July 16
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JESUS’ BLOOD MADE US FRIENDS WITH GOD
A poem by ILMA
We have been made right in God’s sight by faith and we have peace
Because of what Jesus our lord has done for us, we are reconciled
Christ gave us the undeserved privilege when he died for us on the cross
We now stand and confidently share this sacrifice with much joy.
We can rejoice too when we run into problems and trials
For we know that they help us develop endurance
Endurance progresses strength of character
Character strengthen our confident hope of salvation.
We know how much God loves us for he gave us his Spirit
When we were utterly helpless, Christ died for us sinners
God showed us his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us
Since we have been made right by his blood, we are free from condemnation.
Since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son
Even though we were still enemies, we will be saved through Christ’s life
So, we can rejoice now in our new relationship with God
Jesus made us friends of God by his death and blood on the cross.
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MEMORY VERSE
So we can now rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. – Romans 5:11
Read: Romans 5:1-11
Isn’t it such a privilege to know that because of the sacrifice that Jesus Christ has done for us, we don’t get the punishment that we really deserve? In the Old Testament, they didn’t have the Holy Spirit living in them. They had to go through someone like Abraham or Moses to speak to God. Now, we are considered friends of God because of Jesus’ sacrifice.
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REFLECTION
• Do you treasure the fact that Jesus died for you so you can be God’s friend?
• Why do you think faith is important for us to have joy in life?
Tag Archives: Christian poem
GOD’S JUDGMENT OF SIN Poem Devotional
July 15
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GOD’S JUDGMENT OF SIN
A poem by ILMA
You may think you can condemn and punish those who do unrighteous things
If you do, you are condemning yourself, for when you judged you’ll also be judged
It is only God who can judge; in his justice, he punishes those who do evil
For you cannot escape God’s judgment when you judge others who do wickedness.
Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant and patient God is with you?
Can’t you see that God’s kindness is intended to make you be renewed?
When you are stubborn and refuse to turn from sin, you accumulate punishment
God will judge everyone according to what they have continually done.
He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good and giving God glory
But he will pour out his anger on those who live for themselves and disobey
There will be trouble and calamity for those who continue to do wicked things
Whether you are a Jew or a Gentile, you will be judged for God has no favoritism.
When the Gentiles sin, they will be destroyed though they never had God’s laws
And the Jews who have God’s law will be judged by what law they disobey
Merely listening to the law and not doing it doesn’t make us right with God
The day is coming when God, through Christ will judge everyone’s secret life.
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MEMORY VERSE
They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. – Romans 2:15
Read: Romans 2:1-16
We humans have a tendency to judge. We set expectations to ourselves and others that sometimes make us fail to see that it is only God who can really judge our actions and motives. Because only God can see our hearts, he is the only one who can judge our actions based on our intentions.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it hard to fight our tendencies to judge others by what we see?
• Who is the ultimate judge? Why shouldn’t we get in the habit of judging others?
GOD’S ANGER AT SIN Poem Devotional
July 14
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GOD’S ANGER AT SIN
A poem by ILMA
God displays his anger from heaven against all wickedness
He doesn’t put up with any form of unrighteousness
Even though they knew God’s existence, they supress the truth
Despite the creations God made, they deny that it is all true.
God has manifested himself in everything he created on earth
There is no excuse to say God doesn’t exist yet they deny him
These people knew God, but they wouldn’t worship and give thanks
They began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like.
As a result of this denial, their minds became dark and confused
Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools
Instead of thanking and worshiping the glorious, ever-living God
They worshiped idols made to look like mere humans, birds and animals.
So, God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things they desired
As a consequence, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies
They traded the truth about God for a lie and worshiped God’s creations
God abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let do evil actions.
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MEMORY VERSE
Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up of foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. – Romans 1:21
Read: Romans 1:18-32
Many people do not acknowledge “sin.” They try to call it weakness, mistakes, errors. There is no accountability to acknowledge their rebellion and foolish ways. This leads to more confusion and chaos. People have forgotten how God abhors sin.
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REFLECTION
• How can God separate the person from the sin and still love each human being?
• Can you be able to love a person who continues to sin? How is that possible
PAUL’S ARRIVAL IN ROME Poem Devotional
July 13
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PAUL’S ARRIVAL IN ROME
A poem by ILMA
Three days after Paul’s arrival in Rome, he called the local Jewish leaders
He told them that despite his innocence, he was arrested in Jerusalem
He was handed over to the Roman government, was tried and released
They found no cause for him to death, so he appealed to Caesar.
Even though Paul had no desire to press charges against his own people
He asked them to come so he could get acquainted and explain things
He said he was bound with this chain because he believed in the Messiah
He has hope because he knows that Jesus Christ has already come.
They replied, “We have had no letters from Judea or reports against you”
They wanted to know what Paul believed, for it was denounced elsewhere
So, a time was set, and on that day a number of people went to see Paul
He explained and testified about the Kingdom of God and persuaded them.
Paul spoke to them from morning until evening and some were persuaded
And after they had argued back and forth among themselves
They said “The Holy Spirit was right when Isaiah the prophet prophesied
He said that salvation from God has been offered to the Gentiles as well.
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MEMORY VERSE
So, I want you to know that this salvation from God has also been offered to the Gentiles, and they will accept it. – Acts 28:28
Read: Acts 28:11-30
In this chapter, we witness another brave act of Paul which is Spirit led. He was telling the people about the Good News that needed to be shared not only with the Jews but with the Gentiles as well.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think Paul was able to persuade some of the Romans about the Good News?
• How do we know if the Holy Spirit lives in us?
MIRACLES IN MALTA Poem Devotional
July 12
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MIRACLES IN MALTA
A poem by ILMA
Once Paul and others were on shore, they discovered we were on the island of Malta
The people of the island were very kind to Paul and the others when they arrived
It was cold and rainy, so they built a fire on the shore to welcome them
As Paul gathered sticks to lay them on the fire, a poisonous snake came for the heat.
The snake bit him and the people saw it hanging from his hand; thought he deserved it
They were thinking that though he escaped the sea, justice will not permit him to live
They thought he was one of the murderers who were being sailed to Rome
But Paul shook off the snake into the fire and was he was totally unharmed.
The people waited for him to swell up or suddenly drop dead
They waited a while and saw that he wasn’t harmed, their minds changed
Near the shore where they landed was an estate belonging to Publius, an official
He welcomed them and treated them kindly for three days.
As it happened, Publius’s father was ill with fever and dysentery
Paul went in and prayed for him, and laying his hands, he healed him
Then all the other sick people on the island came and were healed
As a people honored Paul and supplied them with everything on their trip.
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MEMORY VERSE
As Paul gathered an armful of sticks and was laying them on the fire, a poisonous snake, driven out by the heat, bit him on the hand. – Acts 28:3
Read: Acts 28:1-9
Again, in this chapter, we witness God’s Spirit dwelling in Paul as he approached the island of Malta. The peoples’ hospitality and warmth, was in itself a miracle. The snake biting Paul would have killed him. But God used this again so they will see his power through Paul.
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REFLECTION
• What happens when we are faithful to God’s call to preach the Good News
THE SHIPWRECK AND PAUL’S LIFE SPARED Poem Devotional
July 11
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THE SHIPWRECK AND PAUL’S LIFE SPARED
A poem by ILMA
About midnight on the fourteenth night of the storm at Adrian Sea
The sailors sensed land was near, they dropped a weighted line
They discovered water was 120 feet deep and dropped 90 feet after
They feared it would hit the rocks along the shore, so they anchored it.
Sailors tried to abandon the ship, but Paul told them they’d die if they do
The soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and let it drift away
Just as day was dawning, Paul urged everyone to eat
All were worried for two weeks that they haven’t eaten.
When morning dawned, they didn’t know the coastline but saw a beach
They cut off the anchors and left them in the sea and lowered the rudders
They raised the foresail, and headed towards shore but hit a shoal
They ran the ship aground too soon, the stern repeatedly smashed.
The soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners to make sure they don’t swim to escape
But the commanding officer wanted to spare Paul so he didn’t let them do it
He ordered all who could swim to jump overboard first and make for land
The others held on to planks or debris from the ship and all went safely to shore.
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MEMORY VERSE
Just as day was dawning, Paul urged everyone to eat. “You have been so worried that you haven’t touched food for two weeks.”– Acts 27:33
Read: Acts 27:27-44
If only the officers listened to Paul’s instructions earlier during the sail, they wouldn’t have been shipwrecked. We see how worried everyone was except Paul. He had direct instructions from God that they will not die. We also see how the Lord spared Paul’s life when the commanding officer did not heed the plan to kill the prisoners.
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REFLECTION
• How did God protect Paul during the sail to Rome?
• Why do you think people don’t listen to good advice and wisdom?
PAUL SAILS FOR ROME Poem Devotional
July 10
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PAUL SAILS FOR ROME
A poem by ILMA
Paul and other prisoners were placed under Julius’ custody
He was a Roman officer, a captain of the Imperial regiment
Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica was also with them
They left on a ship whose home port was Adramyttium in Asia.
The ship was scheduled to make many stops at ports along the coast
The next day, when they docked at Sidon, Julius was very kind to Paul
He let Paul go ashore to visit with friends so he can be given his needs
Putting out to sea from Sidon were strong headwinds so they sailed north.
They passed along the Cilician coast and Pamphylia, landing at Myra
The commanding officer found an Egyptian ship and transferred them there
They had several days of slow sailing and after great hardship, Paul spoke
He told the officers that they should take caution for it was dangerous.
The officer in charge of the prisoners listened more to the ships’ captain
Since Fair Havens was an exposed harbor, it was a poor place to spend winter
Most of the crew wanted to go on to Phoenix, up the coast of Crete
They though that it would be better to spend winter there.
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MEMORY VERSE
When the time came, we set sail for Italy. Paul and several other prisoners were placed in the custody of a Roman officer name Julius, a captain of the Imperial Regiment. – Acts 27:1
Read: Acts 27:1-12
After Paul met with King Agrippa and Festus, the governor Bernice, they agreed that Paul hasn’t done anything to deserve death or imprisonment. Agrippa told Festus that Paul could have been set free if he hadn’t appealed to Caesar. Their sail to Rome was long and not smooth sailing.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think Paul insisted that he sees Caesar to bring his case?
MISUNDERSTOOD PAUL Poem Devotional
July 9
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MISUNDERSTOOD PAUL
A poem by ILMA
Agrippa said to Paul, “You may speak in your defense.”
So Paul, started his defense by being thankful Agrippa is hearing him
As the Jewish leaders are well aware, I was trained from my earliest childhood
If they would admit it, they know that I am a Pharisee, the strictest sect of religion.
Now I am on trial because I have hope on the fulfillment of God’s promise
Your Majesty, as he continued “They accuse me for having this hope!
Why does it seem incredible to any of you that God can raise the dead?”
Then Paul continued to relate the story of his conversion from persecutor to believer.
He clearly gave a clear narrative of how when he was persecuting the believers
That he was blinded by a light and then heard a voice that he was persecuting Jesus
Then he further related how he was instructed to go to someone so he can see again
He was instructed to preach the gospel to Jews and Gentiles alike.
And so, King Agrippa, Paul said “I obeyed that vision from heaven and taught elsewhere
I teach nothing except that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead
In this way I announced God’s light to all the Jews and Gentiles alike.”
Festus shouted, “Paul, you are insane. Too much study has made you crazy!”
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MEMORY VERSE
And I will rescue you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.’– Acts 26:17-18
Read: Acts 26
In this account, we see how Paul’s boldness continue to aggravate those who don’t understand spiritual things. They couldn’t see what Paul sees.
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REFLECTION
• Have you ever been misunderstood because of your boldness to share Christ?
• Why do you think Festus think Paul was crazy?
PAUL BEFORE FESTUS AND AGRIPPA Poem Devotional
July 8
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PAUL BEFORE FESTUS AND AGRIPPA
A poem by ILMA
After two years went by in this way, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus
Felix wanted to gain favor with the Jewish people, so he left Paul in prison
Priests and Jewish leaders met with him and made their accusations against Paul
They asked Festus to transfer Paul to Jerusalem so they can assassinate him.
Since Paul was at Caesarea and he needs to return there, no need to transfer him
He urged those in authority to come with him so they can make their accusations
When Festus arrived in Caesarea and met with Paul, there were many charges
But not anyone of those who accused Paul could actually prove their claims.
Paul denied the charges and said he wasn’t guilty of any crime
Festus, wanting to please the Jews asked Paul if he is willing to go to Jerusalem
Paul resisted since the Roman court was there, no need to travel
He insisted to be brought to Caesar so he can be given the verdict.
Festus conferred with his advisers and then approved of Paul’s request
Days later, King Agrippa arrived with Bernice to pay their respects to Festus
When Festus told him about Paul and the plan to have Caesar see him
Agrippa was present when Festus asked the public what charges would it be.
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MEMORY VERSE
I pointed out to them that Roman law does not convict people without a trial. They must be given an opportunity to confront their accusers and defend themselves. – Acts 25:16
Read: Acts 25
What an interesting account this was regarding so many Jews angered by an innocent man like Paul. Just like Jesus, he was tried by many officials and rulers. Many of these rulers and officials didn’t have the integrity to stand up for what is true. Even though they sense the innocence of Paul, they couldn’t make a decision to release him. They were scared to be unpopular.
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REFLECTION
• Why did you think King Agrippa got interested in Paul’s case when he saw Festus?
FELIX AVOIDS TRUTH PRESENTED BY PAUL Poem Devotional
July 7
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FELIX AVOIDS TRUTH PRESENTED BY PAUL
A poem by ILMA
Ananias, the high priest, arrived with some of the elders and Tertullus, the lawyer
He was to present their case against Paul to the governor and this is how he started
“We have found this man to be a troublemaker who’s always stirring up riots”
He is a ringleader of the Nazarenes and was trying to desecrate the Temple.
Tertullus told the governor to confirm what he said and the Jews seconded
Paul started to speak after motioned to, “I am glad to present my defense before you
I arrived in Jerusalem no more than twelve days ago to worship at the Temple
He said that his accusers cannot prove the things they accuse him off.
Paul admitted that he followed the Way, which they called a cult
He added he believed in God and that he has the same hope these men had
At that point Felix, who was quite familiar with the Way, adjourned the hearing
“Wait until Lysias, the garrison commander, arrives. Then I will decide the case.”
He ordered an officer to keep Paul in custody but to give him some freedom
He was allowed friends to visit and take care of his needs
Paul preached about the coming judgment to Felix and Druscilla, his wife
Felix was frightened and told Paul to leave and come back when it’s convenient.
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MEMORY VERSE
Felix became frightened. “Go away for now,” he replied. “When it is more convenient, I’ll call for you again.”– Acts 24:25
Read: Acts 24
What an interesting way Felix reacted to hearing the truth from Paul. He told him to go and he’ll call for him again when it is more convenient. Don’t many people do this all the time? When things are uncomfortable and we hear the truth, we run away from it or deny it.
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REFLECTION
• Why do people think that running is a better option than facing truth?
• What was the Jewish leaders accusations to Paul?