December 21________________________________________
They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God. -Acts 14:22(NLT)
SUFFERING GIVES US ENTRY TO GOD’S KINGDOM
A poem and essay by ILMA
What are you tormented with these days?
Is it a relationship, offense or health issues that makes you dazed?
If you are a believer of Christ, you must embrace pain
There’s no need to avoid it, fix it or constantly complain.
There’s none like Christ who was abused to death
He was sinless, yet he endured for all our debts
If you want to enter God’s kingdom, you need to endure
If you can’t share his suffering, you’re not living in truth.
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Our world today likes to deaden pain or avoid confronting issues that makes one uncomfortable. We have become a world of “comfort” huggers. We won’t let go of anything we have been used to and relaxed with. As soon as trouble comes, we run away from it so very quickly. No wonder many of us don’t grow up. We have grown in age but not in wisdom.
I can’t tell you enough about the pain and abuse I have experienced in life, but don’t we all go through it? The bible tells us that as Christians, we need to follow Jesus’ example. He endured all suffering so we can all be saved. Shouldn’t we share in that suffering as well? That will give us the key to heaven.
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PRAYER
Lord, let me know what you are teaching me through adversities and trials.
REFLECTION
Why do people avoid suffering?
Tag Archives: Christian devvotional
UNRECOGNIZED Poem Devotional
December 10
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He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him.
– John 1:10(NLT)
UNRECOGNIZED
A poem and essay by ILMA
God existed before the world was created
He made all things, was pleased and delighted
He made man and woman in his own likeness
He asked them to be holy and live in righteousness
Man disobeyed God and gave in to Satan’s temptation
So God had to bring Jesus to grant man’s redemption
Christ came in the world, but the world didn’t recognize him
Their hearts were corrupted for they were living in sin.
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When someone you used to know becomes unrecognizable, what do you think led you to have a distorted view of that person? When you are drawn to someone because of love, you want to know much about this person so you can get closer to him or her. You wouldn’t want to have anything to do with someone you despise, so you would most likely stay away from them. The farther you are from someone, the less you know about this person. The nearer you are to them, the easier it is to know them.
It is the same with Jesus Christ, we can recognize him if we maintain a close relationship with him through his word. If we have this fire to know him deeply, we will hear his voice and know what his Spirit is saying.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to always seek you so I will always recognize you.
REFLECTION
What hinders us from recognizing the Lord?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com