May 7

1 PETER 4

⁷ The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. ⁸ Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. ⁹ Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. ¹⁰ As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: ¹¹ whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.¹² Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³ But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. ¹⁴ If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. – 1 Peter 4:7-14

1 PETER 4 LOVE LEADS TO SELF-CONTROL

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

If you know the Lord your God, you will be a loving person

Love is kind and not boastful; it doesn’t keep a record of wrongs

Love is patient and does not envy and doesn’t insist on its own way

In loving others, you will think less of yourself and you’ll give grace

Love is the only path to avoid conflicts and relationships breakdown

Out of love, God gave his only Son so we can receive our freedom.

In this letter, Peter warns the believers of the end times that is coming soon. He wants them to be prepared for it by exercising self-control, sober-mindedness and loving one another earnestly. How does loving someone earnestly look like? It is a sacrificial love that isn’t transactional. It is a kind of love that doesn’t make the “self” get something back in return. It is a persistent act of giving without expecting anything back. No wonder Peter gives this formula for leading a life of discipline.

Let’s go to 1 Corinthians 13, which is the love chapter. In this letter of Paul to the Corinthians, we are described as a love that is so different from the world system. It defines love as patient and is kind, it is not arrogant or rude or boastful. It’s not irritable or resentful. It doesn’t rejoice in wrongdoing but in truth. Love bears all things, believes all things and endures all things. It never gives up. Now, let’s look at how the world views love. It is self-focused and self-serving. It will only do good if others do them good. It is very transactional and expects to be repaid back for what they’ve done or given. It becomes impatient when it doesn’t get what it wants or it keeps a record of what was done wrong to them. The worldly person walks away and gives up if he or she doesn’t get the result they want. The worldly system’s concept of love is based on feelings, attractions and comfort. So, when troubles come, they walk away and dispose of the other person. There is no room for second-chances or forgiveness. They want perfection, comfort and no problems.

If we walk the love that God made us for, then we will all be sacrificial and gracious to one another just as God loves us and gives us grace constantly. There will be no clamor for more but only thankfulness.

REFLECTION

·       Why do you think people have a hard time manifesting self-control in our world today?

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?