November 11
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LETTER TO THE CHURCH IN SMYRNA
A poem by ILMA
This letter is addressed to the angel of the church of Smyrna
It comes from the Lord, the First and the Last, who was dead but now alive
The Lord knows about your pain, suffering and your poverty
Your church is assured that despite all of these trials, you are really wealthy
Your church recognizes those who claim they are Jews but are from Satan
Do not be afraid when blasphemy of those against you are constant
The devil is about to throw some of you in jail to test you
You will suffer for ten days, but don’t worry, it won’t last long
Stay on guard and remain faithful, don’t give up
You will receive the crown of life if you are faithful
Anyone with wisdom must listen to God’s Spirit
Whoever is victorious won’t be harmed by the devil.
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MEMORY VERSE
Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life. – Revelation 2:8
Read: Revelation 2:8-11
The church of Smyrna is one of the seven churches in the book of Revelation whom God favored. There were only two churches among the seven that pleased the Lord. The church of Smyrna was singled out to be one of these two churches that the Lord approved. Because of their longsuffering and wisdom to discern those who are counterfeits, the Lord promised them the crown of life if they continue to be faithful.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think longsuffering is something that the Lord wants for all his people to have?
• What is the promise of God to those who remain faithful even when facing death and all kinds of suffering for him?
• What’s the condition present day churches compared to the church of Smyrna?
Tag Archives: poetry
LETTER TO THE CHURCH OF EPHESUS Poem Devotional
November 10
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LETTER TO THE CHURCH OF EPHESUS
A poem by ILMA
This letter is to the angel of the church in Ephesus
This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars
The one who walks among the seven gold lampstands
God knew all you did, especially their patient endurance
You do not let wickedness thrive or tolerate evil people
You examine the claims of those who claim they are apostles
You have discovered they are liars and have patiently suffered without quitting
But God has this one complaint against you; they don’t love God as they did before.
Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first
If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place
Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying
To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in God’s paradise.
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MEMORY VERSE
But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!
– Revelations 2:4
Read: Revelations 2:1-7
This letter is for the people of God whose love has turned sour on him. When Christians grow in years of becoming a believer, there is a big tendency to take for granted their initial feeling of love for Jesus. Passion and fire gets lost over time as we grow complacent and used to loving someone.
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REFLECTION
• How can we prevent losing the passion we once had for our loved ones?
• Why is living on fire for the one you love important in a relationship?
• Why do you think did God filed this complaint of not having passion to this church of Ephesus?
• Why wasn’t their good works enough for the Lord Jesus Christ?
• Why did the Lord remind this church how they lost their ardor for him important?
SUFFERING FOR BEING A CHRISTIAN Poem Devotional
November 9
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SUFFERING FOR BEING A CHRISTIAN
A poem by ILMA
In this world, we will always be encountering fiery trials
So, don’t be surprised if something strange were happening to you
Instead, be joyful-for these trials make you Christ’s partner
When you suffer for him, you share in revealing his glory.
So, If you are insulted because of Jesus, you will be blessed
If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing or other trouble
It must not be a result of your meddling into other people’s affairs
There is no shame to suffer for being a Christian but not for your own faults.
Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!
For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s people
And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits the unbelievers
If the righteous are barely saved, what will happen to godless sinners?
If you are suffering in a manner that pleases God
Keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the Lord
He created you and he will never fail you
Sacrifice and suffer for Christ and you will be a victor.
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MEMORY VERSE
If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. – 1 Peter 4:14
Read: 1 Peter 4:12-19
There are Christians who suffer as a consequence of wrong choices and sin. That is not what this chapter is talking about. To suffer for Christ is to be rejected and ostracized for being a Christian. To suffer because you are being questioned for living the truth is what is being discussed in this verse.
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REFLECTION
• Why is suffering because of a sin not the same as suffering for Jesus?
• How can we suffer in a manner that pleases God?
SUFFERING FOR DOING GOOD Poem Devotional
November 7
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SUFFERING FOR DOING GOOD
A poem by ILMA
Who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good?
But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you
So, don’t worry or be afraid of threats but worship Christ as Lord of your life
And if someone asks about your hope, always be ready to explain it.
Do this in a gentle and respectful way and keep your conscience clear
Then if people talk against you, they’ll be ashamed when they see your good life Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, than to suffer for doing wrong!
Christ suffered for our sins once for all time, he never sinned, but he died for us all.
Don’t be afraid to do things for the Lord for that is the right thing to do
Do not give in to your evil desire, instead, listen to the Spirit of the Lord
Make a sacrifice and follow the example of the Lord when he died for us
Carry your own cross like Jesus did and always do what is right and good.
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MEMORY VERSE
But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So, don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. – 1 Peter 3:14
Read: 1 Peter 3:13-22
There are heroes that the world give recognition. Some people look up to them because of what they have achieved but in God’s economy, those who are real heroes are those who suffer for doing good. They are the ones who constantly want to obey the will of God and go through suffering just to be able to do what is right.
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REFLECTION
• Have you ever suffered because you made the right decision?
• Why are we asked to be sacrificial in showing our love for others?
• How can we avoid looking at the negative side of suffering?
TURN AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD Poem Devotional
November 6
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TURN AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD
A poem by ILMA
All believers must be of one mind and sympathize with each other
Love each other, be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude
Don’t repay evil for evil and when people insult you, don’t do the same
Instead, pay them back with a blessing, that’s according to.
Keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies
If you want to enjoy life and see happy days and pursue peace
God watches over those who do right and he hears their prayers
But the LORD turns his face against those who do evil.
Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good?
But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you
It is better to suffer for doing good, to suffer for doing wrong!
Christ died for us to bring you safely home to God.
He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.
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MEMORY VERSE
For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. – 1 Peter 3:10-11
Read: 1 Peter 3:8-22
In this chapter, we are cautioned on many things so we can enjoy life. One of the most important things we learn from this chapter is to keep our tongues from evil and our lips from telling lies. It guarantees a life of peace and a reward of salvation from God.
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REFLECTION
• Why is having one mind among believers important in the kingdom of God?
• Why would it be good to suffer for good?
• What is the reward of suffering for righteousness?
• What reward awaits those who turn from evil and do good?
• Why shouldn’t a Christian take revenge?
CORNERSTONE AND LIVING STONE Poem Devotional
November 5
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CORNERSTONE AND LIVING STONE
A poem by ILMA
Christ is the living cornerstone of God’s temple
Though he was chosen by God, the people rejected him
We are the living stone building into his spiritual temple
Through Christ’s sacrifice, we can please the Father.
So, get rid of all evil behavior and stop all your deception
Do not let hypocrisy, jealousy or unkind speech in your heart
Like newborn babies, you must crave spiritual milk to grow
By growing, you will experience salvation into it’s fullest.
The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone
He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall
They stumble because they do not obey God’s word,
So, they meet the fate that was planned for them.
But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people
You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession
As a result, you can show others the goodness of God,
He called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
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MEMORY VERSE
You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor. – 1 Peter 2:4
Read: 1 Peter 2:1-10
It is only in Jesus that we can have growth. We need to remember that we are royal priesthood like him if we are believers of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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REFLECTION
• Why is Jesus considered the cornerstone that the builders rejected?
• Shouldn’t be Christians expected to be rejected as Jesus was?
• Why are we believers considered royal priesthood?
GOD’S WORD REMAINS FOREVER Poem Devotional
November 4
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GOD’S WORD REMAINS FOREVER
A poem by ILMA
Be ready, renew your minds and exercise self-control
Be hopeful and expectant for Jesus’ second coming
Live as obedient children of your heavenly Father
He was holy so he expected you to be holy as well.
Remember that God plays no favorites, he treats you all equally
Live in reverent fear of God since you are just temporary residents
Through Christ you have come to trust in God and was cleansed from sin
So, love each other deeply and sincerely with all your heart.
You’ve been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end
Your new life will last forever because the word of God says
“People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field
The flowers fade but the word of the Lord remains forever.”
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MEMORY VERSE
As the Scriptures say, “People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades. But the word of the Lord remains forever.”
– 1 Peter 1:24-25
Read: 1 Peter 1:13-25
One of the only things that lasts forever in this world is the word of God. Everything else in this world is temporary and changing. We need to be able to get ourselves strong in the word so we can overcome this world. God also wants us to be holy as he is so that we can receive all the promises of God.
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REFLECTION
• How can you exercise self-control?
• Why is it a good thing to be investing time reading the word of God if you are a believer?
• What happens when we don’t follow the truth that only comes in the word of God?
• How can loving one another deeply make us grow as Christians?
JOY IN TRIALS Poem Devotionals
November 3
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JOY IN TRIALS
A poem by ILMA
When you encounter trials, don’t be discouraged
Instead, look at the upside of it and take courage
These trials will show your faith is genuine
It will test how you are going to endure.
Such trials will make you strong like being tested on fire
It will bring much praise and glory when Christ is revealed
When you love Christ even though you’ve never seen him
The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your soul.
This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know
They prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you
They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you
This Good News has been preached by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.
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MEMORY VERSE
So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. – 1 Peter 1:6
Read: 1 Peter 1:6-12
When we encounter adversities in life, we often become discouraged or hopeless or desperate. But there is actually an upside to trials. They grow us. We learn to endure and become able to have patience to suffer long. When our faith grows, we become almost perfect, needing nothing. It gives us a chance to be refined through the fire just like how gold and silver are put to the test in fire.
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REFLECTION
• How can one have the ability to look at the bright side to challenges and trials in life?
• Why are such trials important for our maturity as Christians?
• Why do worldly people see trials as a bad thing? What are they missing when they look at it this way?
• How can we train ourselves to see trials as a test that we need to pass?
THE POWER OF PRAYER Poem Devotional
November 2
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THE POWER OF PRAYER
A poem by ILMA
When you are undergoing trials, praying must be your recourse
If you are happy and joyful, you should sing praises
When you are sick, you must call the elders of the church
Let them pray over you and anoint you with oil in the name of the Lord.
Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick and God will make them well
If someone has committed any sins, they will all be forgiven
If you confess your sins to each other and pray for one another
You can be healed and the prayer of a righteous person has power.
Elijah prayed for rain and his earnest prayers brought rain
Then when he prayed again for no rain, it was granted again
If someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back
That person who save them from death will bring forgiveness of many sins.
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MEMORY VERSE
Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. – James 5:16
Read: James 5:13-20
Many people do not realize and value the importance of prayer. The book of James gives us a reminder of the importance of prayer and how it can bring about miracles and impossible things. This chapter also talks about the importance of bringing back those who have wandered from the truth and the reward that is awaiting them.
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REFLECTION
• Why is confessing your sins to each other and praying for one another important in order for healing to happen?
• How can you learn to pray like Elijah?
• What makes prayers answered?
• How often do you pray for the lost souls?
THE VIRTUE OF PATIENCE Poem Devotional
November 1
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THE VIRTUE OF PATIENCE
A poem by ILMA
All of us believers are commanded to be patient as we wait for Christ’s return
Just like the farmer who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and spring
They enthusiastically look forward to the seeds to bear fruits and ripen
We be hopeful and endure all that we go through until Jesus comes again.
Don’t complain about each other or you will be judge
Since the heavenly Judge will standing at the door!
Learn from the story of Job, a man of great endurance
Despite all of the things he lost, his patience and faith remained.
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MEMORY VERSE
Be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen.
– James 5:7
Read: James 5:7-12
In the bible, the quality or virtue of patience is presented as either forbearance or endurance. In the former sense it is a quality of self-restraint or of not giving way to anger, even in the face of provocation; it is attributed to both God and man and is closely related to mercy and compassion. Patience is a novelty in my life. Though the Lord has given me endurance, I still find it hard at times to be patient after I have suffered long. It is interesting that I am struggling with one and yet able to endure. I think that I need to focus more on the return of Jesus with expectancy and not let all the challenges and trials in life become the focus of my life. I need to look up to Jesus so that everything I do will be for his glory.
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REFLECTION
• Why is patience a novelty in our world today?
• What makes people endure hardships?
• How is not giving in to anger closely related to mercy and compassion?
• How can we be patient even in the face of provocation?
• Do you think impatience is a form of anger? Why or why not?