August 10
________________________________________
AVOIDING LAWSUITS WITH CHRISTIANS
A poem by ILMA
When one of you has a dispute with another believer,
You shouldn’t ask a secular court to decide the matter
Instead, you should take it to another member of the body
Don’t you realize that someday we believers will judge the world?
Can’t you decide even little things among yourselves?
Don’t you realize that we will judge angels?
Surely you should be able to resolve ordinary disputes in this life
Why go to outside judges who are not respected by the church?
Isn’t there anyone in all the church who is wise enough to decide on issues?
But instead, one believer sues another—right in front of unbelievers!
Even to have such lawsuits with one another is a defeat for you
Why not just accept the injustice and leave it at that?
________________________________________
MEMORY VERSE
When one of you has a dispute with another believer, how dare you file a lawsuit and ask a secular court to decide the matter instead of taking it to other believers.
– 1 Corinthians 6:1
Read: 1 Corinthians 6
So many people easily resort to courts to resolve their disputes with others. It becomes a battle who is right or wrong. Paul talked to the Corinthians about what God expects us to do when we get into disputes. Unlike the world’s view of setting conflicts, God asks us to run to another believer and seek counsel from the elderly of the church. This way, we can live in the truth and be reminded of God’s wisdom. When we consult the world’s system, we are just like any other unbeliever.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why is it important to get guidance from another believer instead of just running to the world?
• What’s the view of God when it comes to resolving disputes?
Monthly Archives: August 2019
PAUL CONDEMNS SPIRITUAL PRIDE & SIN Poem Devotional
August 9
________________________________________
PAUL CONDEMNS SPIRITUAL PRIDE & SIN
A poem by ILMA
I can hardly believe the report about the sexual immorality among you
I am told that a man in your church is allowed to do wrong
He living in sin with his stepmother and you are all so proud of it
You should be mourning in sorrow and remove him in your fellowship.
Even though I am not with you in person, I am with you spiritually
And as though I were there, I have already passed judgment on wickedness
You must call a meeting of the church and I’ll be with you in spirit
And so, will the Lord Jesus Christ also will be with you all present.
Then you must throw this man out and hand him over to Satan
So that his sinful nature will be destroyed and he himself will be saved
Your boasting about this tolerance of this sin is terrible and shameful
Don’t you realize that the sin is like yeast that spreads through the whole dough?
Get rid of the old “yeast” by removing this wicked person from among you
It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders and who haven’t vowed to God
It is certainly your responsibility to judge those believers who are sinning
God will judge unbelievers but you must remove evil people amongst you.
________________________________________
MEMORY VERSE
God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, “You must remove the evil person from among you.”– 1 Corinthians 5:13
Read: 1 Corinthians 5
In this chapter, we see how Paul confronts the church for allowing sin to thrive amongst the members of the church. Some believers have lived compromised lives that have been tolerated by other members of the church. Paul reminds us that we are to ensure that the body of Christ isn’t defiled by those who claim to be committed to Jesus.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why do you think the other members of the church didn’t confront the sin committed by one of its members? Should you allow a brother to continue to fall?
LAYING FOUNDATION LIKE A BUILDER Poem Devotional
August 8
________________________________________
LAYING FOUNDATION LIKE A BUILDER
A poem by ILMA
We are God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News
Each of us did the work the Lord gave us; I planted the seed in your hearts
Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow
It’s not important who does the planting, or the watering
What’s important is that God makes the seed grow
The one who plants or waters work with the same purpose
Both will be rewarded for their own hard work
For we are both God’s workers, God’s field and God’s building.
Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like a builder
Now others are building on it. When building, we must be very careful
For no one can lay any foundation other than Jesus Christ
On judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work one has finished.
The fire will show if a person’s work has any value
If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward
But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss
The builder will be saved, but barely escaping through a wall of flames.
________________________________________
MEMORY VERSE
Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful.
– 1 Corinthians 3:10
Read: 1 Corinthians 3:1-15
If you have constructed any project, you will find that a good foundation is important in ensuring that what you have built is going to stand the test of time and other things that will put stress or weight on it. I recently began building sectional modular couches and because it was my first build from scratch, it started to fall apart in less than a year.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why is it essential to be solidly anchored on Christ as a believer?
• What happens to people when they forget to give credit to God and take it instead?
PAUL’S MESSAGE ON WISDOM Poem Devotional
August 7
________________________________________
PAUL’S MESSAGE ON WISDOM
A poem by ILMA
When I came to you, I didn’t use lofty words to tell you God’s secret plan
For I decided that while I was with you, I would only remember God’s Son
I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling and my message were plain
Instead of using clever speeches, I relied only on the power of God.
I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in God’s power
Yet when I am among mature believers, I speak with words of wisdom
The wisdom that belongs to this world are soon forgotten
But God’s plan is revealed to us, so we can learn and understand it.
Scriptures says that “No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
No mind has imagined what God has prepared for those whom he loves
His Spirit searches out everything and shows us his deep secrets
No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit.
No one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit
And we have received God’s Spirit and not the world’s system
We can know the wonderful things God has freely given us
We speak words using the Spirit’s words to explain, spiritual truths.
________________________________________
MEMORY VERSE
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” – 1 Corinthians 2:9
Read: 1 Corinthians 2
The apostle Paul explains the wisdom that God’s Spirit has endowed to all those who love him. He shares his wisdom with those who faithfully obey and seek his truth. What is amazing is that such wisdom is not like the world’s view of knowledge or intelligence. He cautions us not to rely on our human understanding for it is not always truth.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• What stops someone from understanding God’s wisdom?
• Why is it important to seek God’s word in our daily lives?
GOD’S WISDOM VERSUS HUMAN WISDOM Poem Devotional
August 6
________________________________________
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.
________________________________________
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.
________________________________________
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?
PAUL’S WARNING ON TROUBLEMAKERS Poem Devotional
August 5
________________________________________
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.
________________________________________
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.
________________________________________
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
________________________________________
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.
________________________________________
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.
________________________________________
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
________________________________________
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.
________________________________________
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.
________________________________________
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?
THE DANGER WITH CRITICISM Poem Devotional
August 2
________________________________________
THE DANGER WITH CRITICISM
A poem by ILMA
Why do you condemn another believer or look down on some of them?
Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God
Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God; stop condemning others
Instead to live in such a way that you will not cause anyone to stumble.
On the authority of the Lord Jesus, no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat
But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person, it is
And if another believer is distressed by what you eat, it is not loving
Don’t let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died.
For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink
It is living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit
If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God
So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and build each other up.
Don’t tear apart God’s work over what you eat; all foods are suitable
It is wrong to eat something if it makes another person stumble
You may believe there’s nothing wrong with what you are doing
If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.
________________________________________
MEMORY VERSE
Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. So, let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall. – Romans 14:12-13
Read: Romans 14:10-23
It is automatic for us to criticize instead of affirm and encourage. The danger with criticism is that it will definitely destroy relationships. No one wants to be with someone who’ll constantly criticize them and make themselves feel inadequate. We don’t want to be judged so, we need to let judgment be God’s work, not ours.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why do you think it is easy for us to criticize rather than encourage?
ON ACCEPTING EACH OTHER Poem Devotional
August 1
________________________________________
ON ACCEPTING EACH OTHER
A poem by ILMA
Accept other believers who are weak in faith
Don’t argue with them about what they think is wrong or right
If one person believes it’s all right to eat anything and if one eats only vegetables
Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t.
Those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do
Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants and judge?
Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall
With the Lord’s help, they will stand and receive his approval.
Some think one day is more holy than another day
When other people think every day is alike
Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor him
Those who eat any kind of food do so likewise.
We don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves
If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s also to respect him
Whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord
Christ died and rose again to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.
________________________________________
MEMORY VERSE
Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. – Psalm 14:1
Read: Psalm 14:1-9
Being accepted by others is one of a basic desire of most people. Rejection is an aftermath of either a criticism or minimization. Someone, we humans desire to be accepted in order for us to function well. Paul teaches the Romans that acceptance is essential in loving someone.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Share an experience when you felt rejected when you were not accepted?