Multi-coloured grace

[The Glory Unveiled]

”Every believer has received grace gifts, so use them to serve one another as faithful stewards of the many-colored tapestry of God’s grace.“ [ 1 Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭10‬ ‭TPT‬‬ ]

Our anchor verse asserts that every believer has a grace gift; not some believers but every believer. All who have been brought into the fold of God have been divinely endowed with a spiritual talent. These talents manifest in different ways, reflecting the many-coloured tapestry of God’s grace. The multifaceted expressions of God’s grace are manifested through believers in Jesus, who embody this grace of God. How do people see this grace in expression? They see it by the way we bring glory to God in doing whatever we have grace for. The grace of God in you enables you for a particular task; do it to the best of your ability, giving praise to God. The apostle Peter shows us with examples in verse 11 how to express the gift of God’s grace in us and how to bring glory to God. “For example, if you have a speaking gift, speak as though God were speaking his words through you. If you have the gift of serving, do it passionately with the strength God gives you, so that in everything God alone will be glorified through Jesus Christ. For to him belong the power and the glory forever throughout all ages! Amen.” (1 Peter 4:11 TPT). Whatever gifts we have, we must use them as if God were the one using them. We are supposed to allow ourselves to be conduits through which God does His things. When we allow God to live through us, we allow the multifaceted grace of God to be on full display. So, use your gift to serve others because that is what Jesus would do.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord, thank you for expressing the nature of the Father through me. Let God be glorified in Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: We are the body of Christ because God will do everything on earth through us.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

Strategies and Workers

[The Glory Unveiled]

”If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.“ [ John‬ ‭13‬:‭14 ‭NKJV‬‬ ]

Systems, institutions, societies and other organizations function well where there are good strategies. But then, the real reason why they function well is not just the presence of a strategy but the right people to implement those strategies. Many times, we blame the lack of progress on the lack of strategy and structure. Particularly, for the African continent, it would seem that is the heart of their problem. But then, a careful analysis will show that, a lack of structure is just the beginning of their challenges. The meat of the problem is unavailability of suitable human resources. Unless the strategies are executed by the right people, we cannot have the results we desire. The Lord Jesus drew the pattern (strategy, system, template) of spreading the gospel to other places. But He knew that drawing the structure is not enough. And so, He demonstrated it to them. He did not just talk about it. He demonstrated it to them with His own life. So that they were without excuse. The second thing is that, He committed the responsibility of the structure to reliable men. “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” (2 Timothy 2:2). The apostle Paul showed Timothy the structure for entrusting the gospel to others and he also mentions reliable people. It is not enough to get a good structure in place. Find the right people to deliver it. More than that, be a reliable person (worker) in God’s vineyard.

Prayer_Bead: Author and Finisher of our faith, thank you for the patterns and structure for dominion. Help me to be a reliable worker.

Wisdom_Quote: Reliable people make structures and systems important and effective.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

Identified with God

[The Glory Unveiled]

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? [ Matthew 6:25 NIV ]

Life transcends mere material possessions such as clothing, food, and drink, despite the natural inclinations towards these necessities. In Genesis, God’s intention in creating humanity was for them to exercise dominion and authority, crafting them in His own image and likeness. Thus, our destiny and essence are shaped by this divine blueprint—whatever our lives will command or become is the result of our likeness and the image after which we have been crafted. Human existence was imparted with understanding through God’s breath, signaling that life encompasses more than physical sustenance. To illustrate this, God decided to test them with food. The consequence of disobeying being separation from Him. Separation from God because we had the image and likeness of God and it is this identity that made us one with God. And so, to live a life contrary to the identity of God means we are unlike Him, hence separation. The Lord Jesus Christ admonishes against fretting over material needs, what we wear, eat or drink, as such concerns can sever our spiritual connection with God, contradicting our divine nature. Our lives are more than these things; our lives are worth the identity of God. We are the image of God, this is why Christ, the image of God had to die as a ransom for us. We are worth the life of God. Embracing this truth, let us daily dwell in the awareness of our divine identity..

Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, thank you for showing me that my life is worth more than the things I chase after. Help me to seek you and your righteousness instead. Amen.

Wisdom_Quote: Life is more than food and drinks.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

The purpose of His accomplishments

[The Glory Unveiled]

”Through our union with him we have experienced circumcision of heart. All of the guilt and power of sin has been cut away and is now extinct because of what Christ, the Anointed One, has accomplished for us.“ [ Colossians‬ ‭2‬:‭11 TPT‬‬ ]

Whatever the Lord Jesus did, He did for a particular purpose. Everything Jesus suffered for us is to the end that our hearts be severed from guilt and power of sin. The life we enjoy in Christ is the result of a price that was paid. This life was impossible without the accomplishment of Christ. Our hearts were steeped in unrighteousness through disobedience—alienated from God—changing it from how it originally had to be. Now, through the sacrifice of Christ, an opportunity is given to us to cut away the attachments of our hearts that keep us away from God. But this cutting away, also known as circumcision is experienced through our union with Christ. And then, the consequences of our attachment to unrighteousness namely guilt and power of sin becomes extinct. All these victories come from what Christ accomplished for us. This is why the emphasis is always Christ. Without Christ, we cannot have the things talked about here, freedom from the guilt and power of sin. We must be educated and equipped with the knowledge of what Christ did for us. He paid a price we could not dare pay for ourselves. He made a sacrifice that became the bridge back to God. The Lord Jesus is the reason we can come boldly to God. We must remember therefore that without Christ, the center of our existence and walk with God cannot hold. Your union with Christ is precious, it is most valuable, so keep it well.

Prayer_Bead: Father and God, thank you for the sacrifice of Christ and the privilege to be your son. Help me to remain in Christ. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Wisdom_Quote: The bridge between God and the world is the sacrifice of Christ.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

Prove it

[The Glory Unveiled]

”By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,” [ Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭17 NKJV‬‬ ]

It is not enough to say that we have faith. The presence of faith is not known by confession but by the things we do. It is possible to claim one thing but live a life that contradicts that claim. In scripture, God said now he knows that Abraham believed him or trusts Him. This affirms the fact that our faith in God is only valid by our actions and not merely by our confessions. And so, rather than make a lot of noise about what we believe, our actions convey the true story of faith. . Therefore, the proof that a person believes is evident in their willing obedience. The proof that Abraham believed in the promise of God is evident in his willingness to do whatever God asked him to do, even to the point of sacrificing his only son. Scripture states that Abraham offered Isaac by faith because at the time of offering his son, there was nothing to encourage him to believe that his son would not truly die. By faith, he saw his son as already dead and thus was able to let go of him. Consider that he was promised a son, and now that he had the son, he was asked to sacrifice him. Some may claim they believe in God but would not let go of their son. In such cases, God would say He doesn’t know whether they truly trust Him or not. The proof lies in our willingness to obey God regardless of the requests made. Do a self assessment and see whether you truly believe God or it is just a mouth offering?

Prayer_Bead: Faithful God, thank you for your continuous love for me. Help me to prove by my obedience, that I believe in you. In Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: Let your obedience validate your confessions.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

Trim your Lamp

[The Glory Unveiled]

Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. [ Matthew 25:7‬ NIV‬‬ ]

The above scripture speaks about the wise and foolish virgins who had gone to meet the bridegroom. When the bridegroom delayed in coming, they became drowsy and fell asleep. Our anchor text says the virgins woke up because they had all been sleeping. And they had been sleeping because they waited for the Bridegroom until they became tired and drowsy. Just like those virgins, many of us are becoming drowsy and falling asleep. And this is as a result of the pull and push motions of this secular world and the pressure from our fallen and broken world. The world is out against the believer and what will keep us through the dark ages is the oil in our Lamp. The oil is the minsitry of the Holy Spirit in us. The doze of the word of God that we have in us is what keeps us in hibernation mode, through the dark. So that in due time, we can trim our lamps and have enough light to see the Bridegroom. But then, we can only trim our lamp when we have oil in our lamp. Now, that the bridegroom is not here, is the best time to get oil into our lamp. Let us study the word of God to show ourselves approved unto God. The time to get oil and the time to trim our lamps is now. We are in a very sensitive moment. We have been sleeping for long, tossed to and fro by the doctrines and teachings of the world. The time has come for us to trim our lamp and go meet our Bridegroom.

Prayer_Bead: Heavenly Father, thank you for the oil in my lamp. Help me to guard it with wisdom until your coming. In Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: Oil in your lamp gives opportunity to trim it.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

Knolwedge and Life

[The Glory Unveiled]

”My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.” [ Hosea 4:6‬ NKJV‬‬ ]

The destruction of Adam and Eve and all of humanity began from a deficiency in knowledge. Adam was given the instruction that contained the antidote for the woes and challenges mangled in humanity’s makeup. So that as long as that knowledge is preserved and the instruction adhered to, man was going to be okay eternally in the presence of God. But then, Eve was not properly equipped with the knowledge responsible for the sustenance and upkeep of humanity. When the serpent came to test her knowledge of truth, it was discovered that she did not study to show herself approved unto God. And so, the devil exploited her ignorance. And took advantage of that lack of knowledge to invite destruction (death). Our anchor scripture says God’s people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Even though they are God’s people, they are destroyed when knowledge is absent. The surprising thing about the absence of this knowledge is that, it was rejected. Just as Eve rejected knowledge. She rejected knowledge because she could have called her lord and husband, when the serpent was trying to confuse her. But instead, she tried to prove herself to have had adequate knowledge. Our anchor scripture goes on to say, “because you have forgotten the law of God…” This was also apparent in Eve’s response when the serpent asked if God said they should not eat of any tree? In quoting what God had said, she added a phrase that was not in the original statement (Genesis 3:3). This probably means she had forgotten the intial statement God gave them (Genesis 2:17). Knowledge is key to longevity and preservation. This is why we need to equip ourselves with the knowledge of God; rightly dividing the word of truth, necessary for our livelihood and godliness.

Prayer_Bead: Omniscient Lord, thank you for all the things you have made available for my learning and growth.

Wisdom_Quote: Knowledge is the ledger that connects us to life.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

The logic of faith

[The Glory Unveiled]

”Abraham’s faith made it logical to him that God could raise Isaac from the dead, and symbolically, that’s exactly what happened.“ [ Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭19‭TPT‬‬ ]

Faith is not the abandonment of logic to embrace fantasy and wishes, but the firm acknowledgment and embrace of logic derived from an understanding of the person of God. Hence, true faith brings about an understanding that becomes the anchor upon which corresponding action is hinged. The scripture above tells us that Abraham’s faith made it logical for him. Now, a few verses before this verse, verse 3, records that by faith, we understand that the world was formed at the command of God. This means faith brings a certain understanding that only faith can release. No wonder the apostle also teaches that the unspiritual, the man without faith, cannot discern or know things of the Spirit because such things are spiritually discerned (from a place of understanding) (1 Corinthians 2:14). So, Abraham came to trust God so much not to withhold his son from God because he got an understanding from his faith that God was able to raise his son from the dead. Faith helps us to see from the perspective of God, which is the logical side of faith. This is why without faith, it wouldn’t have made sense to Abraham how God who promised him a child now wants that child from him. It would seem to the carnal man as illogical. But then, true faith furnishes us with an understanding that helps us to stand by God through every test and challenge. God is faithful, and He will keep every promise He made to us.

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for the understanding and logic that my faith brings. Help me to trust you all the way. In Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: Faith embraces logic.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

Jesus, our example

[The Glory Unveiled ]

Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. [ Hebrews‬ ‭12‬‬:‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ ]

The Bible says the Lord Jesus is the first Son among many brothers (Romans 8:29), meaning that He is the template for our conduct and lifestyle. We are supposed to learn from our senior brother, Jesus, and God. Usually, when you want to learn a dance step, you need to keep your eyes on the instructor to get everything right; otherwise, you will miss everything. In the case of our faith pattern, the Lord Jesus is our guide, the author, and the one who completes it. Therefore, we cannot have faith or continue to live and grow in faith without Jesus. With that clear understanding, let us carefully examine the Lord Jesus’ style. The scripture says, He was motivated by the joy that was set before Him: the joy a shepherd experiences when he finds his missing sheep, the joy of bringing us back to God. The weight of the joy, which is the reward of his sacrifice, made Him endure the cross with its shame and pain. His gaze was fixed on one thing alone: the joy. And because He didn’t have divided attention, He obtained what He pursued. The same will happen in our lives if we look to Jesus alone and nothing else, and despise the shame and hateful words of people. We will also endure our crosses and have the reward of being with the Father. No matter how difficult it seems, if we can keep our gaze on Jesus, our faith will produce the desired results.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord, thank you for being the author and finisher of my faith. Help me to endure the things I need to endure, so help me God.

Wisdom_Quote: The direction of your gaze determines your level of distractions.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

Ready and proven help

[The Glory Unveiled]

”God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.“ [ Psalms‬ ‭46‬:‭1‭NKJV‬‬ ]

God is many things to many people, usually manifesting as such to those who believe in Him. For those who see God as their Provider, He proves Himself as such. To those who believe in Him as their Savior, He manifests as their Savior. Similarly, for those who recognize Him as their refuge and strength, He manifests accordingly. However, God may not be perceived as all these things by some individuals, despite having the capacity to be so. The hindrance lies not with God, but with those individuals themselves. The psalmist also refers to God as his help. However, the timing and relevance of help are crucial. Help may be available but not necessarily relevant due to its timing. The psalmist has experienced the timely help of God, which has proven its reliability over time. When faced with trouble, he remains unperturbed, knowing that God is faithful and His help is ever-present. While help may come in various forms from different sources, the help from the Lord is reliable and consistently available when needed. There are those who put their trust in man and look to them for help. But the reality is that true help comes from God and may be dispensed through men. But those men are not the source of it. Therefore, let us turn to the help of God, as He is our present help in times of trouble and turmoil._

Prayer_Bead: Father God, thank you for being my proven and present help in times of trouble. I trust you to come through for me in all my troubles. Let your name be glorified in me.

Wisdom_Quote: The relevance of help is determined by it’s timeliness.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.