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What are you spreading?

[The Glory Unveiled]

Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere. ( Mark 1:45 NIV )

God instructed Adam to eat from every tree in the Garden of Eden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. When Adam and his wife, Eve, disobeyed God, it did not only directly affect them but also the entire human race and God Himself. The human race suffered from their disobedience because the punishment for breaking that instruction came upon every human being after them. It also affected God because, having created us in His image and likeness, He was responsible for us. He had to address our problem to redeem His image. So, God did what He needn’t have done—being slain for our sake. In our anchor scripture, we read about a young man healed by Jesus of leprosy. Jesus explicitly told him not to tell anyone about it. However, as soon as he left Jesus’ presence, he went about spreading what he was asked not to spread, directly disregarding Jesus’ instruction. The consequence of his action was that Jesus could no longer openly enter any city where He was known. Disobedience always carries serious consequences. Because of one man’s disobedience, Jesus couldn’t go out publicly to heal other sick people. His actions hindered others from benefitting from the power of God. Just as by one man—Adam’s disobedience—sin entered the world (Romans 5:19), don’t allow your personal and private disobedience to become a burden on the necks of many innocent people. Achan’s private sin became a public punishment for the nation of Israel (see Joshua 7). Walk in total obedience, for both your sake and the sake of those around you.

Prayer_Bead: Heavenly Father, thank you for the grace to walk in obedience to your word. Forgive me for all my previous disobedience. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Wisdom_Quote: Private sin has public consequences.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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The audacity of Faith.

[The Glory Unveiled]

Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” ( Luke 7:50 NIV )

What is it that rolls back the dark shadows of death and sends the glorious light of the resurrection in all its brilliant beauty to the sorrowing heart? What is it that lifts burdens too heavy to bear? What is it that brings cleansing to the sin-sick soul? What is it that cools the fevered brow, eases torturous pain, and heals the afflicted and diseased? The answer is faith. These words were written in the early pages of a piece attributed to Kathryn Kuhlman, titled The Lord’s Healing Touch. Faith, the answer to the questions above, is the reason for the lifestyle of the believer. In the Gospels, we come across dozens of statements or fragments of statements that reflect our anchor verse. In many places, we see Jesus declare, “Your faith has made you well,” “Your faith has healed you,” or “Your faith has delivered you.” These statements reveal that the miracles which followed were the result of the power of faith. Faith is a system that offers the believer an opportunity to appropriate divine inheritance. It is the vehicle through which the heavenly becomes earthly, and the earthly ascends heavenward. The verdict is clear: “Without faith, it is impossible to please God.” (Hebrews 11:6). Anything done outside of faith does not meet the standards of the supernatural. The change you desire is at the mercy of your faith. The freedom experienced by the woman in our text for instance was tied directly to her faith. Some of us are waiting on someone or something, while heaven is waiting on our faith to make provision available. Do you believe in the power of God? Do you believe it so deeply that you are willing to act upon it?


Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for the privilege to believe in you. Help my unbelief concerning any area of my life. In Jesus name.

Wisdom_Quote: Faith animates the blessings and promises of God.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Love on Wheels

[The Glory Unveiled]

Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever. (Psalms 136:3 NIV)

The love of God never remained where it was first set in motion; it continued to pursue us through valleys and mountains. Love is not static—it keeps moving toward its object. As we read our anchor scripture and the verses that follow, we see that God’s love was expressed in many ways and through many acts for the sake of His beloved nation, Israel. His love for them did not end, even when they strayed in disobedience. It was always chasing the object of His affection—His beloved nation. When mankind sinned, God came searching for us. When He saw that we needed covering, He didn’t drive us away in our nakedness; instead, He made garments from animal skins for us. His love was not constrained by anything—He continued to love us regardless of what seemed to stand in the way. God’s love endures forever. It is constant and unwavering, whether we feel it or not. He faithfully loves us, whether we are aware of it or not. Even before we were born again, God loved us, though we didn’t realize it. Yet, that didn’t stop Him from loving us or diminish His love in any way. He loved us so that we, in turn, might love others with the same love He has shown us. Love is a living thing—it grows. Nurture it and let it become a life-giving tool, offering reassurance to the brokenhearted and the weak, so that praise will rise from their lips to the Father as a result.

Prayer_Bead: Lord, thank you for your love so sweet. Help me to love those around me as you love me and show them kindness as you’ve been kind to me.

Wisdom_Quote: God’s love endures through our weaknesses and failures.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Faith Through The Roof

[The Glory Unveiled]

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven. ( Mark 2:5 NIV )

Four men came to Jesus, carrying their paralyzed friend on a mat, hoping Jesus would touch and heal him. However, they couldn’t reach Jesus because of the crowd. Undeterred, they tore the roof off the building and lowered their friend down, determined to bring him before Jesus. These four friends went the extra mile to ensure their paralyzed friend could meet Him. When obstacles arose, they didn’t give up but found another way to make it happen. They had a clear goal in mind: to reach Jesus. With that goal, they took the necessary steps to bring their friend to Him. Because they were resolved to meet Jesus, when people stood in their way, they literally rose above the crowd. Their attitude toward their friend’s healing demonstrates the lengths we need to go to obtain answers at all costs. When Jesus saw the effort and sacrifices they made to bring their friend to Him, He commended their faith. But one might ask: where was the faith? On the surface, it seemed like just four determined people bringing their friend to Jesus. However, this shows that without action, faith is meaningless because faith is expressed through action. As James says, “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:20, 26). Activate your faith with resolute action. Can someone look at your actions and say you deserve what you are praying for? If not, then you haven’t yet earned what you are pursuing.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for showing me that faith without works is dead. I animate my faith by intentional actions.

Wisdom_Quote: Action is the voice of faith.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Find Jesus

[The Glory Unveiled]

For those who find me [wisdom] find life
and receive favour from the LORD. [ Proverbs 8:35 NIV ]

The Lord Jesus in this verse is personified as Wisdom. In verse 22, the scripture says, “The LORD brought me [Wisdom] forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old.” Similarly, in John 1:1, He is referred to as the Word—the same person described as the first of God’s works. We are presented with a vivid picture of Jesus as the giver of life and favour. However, a keen observation reveals that favour is preceded by wisdom. The Lord grants favour to those who have received wisdom. This is why the Bible describes Jesus’ growth as increasing in wisdom and favoyr with God and men (Luke 2:52). Notice that the scripture does not say Jesus increased in favor with God and men and then increased in wisdom. Instead, He first increased in wisdom, and then favor followed. This sequence is deliberate: wisdom comes first, followed by favour. However, wisdom does not come automatically; it must be sought, which implies a deliberate search or an intentional effort to find it. For this reason, even though wisdom is available to all, not everyone perceives it. Since many people cannot recognize wisdom, few truly experience life and favour, which are its offspring. In our pursuit of material and temporary things in this world, we must prioritize finding wisdom. And Jesus is the Spirit of wisdom. So, find Jesus, encounter His person, and walk in His word. The result of that encounter will be wisdom, life, and favour.

Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, thank you for your wisdom at work in me, producing life and favour.

Wisdom_Quote: Favour stems from wisdom.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Aligned with Scripture

[The Glory Unveiled]

But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” ( Matthew 26:54 NIV )

The glory of our lives comes from living according to God’s purpose for us. Jesus said, “In the volume of the books it is written concerning Me, to do the will of the Father” (Hebrews 10:7). Jesus had the power to do as He pleased. From His prayer in Gethsemane, we can tell that He could have taken a path different from what God preferred. He was free to act as He wished, yet He chose to stick to the script for His life and ministry. From our anchor scripture, we see that people came to arrest Jesus, led by Judas Iscariot. One of the disciples, attempting to prevent Jesus’ arrest, drew his sword and struck off the ear of one of the men who came for Jesus. It was then that Jesus made the statement above. This small yet profound statement reveals the principle that underpinned Jesus’ life on earth and His philosophy. Jesus lived His earthly life moment by moment, ensuring alignment with every scripture written about Him. He intentionally and deliberately fulfilled Scripture, to the point that He would rather inconvenience Himself or endure suffering to see God’s word concerning Him come to pass. He placed the word of God above every decision and action, living so that God’s word would be fulfilled through Him. As believers, we share the same mandate: to submit our lives to the influence of Scripture. We must align our lives with what is written concerning us. Let it happen to you according to God’s word.

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for your word concerning me. Help me to walk according to everything written about me. In Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: The life of the believer is supposed to mirror God’s word.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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The words of eternal life

[The Glory Unveiled]

Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. [ John 6:68 KJV ]

In this life, people are driven by and lured to the things that appeal most to them. What appeals to people differ from one person to another. For one person, it may be food; for another, it may be clothes; and for others, it may be power. During Jesus’ earthly ministry, many people followed Him. However, from our anchor scripture and other verses, we discover that not all of Jesus’ followers were drawn to Him because of the word of life. In fact, the Bible mentions that some followed Him because of the bread and fish He multiplied for them to eat until they were satisfied. These people stopped following Jesus when He stopped multiplying bread. As a result, He turned to those who continued to follow Him and asked if they, too, would leave. But Peter responded with the words recorded in our anchor scripture. Peter’s response revealed what truly motivated their pursuit of Jesus—the desire for the words of eternal life. This desire kept them committed. It implies that if Jesus had stopped providing the words of eternal life, they might have also stopped following Him. Reflect on what drives you to the things you pursue with dedication. What keeps you attached to something will likely be the same reason you let go of it. The question to ask yourself is: Does what I am chasing offer eternal life? Only something of eternal worth can endure beyond our temporary needs and desires. Pursue what lasts beyond your name and fame.

Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, thank you for your words that gave me eternal life. Help me to follow you in all things and at all times.

Wisdom_Quote: Your desires and needs drive your focus.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Expose them

[The Glory Unveiled]

Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. [ Ephesians 5:11 NIV ]

Seeing fruits anywhere is no guarantee of success. However, the nature of the fruit serves as the judge. In Matthew 7:18, it says, “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit.” And in verse 20, it states, “By their fruit, you will recognize them.” Fruit is not always a guarantee of good alone; rather, it helps to discern whether something is good or bad. The fruit reveals the tree. You may not know that a tree is bad until it begins to bear fruit. It is when the fruit begins to show that you can make a judgment about the type of tree it has been all along. In our anchor scripture, the apostle Paul says we should have nothing to do with the fruitless works of darkness. This suggests that the fruit of darkness is evident, and it is not worthy to be eaten as fruit. This also implies that the fruit of darkness is diabolic and ultimately fruitless as it is not productive. This is why we are instructed to have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness. There are those who chase after all kinds of fruits. They don’t care what the fruits are; as long as they are called fruits, they pay no attention to their dark nature. This is how many are led astray, often the gullible ones. However, the apostle teaches us to expose the fruitless works of darkness. Because, you see, unless you expose the things that hold you down, you will remain down. Many people continue to partake of the fruit of darkness because they compromise with it rather than exposing it. And over time, they are eaten up by darkness. Wherever you encounter the fruit of darkness, expose it with the fruit of God’s light in you.

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for teaching me to expose the fruitless works of darkness. Help me to be an example of the fruit of light.

Wisdom_Quote: Whatever you don’t expose, will be imposed on you.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Careful who

[The Glory Unveiled]

Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. ( Matthew 7:6 NIV)

The value of a thing is its worth in the eyes of its owner. The value of humanity is our worth before our Creator. God created us in His own image and likeness—that is what we are worth to Him. He values us as Himself. We can also discern our worth to God by how He treats and handles us. The way people handle their possessions speaks volumes about the value they place on them. God has demonstrated His unconditional love for us from the beginning. Even when we sinned, He didn’t give up on us; He still loved us. Our anchor scripture says we should not give dogs what is sacred or throw our pearls to pigs. It warns that if you do, they will trample them underfoot and turn to harm you. Figuratively speaking, a dog can symbolize an immoral person, while a pig represents an unholy person. This implies that we are not to give what is sacred or precious to those who cannot appreciate its value. They cannot relate to it as we do. They do not belong to the same realm, and therefore, they cannot truly connect with us. In other words, do not sacrifice your righteousness on the altar of sexual immorality and ungodliness. Be cautious about who you align yourself with and to whom you entrust your precious things—your visions and ideas. Only someone from your spiritual tribe can understand and value the pearls you share with them. Be mindful of who you cast your pearls to. Do they see value in what you value?

Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, thank you for showing me my kind and tribe. Help me to associate with godly people. Amen.

Wisdom_Quote: A pig cannot see any value in pearls.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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The blessing

[The Glory Unveiled]

The LORD bless you and keep you; ( Numbers 6:24 NIV )

We could discuss the multifaceted nature of God—His vastness, omnipotence, and omnipresence. Yet, there is something we cannot overlook: the blessings of the Lord. Throughout Genesis, the words “bless” or “blessing” appear repeatedly. From the very first chapter, which marks the beginning of all things, God blessed the things He had created. In Genesis 1:28, He blessed humanity, commanding them to be fruitful and multiply. This blessing has underpinned every human endeavor since. The blessing of God is the glue meant to hold all of humanity together. This is why, after God destroyed the world during the days of Noah, He blessed humanity once again to restore order (see Genesis 9:1). To bless means to empower for abundant living in every sphere of life. Without God’s empowerment, we can accomplish nothing. During the time of the Old Testament, God’s help came through the law of Moses. In the New Testament, we see God’s help revealed as grace, enabling us to live out His purposes for our lives. God’s blessing creates the opportunity for the realization of His plans for us. As we strive to walk with Him, it is His blessing that makes the journey easier because our own strength will inevitably fail. May the blessings of God—which encompass His grace, love, and fellowship—be with us always, particularly throughout this year.

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for your blessings and what they’re doing in my life.

Wisdom_Quote: The blessing of God adds no sorrow.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.