurance. In the former sense it is a quality of self-restraint or of not giving way to anger, even in the face of provocation; it is attributed to both God and man and is closely related to mercy and compassion. Patience is a novelty in my life. Though the Lord has given me endurance, I still find it hard at times to be patient after I have suffered long. It is interesting that I am struggling with one and yet able to endure. I think that I need to focus more on the return of Jesus with expectancy and not let all the challenges and trials in life become the focus of my life. I need to look up to Jesus so that everything I do will be for his glory.
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REFLECTION
• Why is patience a novelty in our world today?
• What makes people endure hardships?
• How is not giving in to anger closely related to mercy and compassion?
• How can we be patient even in the face of provocation?
• Do you think impatience is a form of anger? Why or why not?

TRUE WISDOM FROM ABOVE Poem Devotional


October 28
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TRUE WISDOM FROM ABOVE
A poem by ILMA
True wisdom comes only from one source, our Creator
Though the world claims knowledge, it isn’t true wisdom
When you live an honorable life, you understand God’s ways
Your actions become the result of humility from His righteousness.
If you are jealous and ambitious, don’t cover up truth by boasting and lying
Envy and selfishness are not from God, they are earthly and demonic
Where jealousy and selfish ambition thrives, there’s chaos and all kinds of evil
Where there is ambition and envy, you will find competition and division.
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure and good
It is always sincere and full of compassion for people
It is peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others
It shows no favoritism and is always sincere and pursues peace.
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MEMORY VERSE
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. – James 3:17
Read: James 3:13-18
The world views wisdom differently from God. Godly wisdom focuses on what is righteous and good and what’s good for others and what is glorifying to God. Worldly wisdom on the other hand focuses on satisfying selfish desires and cravings. It does not consider others. It only looks after their own selfish needs, goals and pleasures while God’s wisdom is all inclusive. It focuses on the welfare of humankind.
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REFLECTION
• What have you done to protect yourself from the world systems and beliefs?
• Why is true wisdom a scarcity now in our world?
• What should we do when we encounter envy and jealousy in the body of Christ?
• How can we grow in true wisdom?

LIFE AND DEATH IN THE TONGUE Poem Devotional


October 28
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LIFE AND DEATH IN THE TONGUE
A poem by ILMA
Be careful what comes out of your mouth for the tongue is evil
It may utter praise and good things, but it can be a tool of the devil
What we say can be used to encourage someone immensely
But it can also be used to destroy or discourage someone intentionally.
We may tame all kinds of animals but no one can tame the tongue
It is like a rudder that directs a huge ship to go where it wants to go
The tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches and spread out
It is a tiny spark that can set a great forest on fire and have it destroyed.
The tongue is restless and evil, full of deadly poison
Sometimes it praises and worship the heavenly Father
Other times it curses those made in God’s image
So, blessing and cursing can come out of the same mouth.
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MEMORY VERSE
No one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison.
– James 3:8
Read: James 3:1-12
The book of James certainly stresses the importance of recognizing how evil our tongues are. It can bring life or death to someone. As this book says, it is not possible to tame it as it is evil. Some hypocrites may want to claim that they have never sinned with their tongues, but according to this book, it is inevitable for us to escape the wickedness that is in the tongue. Hence, the bible tells us time and time again to guard our mouth.
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REFLECTION
• If we can’t tame the tongue, how can we gain control over it instead of it controlling our lives?
• What is the antidote to negative thinking and speaking?
• Share any experience you had about the evil and good of the tongue?

DOING THE WORD Poem Devotional


October 26
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DOING THE WORD
A poem by ILMA
The word of God is not just to be read, memorized or studied
It is like spiritual food to be followed in order for us to be nourished
If you only listen to it and don’t obey or incorporate it in your life
It’s as if you’re looking at your face in a mirror and forgot what you looked like.
If you meditate on the perfect law that sets you free and do as it says
You will be blessed and experience the transforming power of the law
If you claim to be religious but have not done what God says
Then you are only fooling yourself since it won’t change your ways.
Pure and authentic religion in God’s eyes means caring for others
It is giving aide especially to those who are poor and vulnerable
Taking care of the orphans, widows, the oppressed and the weak
This is what God considers pure and undefiled religion
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MEMORY VERSE
But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. – James 1:22
Read: James 1:22-27
It is sad to see many Christians live shallow lives that do not honor and obey the truth that comes from Scriptures. Many religions have not done their part to actually ensure that the members of their congregation are actually growing and following God’s commands. Sometimes, the trouble even lies in the leadership themselves where they have twisted the true meaning of pure and undefiled religion. They are more concerned with the organization rather than the vision that God has mandated us all, to preach the Good News and make disciples of all nations.
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REFLECTION
• Why does the book of James require us to “do’ the word of God instead of just reading and studying it? What happens if just read or study it without applying it?
• Why is it dangerous for believers to just follow religious rituals and doctrines?

WISE TEACHINGS FROM JAMES Poem Devotional

October 25
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WISE TEACHINGS FROM JAMES
A poem by ILMA
Many people find it hard to see the upside of trouble
As believers, we are instructed to be joyful when trials come
We can consider it an opportunity to let our faith grow
When faith grows, endurance follows then we will be whole.
If you want wisdom, ask the Lord and be sure you only have faith in him
Don’t waver like the waves of the sea that’s tossed by the wind
Don’t expect to receive anything if you are loyal to this world
That would displease the Lord who wants you to be faithful.
Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to get angry
Anger doesn’t allow you to have the righteousness God wants
Rid yourself of all wickedness and accept God’s word
It has power to save you from the corruption of this world.
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MEMORY VERSE
For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. – James 1:3-4
Read: James 1:1-18
The book of James is one of my favorites in the bible. When I was newly born again, it was this book that made me walk into the freedom that God has given me as a new creation in Christ. It was very straightforward and practical but allowed me to grow in my understanding of the importance of
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think being quick to listen is beneficial for us Christians instead of speaking quickly?
• What happens if you allow anger to become habitual?
• Why is studying and accepting God’s word essential in a believer’s life?
• Have you ever felt joy from having much trials?
• Why is unbelief and wavering an obstacle to answered prayers?