August 6
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GOD’S WISDOM VERSUS HUMAN WISDOM
A poem by ILMA
The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction
But those who are being saved know it is the very power of God
As the Scriptures say, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise
And throw away as well the intelligence of the intelligent.”
Where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and debaters?
God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish
He saw to it that the world won’t know him through their wisdom
God has used foolish preaching to save those who believe.
God chose things the world considers foolish to shame the wise
He chose the powerless to shame those who are powerful
And also, those despised by the world and counted as nothing
He used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.
For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself
Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy
He freed us from sin so no one can take credit for anything
If you want to boast, boast only of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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MEMORY VERSE
Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. – 1 Corinthians 1:22
Read: 1 Corinthians 1:1-21
The world view wisdom very differently from God. We think that when we accomplish or know something, it is of our own, but everything comes from God and only him deserves all the praise and glory.
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REFLECTION
• Do you regularly give God glory for all the knowledge and wisdom he has bestowed on you?
• Why should you only boast on the Lord Jesus Christ?
Tag Archives: spoken word
PAUL’S WARNING ON TROUBLEMAKERS Poem Devotional
August 5
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PAUL’S WARNING ON TROUBLEMAKERS
A poem by ILMA
Watch out for people who cause troubles and divisions
They upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to truth
Stay away from them for such people are not serving Jesus
They are actually serving their own personal interests.
By smooth talk and glowing words, they deceive innocent people
Be wise in doing right and stay innocent of any wrong
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet
May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you always.
Now all glory to God, who is able to make you strong as the Good News says
This message about Jesus Christ has revealed his plan for you Gentiles
A plan kept secret from the beginning of time but now made known to them
This is so that all Gentiles might believe and obey our Lord Jesus Christ.
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MEMORY VERSE
Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them. 18 Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words, they deceive innocent people. – Romans 16:17-18
Read: Romans 16:17-27
Paul addresses the issue of deceivers in the church. If we don’t know the truth, how can we know if we are told a lie and being deceived? It took me six years to discover the believers who were masquerading as the real deal. It became clear as the Holy Spirit showed me the lies and the lack of integrity of such people. We are told by Paul not to have anything to do with these troublemakers and deceivers.
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REFLECTION
• How can we easily recognize deception?
• Why are we cautioned to stay away from troublemakers and conflict makers?
• What do we do when we see someone deceiving another believer?
• Why is division very destructive in the body of Christ?
FRIENDS OF PAUL Poem Devotional
August 4
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FRIENDS OF PAUL
A poem by ILMA
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a deacon in Cenchrea
Welcome her in the Lord as one worthy of honor among God’s people
Help her in whatever she needs; she has been helpful to me and to many
Give my greetings to my co-workers in Christ’s ministry, Priscilla and Aquila
They once risked their lives for me and I am thankful to them
Also give my greetings to all Gentile churches and those home churches
Greet my dear friend Epenetus who was the first follower in the province of Asia Give my greetings to Mary, who has worked so hard for your benefit
Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews, who were in prison with me
They’re honored among the apostles and became followers before I did
Greet Ampliatus, Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys
Greet Apelles, a good man whom Christ approves and Herodin, my fellow Jew
Extend my greetings to the believers from the household of Aristobulus
Greet the Lord’s people from the household of Narcissus
Give my greetings to Tryphena and Tryphosa, the Lord’s workers
Greet my dear Persis, who has worked so hard for the Lord
And also Rufus, whom the Lord picked out to be his very own
And especially his dear mother, who has been a mother to me
Greet all with a sacred kiss coming from Christ’s churches.
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MEMORY VERSE
Greet each other with a sacred kiss. All the churches of Christ send you their greetings. – Romans 16:16
Read: Romans 16
We see how much Paul loves the church and all those who became believers. He never took anyone for granted and he personally have a relationship with them.
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REFLECTION
• Do you go out of your way to bless and encourage and greet other believers?
• Why are friendships with other believers important in our spiritual growth?
BE CONSIDERATE OF OTHERS Poem Devotional
August 3
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BE CONSIDERATE OF OTHERS
A poem by ILMA
We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive
We must not just please ourselves but consider one another’s weaknesses
Let’s build each other up; even Christ didn’t live to please himself
He was conscious of what others are going through and he aided them.
Live in complete harmony with each other like authentic disciples
Pursue peace at all cost so you can avoid all kinds of division
Accept each other just as Christ accepted you so you can bring him glory Remember, Christ came as a servant to the Jews to fulfill God’s promises.
He also came so that the Gentiles might give glory to God for his mercy
I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill us completely with his peace
Because we trust in him, we will overflow with confident hope
Through the power of the Holy Spirit we will be full of God’s joy.
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MEMORY VERSE
We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves. We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. For even Christ didn’t live to please himself. – Romans 15:1-3
Read: Romans 15
We live a world where selflessness is a novelty. In this selfie generation, all we think about is to please ourselves and to ensure that we are comfortable. We don’t want to go out of our ways to please those people we live or work with. We dwell so much on getting as much as we can so that we can feel fulfilled and looked up to. We barely find time to find out what others are going through. We get so busy that it is impossible for us to even look at each other or bless one another.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it essential for a Christian to live an “other” centered life instead of pleasing one’s self?
• Why do you think there is so much division in the body of Christ these days?
ACCEPTABLE LIFE TO GOD Poem Devotional
July 29
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ACCEPTABLE LIFE TO GOD
A poem by ILMA
Give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you
Let them be a living and holy sacrifice the kind he will find acceptable
This is truly the way to worship him and don’t copy the world’s behavior
Let God transform you into a new person by the renewing of your mind.
When your mind is renewed, you’ll know what is good, pleasing and perfect
Don’t think you are better than you really are; let’s honestly assess ourselves
Measure yourselves by the faith God has given you and not by other standards
Humble yourselves and do your best not to criticize but to encourage instead.
Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function
This is the same with Christ’s body; we are many parts of one body
God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well
No need to feel inadequate and compare yourselves with others.
If God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith has
If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give kindly
If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously
And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
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MEMORY VERSE
And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. – Romans 12:1
Read: Romans 12:1-8
When someone commits himself to Christ, one becomes part of Jesus’ body. Whether we like it or not, we cannot continue to live the old life we had before we became born again. Each one of us are given a certain function in the body of Christ. If we want to live a life pleasing to God, we need to have our minds renewed and live holy lives.
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REFLECTION
• What compromises do you need to give up in order to live a life acceptable to God?
GOD’S KINDNESS AND SEVERITY Poem Devotional
July 28
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GOD’S KINDNESS AND SEVERITY
A poem by ILMA
Notice how God is both kind and severe; he is severe to the lawless
He is kind all those who continue to trust and rely on his kindness
But if you stop trusting the Lord, you also will be cut off
And if the people turn from their unbelief, they will be joined in again.
God has the power to graft all the rebels back into the tree
You, by nature, were a branch cut from a wild olive tree
If God was willing to do something contrary to nature
He is able to graft the branches back into the tree where they belong.
Scriptures says “The one who rescues will come from Jerusalem
He will turn Israel away from ungodliness and lawlessness
And this is my covenant with them; that I will take away their sins.”
Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News.
God’s gifts and his call and promises can never be withdrawn
Once, you Gentiles were lawless and disobedient to God
When the people of Israel rebelled and turn against him
God was merciful to you instead and you’re given chance to be saved
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MEMORY VERSE
Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off. – Romans 11:22
Read: Romans 11:16-36
This chapter reminds us of how God’s kindness and severity were evident towards the Israelites and the Gentiles. It just shows how God hates lawlessness and sin. He gives us a way out of the harshness if we turn to him again and trust him.
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REFLECTION
• Why is trust and faith an expectation of God from his own people?
• How can one avoid the severity of God?
SALVATION EVEN TO THE GENTILES Poem Devotional
July 27
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SALVATION EVEN TO THE GENTILES
A poem by ILMA
Most of the people of Israel have not found the favor of the Lord
A few have found favor—the ones God has selected
The hearts of the rest were hardened and God put them into sleep
To this day he has shut their eyes and ears, so they don’t see or hear.
David said in the Psalms, “Let their bountiful table become a snare,
They are trapped to think that all is well and let them stumble
For they get what they deserve and let their eyes go blind
This way they cannot see and let their backs be forever bent.”
God’s people were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles
But he wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves
If the Gentiles were enriched because the people of Israel turned down God’s offer Think how much greater a blessing the world will share when they finally accept it.
God has appointed Paul the apostle to minister to the Gentiles
Since their rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest of the world
The Gentile’s acceptance of the Good News will be even more wonderful
It will be life for those who were dead and freedom from knowing the gospel.
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MEMORY VERSE
For I want somehow to make the people of Israel jealous of what you Gentiles have, so I might save some of them. – Romans 11:14
Read: Romans 11:1-15
What an awesome thing God did when his own people turned their backs on him. He spread his mercy to the Gentile, to those who don’t know him. He was after people’s heart, Gentile or Jew. He will not miss any opportunity to get someone saved.
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REFLECTION
• What does it take to get God’s blessings and approval?
• Why do you think God made salvation available not only to the Jews but also the Gentiles?
MESSAGE ON SALVATION Poem Devotional
July 26
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MESSAGE ON SALVATION
A poem by ILMA
The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart
And that message is the very message about faith that we preach
Declare that Jesus is Lord and believe his resurrection and you’ll be saved
For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God.
As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will not be disgraced”
Jew and Gentile[ are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord
God generously lavishes all those who to all call on him
For everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.
But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him?
And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about Christ
And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent?
How beautiful are the feet of messengers who brings the Good News!
But not everyone welcomes the Good News with open heart
Faith comes from hearing the Good News about Christ
God’s case to his people is that all day long he opened his arms
But his people were disobedient and continued to be rebellious.
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MEMORY VERSE
For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. – Romans 10:3
Read: Romans 10
In this letter of Paul to the Romans, he pleads them to heed the invitation of God for them to be saved by declaring that Jesus is Lord and by believing that he was resurrected from the dead. This letter reminds us of our responsibility to bring the Good News to everyone so that the message of salvation will spread all over the earth.
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REFLECTION
• Have you been telling about the message of salvation to all the ends of the earth?
GOD’S MERCY AND POWER Poem Devotional
July 25
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GOD’S MERCY AND POWER
A poem by ILMA
God shows mercy and compassion to anyone he chooses,
It is him who decides who to show mercy and we can’t elect it
He shows mercy to some, and to others, he makes their hearts hardened
His thoughts are not our thoughts and his ways are not our ways.
Though God has the right to show his anger and his power
He is very patient with those on whom his anger falls
He does this to make the riches of his glory shine even brighter
We are among those whom he selected from all his creation.
In Hosea’s prophecy, God declares even those Gentiles as his people
Those who were not his people, now belong to him as well
Those whom he didn’t use to love before, he loves them now
They will also now be called “children of the living God.”
Though the Israelites are as numerous as the sand of the seashore,
Only a remnant will be saved for the LORD will carry out his sentence
And if the LORD of Heaven’s Armies had not spared a few of our children,
All Israelites would have been wiped out like Sodom and Gomorrah.
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MEMORY VERSE
For God said to Moses, “I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.” So, it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it. – Romans 9:15-16
Read: Romans 9
It is amazing to know how some Christians think that mercy can be earned. In this chapter, Paul clearly reminds us of Hosea’s prophecy of how it is at God’s discretion whom he chooses to be saved or wiped out.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think people assume that they can earn God’s mercy and compassion?
• How is God’s power displayed when he forgives us?
• Why do some believers think that they have control over their lives?
NOTHING SEPARATES US FROM GOD
July 24
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NOTHING SEPARATES US FROM GOD
A poem by ILMA
Isn’t it amazing to know that God gave up his own Son to save mankind?
He chose in advance all those who belong to him and gave them life
Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own?
No one – for God himself gave us right standing through his Son.
Who then will condemn us? No one – for Christ died for us
He was raised to life for us and sitting at God’s right hand
If God’s spirit lives inside us, who can ever be against us?
Can anything ever separate us from the love of God?
I am convinced that nothing can ever part us from our Father
No power in the sky above or in the earth below
Nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us him
He sent his Son to redeem us while we were all still in sin.
Not even the powers of hell can keep us apart from God’s love
He has promised faithfulness to all those who love him above all
He will never forsake or leave us especially when we have trials
He assures us of his unconditional and unfathomable love forever.
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MEMORY VERSE
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow-not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. – Romans 8:38
Read: Romans 8:31-39
Have you ever wondered who can surpass the love of God among all those people you love and who claim they love you? No one can outdo God in terms of love. Love is His make and he made us all into his own image. Let’s always choose love and give up fear.
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REFLECTION
• Share an experience when the love of God was so present and powerful in your life?