July 1
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GOD’S WISDOM GRANTED TO THOSE WHO LOVE HIM
6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; 7 but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; 8 the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; 9 but just as it is written: “THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND WHICH HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HUMAN HEART, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.” – 1 Corinthians 2:6-9
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In this letter of Paul to the Corinthians, he clearly delineates the difference of human wisdom with God’s wisdom. In verse 6, he identifies the criteria how we can be granted wisdom from God. Spiritual maturity is the key to be able to acknowledge the revelations that God grants those who love him. This wisdom is very different from the world’s point of view. It is not accumulation of information for one’s benefit, but it is truth that comes from the word of God that is used to bring God all the praise and glory.
I quote Morris in reference to “rulers of this age”. He says “This debate goes all the way back to the time of Origen and Chrysostom. On the surface, it seems clear that the rulers of this age must refer to human rulers, because only they didn’t know what they were doing when they incited the crucifixion of Jesus. “Paul habitually ascribes power to the demonic forces, but not ignorance.”
In verse 9, Paul refers to Isaiah 64:4 where the prophet says that from of old, no one has heard or perceived by the ear and no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him. Paul is saying that it is only a divine act that can make any human understand or see what is going on in the spirit realm. We are all limited to see or comprehend beyond our understanding, but the Holy Spirit can equip us with wisdom if we abide and love the Lord with all our heart, mind and soul. Our fallen nature prohibits us from seeing what the Spirit brings us. That is why we need Jesus so much in our lives so that we can get revelations and discern what God is saying. Notice that Paul clearly states the importance of a heart that longs for Jesus. Matthew 6:21 says “for where your treasure is, there your heart will also be.” If we don’t treasure Jesus, our hearts will not be ready to accept him and all the wisdom he gives.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it impossible to have God’s wisdom when we don’t serve him?
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DETERMINED TO KNOW NOTHING EXCEPT JESUS CHRIST ILMA’S VLOG
June 30
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DETERMINED TO KNOW NOTHING EXCEPT JESUS CHRIST
And when I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come as someone superior in speaking ability or wisdom, as I proclaimed to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. 3 I also was with you in weakness and fear, and in great trembling, 4 and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of mankind, but on the power of God. – 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
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In this letter, Paul shows us how to live the life of a believer. He reminds the believers in Corinth of how he brought the gospel to them. He said that when he came to preach the Good News, he didn’t use eloquent words to show his wisdom, but proclaimed God’s testimony. In Paul’s days, there were so much focus on knowledge and wisdom. Though we know that Paul’s background as a Pharisee exemplifies him to be very knowledgeable in the Torah he didn’t use Because the Lord Jesus Christ transformed Paul from a worldly powerful man, to a humble servant of God, he couldn’t continue to use his knowledge the way he used to when he was a Pharisee. In verse 2, Paul’s determination to shift his focus from the world and remove everything that is not going to give God the glory and pursue the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ alone. His persistence to focus his entire life in the quest to know Jesus and his sacrifice on the cross is astounding. How many believers can follow this passion for knowing God?
In verse 3, he reminds the Corinthian church of how he was one with them in weakness, fear and trembling because they were relying on the Lord alone. He didn’t use persuasive speech but allowed the Holy Spirit to use him to say the right words that God alone provides. Paul knows that the world uses knowledge and wisdom to attract attention to themselves and he would have nothing to with those ways.
In our world today, human knowledge and wisdom becomes like modern day idols. We want to know things so that people can look up to us and we can feel important. This is not the way of the Lord. In God’s economy, we rely on God’s power and wisdom and strength. We present the gospel only in the way that is true and right. This is why we have been given Scriptures so that we won’t get waylaid in our Christian walk towards eternity.
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REFLECTION
• Share an experience how your passion to know Christ have led you to truth.
IMPORTANCE OF AGREEMENT AND UNITY ILMA’S VLOG
IMPORTANCE OF AGREEMENT AND UNITY
10 Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For I have been informed concerning you, my brothers and sisters, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you. 12 Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, “I am with Paul,” or “I am with Apollos,” or “I am with Cephas,” or “I am with Christ.” 13 Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I am thankful that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one would say you were baptized in my name! 16 But I did baptize the household of Stephanas also; beyond that, I do not know if I baptized anyone else. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made of no effect. – 1 Corinthians 1:10-17
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In this letter, Paul writes to the Corinthian churches the importance of agreement and unity in the body of Christ. Paul rebukes the believers in Corinth because of a report made known to him regarding the quarrels among them. Like a father to his spiritual children, Paul disciplines them and tells them that in the body of Christ, division isn’t tolerated. In verse 10, he says that agreement makes them whole and complete.
He addresses and confronts the trivialities amongst them regarding their individual claims that they are either with Apollos, Cephas, Paul or with Christ. We humans can all be very shallow in our thinking. We like to speak of our preferences rather than our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. These concerns of Paul in the church in Corinth is not far away from our own struggles in our churches. When we like a pastor or a preacher, it is so easy to be derailed with how we like them instead of deepening our desire to know Christ and praise him. Our fallen nature caters more to our preferences instead of examining our hearts and making sure we are living for Christ rather than to our flesh. Paul clarifies the confusion brought about by these quarrels in verse 17. He brings up the importance of preaching the cross of Christ rather than talking about who baptized them and who have led them to Christ. Agreement among God’s people is essential because that is what Christ taught. How can we bring light into this corrupt world if the family of believers are actually divided and cannot agree at all?
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REFLECTION
• Why is agreement important in any relationship? What causes division?
ENRICHED IN SPEECH AND KNOWLEDGE ILMA’S VLOG
ENRICHED IN SPEECH AND KNOWLEDGE
Paul, called as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,
2 To the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, 6 just as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you eagerly await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will also confirm you to the end, blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. – 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
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According to the ESV introduction to the letters of Paul to the Corinthians, this letter was written in the spring od A.D. 53, 54 or 55, nearing the end of his three-year ministry in Ephesus. The Corinthian church was divided because of the arrogance of its more powerful members. Paul received an oral report and a letter from the Corinthian church. These revealed a church struggling with division, immorality, idolatry, and theological confusion. He wrote them this letter so that they would become a true dwelling place for God’s Spirit, stay faithful to the gospel, and be “guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ”.
In his salutation, he reminds them of his appointment by God’s will and their standing as saints because they have committed their lives to Christ. As in all his letters, he brings grace and peace from God always. In verse 4, we hear Paul’s gratitude to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Because of their generosity, they were enriched with knowledge and speech to give testimony concerning Jesus. In verse 7, Paul gives them the reason why Christians were equipped with such gifts: so that there is no lack in their lives as they await Christ’s coming. In verse 9, he emphasizes the importance of God’s faithfulness whom He alsoexpects from his own people. When we press on to the promises that Christ gave us, we continue to be blessed with more gifts.
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REFLECTION
• Why do some people misuse the gifts that God has given them?
• Why is the gift of speech and knowledge stressed out by Paul in this letter?
WATCH OUT FOR THE ERRORS OF UNSCRUPULOUS PEOPLE! ILMA’S VLOG
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June 24
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THE COMING OF THE DAY OF THE LORD
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be discovered.11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! 13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwell.
– 2 Peter 3:10-13
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In this letter of Peter, he warns all the believers about how the coming of the day of the Lord is. It will be like a thief when all that we are enjoying will be grabbed from us. The heavens will be gone with a loud sound and the intense heat will destroy the earth. Unlike the first destruction in Noah’s time, this will be a destruction in fire. Peter gives us a vivid picture of what will happen if people continue with their ungodly and wicked ways.
Wikipedia defines “end times” as (also called end times, end of time, end of days, last days, final days, doomsday, or eschaton) is a future described variously in the eschatologies of several world religions (both Abrahamic and non-Abrahamic), which teach that world events will reach a climax. Eschatology is a part of theology concerned with the final events of history, or the ultimate destiny of humanity. This concept is commonly referred to as “the end of the world” or “end times”. So many people are into wanting to know the details about the end times. They get so consumed by knowing how they can prepare for it, but they miss out preparing their hearts to be right and to ready themselves to the inevitable event. I know there are some groups who actually physically prepare for this end of days by equipping themselves to live in places where they can survive. How crazy that sounds. They miss out on the spiritual aspect of it all.
Peter calls it the “Lord’s Day” instead of all those terms of the annihilation of the world. He focuses on the hope that evil is going to be destroyed and a new heaven and earth will follow. A place where only righteousness dwells. What a comfort it is to know that we will be rid of all of this world’s systems and darkness! But they are only comforting to those who will choose Christ as their Lord and Savior. The others will be judged and destroyed.
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REFLECTION
• How are you preparing for the coming of the Lord?
GOD ISN’T SLOW ABOUT HIS PROMISE ILMA’S VLOG
June 23
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GOD ISN’T SLOW ABOUT HIS PROMISE
7 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly people. 8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.
– 2 Peter 3:7-9
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In this letter, Peter gives us a clear illustration of the current heavens and earth which are both going to be judged. The “fire” he mentioned in verse 7 is hell which are reserved for those who are wicked and unrepentant of their sins. Once again, Peter warns the family of believers to clearly see the consequence of sins. This is how we know that Peter was a great leader and a good shepherd who doesn’t want any of his sheep to be lost. In John 21, Peter was asked by the Lord “Do you love me?” three times. Jesus had three commands to him after he answered “yes” three times. Jesus instructed Peter to: Feed his lamb, take care of my sheep, feed my sheep. In this conversation, we clearly see how impatient and insecure Peter was. He was impatient about why Jesus asked him three times. When Jesus gave him a glimpse of his coming death, he turned to John and asked Jesus if John will also die.
In verses 8-9, we saw how Peter have grown from the time Jesus asked him if he loves him. He wants the believers to keep being patient about waiting for the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise. He knows how impatient he was, so he gives the believer a clear picture that human viewpoint is very different from God’s. He assured them that God is never slow about His promises as some people think. It is His “patience” that we cannot fathom. It is amazingly astounding and different from us. No words can describe how God can wait for us to repent because he doesn’t want anyone to perish. In Peter’s description of God’s patience, it is a manifestation of his love. In other words, we can only have patience if we love as much as God does. When we are impatient, there is something inside us that wants to cater to our nature. By nature, we are selfish. But by God’s grace, we can let go of this tendency towards sin. This is why God instructs us to follow Jesus. It is only through Christ that we can bear the fruit of patience. It is a clear sign that we are walking in the God’s Spirit when we can give patience to others and to ourselves.
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REFLECTION
• Why do some people think God is slow to fulfill His promises?
WARNING ABOUT THE LAST DAYS ILMA’S VLOG
WARNING ABOUT THE LAST DAYS
Beloved, this is now the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of a reminder, 2 to remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles.
3 Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue just as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, 6 through which the world at that time was destroyed by being flooded with water. – 2 Peter 3:1-6
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In this second letter, Peter warns the believers about what was spoken by the holy prophets and all the laws of the Lord spoken by the apostles. He tells them of the signs that will come on those last days. In verse 3, Peter says that there will be a proliferation of lovers of self and mockers. These people will question and mock the promises made by God and also the prophecies given by those prophets of God.
Aren’t we already in the last days? The signs are very clear, people have turned their backs on God. Many people believe more in their abilities and thinking. They have forgotten the source of all creation, the Lord God Himself. Power and control have been clearly in abundance where corruption of the minds and hearts of the weak is the norm now. We live in a world where people focus on themselves and have forgotten to serve the creator. Very few actually know their purpose in life, that is to serve and bring glory to the one who gave them all, the heavenly Father. We become so busy with self-glorification that we barely have given praise and adoration to our Lord. We wake up each day, to do our work, perform our roles but we never stop and rest and be still and know that the Lord is in control. We are so consumed by this world’s standards and we keep on performing to achieve it. Each person is busy to fulfill their dreams, wishes, needs, but no one really comes to go to the Lord to seek counsel and to do His will. What mockers we have turned to be! What idolaters we are. We seek to satisfy our needs and cravings but do not desire to serve and know the Lord who made us. Peter reminds us of the flood that destroyed the sinners during the time of Noah. Aren’t we provoking God’s wrath by our wickedness?
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REFLECTION
• What do we need to do to be ready for the second coming of Jesus?
THE DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT ILMA’S VLOG
June 21
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THE DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT
17 These are springs without water and mists driven by a storm, for whom the black darkness has been reserved. 18 For, while speaking out arrogant words of no value they entice by fleshly desires, by indecent behavior, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error, 19 promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what anyone is overcome, by this he is enslaved. 20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21 For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them. 22 It has happened to them according to the true proverb, “A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.” – 2 Peter 2:17-22
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In this letter, Peter once again addresses those deceivers who have been inching their way in to corrupt the church. Peter describes these false prophets who preys on the believers as springs that are dried up for whom the darkness is reserved for. In verse 18, Peter exposes their tactic. They speak false arrogant and erroneous words to lie and get the believers to be derailed from their faith. They promise false freedom when they are not free themselves. In verse 20, Peter says that even if they have escaped the worlds’ judgment, they won’t be able to run away from God’s judgment and wrath.
In verse 22, Paul repeats Proverbs 26:11. This proverb means that fools are likened to dogs. It means that fools are stubborn and unable to adapt or be resilient. The simile “the dog eats its vomit again, even though this may be poisonous for him. In biblical times, dogs were considered unclean because they scavenge the dead and they are described as repugnant creatures which symbolizes evil. The vomit represents the result of extreme indulgence which is disgusting. In Proverbs 27:22, we get a better glimpse of fools when it says “Though you grind a fool in a mortar, grinding them like grain with a pestle, will not remove their folly from them.” They are people lacking moral behavior or discipline. There are many verses in the book of Proverbs that describes what fools are. They are despicable and oftentimes contrasted with the wise, who are prudent, disciplined and walk in the truth that comes from the word of God.
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REFLECTION
• Do you think foolishness is a sin? Why or why not?
WHEN ONE ABANDONS THE RIGHT WAY ILMA’S VLOG
June 20
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WHEN ONE ABANDONS THE RIGHT WAY
Reckless, self-centered, they speak abusively of angelic majesties without trembling, 11 whereas angels who are greater in might and power do not bring a demeaning judgment against them before the Lord. 12 But these, like unreasoning animals, born as creatures of instinct to be captured and killed, using abusive speech where they have no knowledge, will in the destruction of those creatures also be destroyed, 13 suffering wrong as the wages of doing wrong. They count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are stains and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions as they feast with you, 14 having eyes full of adultery that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having hearts trained in greed, accursed children; 15 abandoning the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the reward of unrighteousness; 16 but he received a rebuke for his own offense, for a mute donkey, speaking with a human voice, restrained the insanity of the prophet. – 2 Peter 2:11-16
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Previous to these passages, in 2 Peter 2:9-10, he addresses those who continue to corrupt others and how the Lord rescues the godly. Peter explains the consequence of such indulgence to sin and illustrates a picture of those who despise authority. He describes these false teachers as reckless and self-centered. Speaking against all of God’s creation and laws.
In verse 12, he likens these heretics to animals who have no control about what comes out of their mouths. They act thoughtlessly and follow their natural tendencies. In other words, they follow their cravings and flesh but they are devoid of wisdom or knowledge since they are walking the path of unrighteousness. They refuse to bring their strongholds to submit to the obedience of Christ. They defy all authorities that God has set for them to follow. The only thing they follow are their merry-ways and give in to their lusts.
In verse 15, Peter refers to Balaam (from Numbers 22-24). Balaam was a wicked prophet in the Bible and is noteworthy because, although he was a wicked prophet, he was not a false prophet. That is, Balaam did hear from God, and God did give him some true prophecies to speak. However, Balaam’s heart was not right with God, and eventually he showed his true colors by betraying Israel and leading them astray. Peter cautions the believers of such corruption from people of unrighteousness.
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REFLECTION
• Why should believers be watchful that they do not abandon the right way?