Month: July 2020

[The Glory Unveiled]

“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. ( Ephesians 4:26-27 )

The will of man is a complex matrix who can fathom it? It’s a vast ocean what can encompass its breadth? There are so many things we do by the dictates of our will, yet attribute to the actions of external forces. One of such things is being angry or loving someone. The scripture says we should not sin when angry. It further explains that anger becomes sin when forgiveness is not released (in time). Anything that makes us angry for a long time–until the sun goes down–is sin and it gives the devil grounds to carry out his schemes. If the Bible says we should not let the sun go down on our anger, then that makes anger a choice. Anger is a choice we make; we decide whether to let the anger remain for a long time, or whether to forgive our offenders immediately they offend us. The scripture actually says, “in your anger do not sin”…”in your anger”. Sometimes we feel that when we are angry we lose control of our will and senses and so we cannot control what happens around us. We allow ourselves to do whatever we want to do and them when the anger dies down we are filled with remorse. While others try to justify their actions with the fact that when they were angry they couldn’t control what they said or did. But the truth from God’s word says that anger is a choice. We can choose how long we want to be angry or even if we want to be angry in the first place. Choose not to be angry.

Prayer_Bead: Father of Love, thank you for your love for me and your forgiveness. Draw me closer to you and give me a heart that forgives easily as you strengthen my will.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today. ( Deuteronomy 8:18 )

It seem quite easy to forget when we are comfortable and self-sufficient. When the Israelite were in captivity in Egypt, they cried out to God very often and so intensely that their cry went up to God in heaven. And then God had to send help to them, a deliverer. God through the deliverer delivered them from servitude and slavery. Now on their way to the land of freedom, most of them forgot their past; how helpless and hopeless they had been. They had forgotten how they were so poor they had no property of their own. They had forgotten that the graciousness of God towards them was actually no effort of theirs. It was the covenant promise of God that was taking its own course. Here in the chapter above, the Lord was cautioning his people and reminding them of the necessity to always remember that it is He (God) who gives them the ability to make wealth. God is saying to us today, through His words to the Israelites that we should not think that we are responsible for the good we have in our lives, particularly our wealth. Our “own” ingenuity is actually the workings of the grace of God. The ideas and abilities that bring monetary value are given to us by God as a confirmation of His covenants. If it is good, then it is God’s.

Prayer_Bead: God of all creations, thank you for giving me the ability to make wealth and to prosper. Teach me not to trust in myself or my efforts.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. ( Genesis 26:2 )

Anytime God told us not to do something, it was meant for our protection, goodness and joy. The laws of the old covenant as numerous as they were, was given to protect God’s people and to usher them into the blessing. The blessing was promised Abraham and his lineage but the blessing came with conditions. Later in Deuteronomy, the prophet and leader, Moses had reiterated the need to adhere to the commands of God. He had mentioned a long list of blessings that would come upon the people but he continously stressed the need to obey. The enjoyment of the blessings promised was dependent on the obedience to the commands. So here in Genesis, Isaac was in a foreign land which was experiencing famine. He thought, everyone is leaving the country to seek greener pastures, he would also go. But the word of God came to him that he should not leave the famine. In that same land of lack God would bless him and make his name great. Now, in the verses that proceeded, he read that Isaac became so blessed and wealthy that the people feared him. But what would have happened if he had disobeyed? What would have happened if he had gone to Egypt for greener pastures? Certainly he wouldn’t have experienced the success we read about. Spiritual instructions are consequential. We must always endeavor to obey them if we would enjoy the promises they carry.

Prayer_Bead: Loving Father, thank you for the grace to know your commands and to obey them. Help me to “live” where you want me to live.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.