Walking your Calling

[The Glory Unveiled]

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. [ Ephesians 4:1 NIV ]

A prisoner is someone who has forfeited their rights and freedom to certain vital necessities of life. For instance, a prisoner experiences limited and restricted movement, unable to go wherever they please but rather directed where they are led. Similarly, a believer in Christ surrenders their rights and freedom to serve the purpose and desire of their master, Jesus. This is non-negotiable for those who are indeed prisoners for the Lord. The calling we have received designates us as the Lord’s prisoners. Hence, the scripture refers to being “prisoner for the Lord” rather than “prisoner of the Lord”. A prisoner for the Lord willingly submits to the Lord’s will; they choose to make themselves prisoners, rather than being coerced. However, a prisoner of someone is typically forced into imprisonment for a reason. Prisoners for the Lord prioritize the service of the Lord over worldly pursuits. As the apostle Paul stated, he considers all things as worthless compared to the worth of knowing Christ (Philippians 3:8). This reflects the attitude of the Lord’s prisoners. One’s calling is their lifelong responsibility and assignment. Just as a prisoner has duties to fulfill under the watchful eyes of security, believers are expected to live in accordance with their calling. Your calling and consecration entail a specific kind of life—each calling comes with its own set of demands tailored for its full expression. Therefore, allow your life to mirror the calling you have received.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord Jesus, I commit my life into your hands. I submit to your will and purpose. Let your name be glorified through my entire existence. Amen.

Wisdom_Quote: The prisoner for the Lord has no life of their own.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

Keep your sensitivity lens

[The Glory Unveiled]

Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. [ Ephesians 4:19 NIV ]

The end time world is educating us in the curriculum of ungodliness. The aim is to darken our understanding by making us ignorant of the things of God. Everything around us is feeding us with sensualities as opposed to the intention of God for us to walk by faith and not by sight. Consequently, many of us have strayed off the path of God unawares. You can tell you have gone far from the life of God when your appetite for sensuality becomes insatiable. When you begin to desire the things your eyes see and your flesh desires more than the things God wants. When the present emphasis of God does not appeal to you more than the present trending fashions. You see, your sensitivity to the things of God is your powerhouse, guiding beacon and control tower, without it, you are on a journey to nowhere, a mission to embrace destruction. Your sensitivity is your torch in the dark, the tracking device that helps you to locate God and His present agenda. It is the nose with which we catch the scent of God. But when sensuality supplants sensitivity, you know destruction is in your neighbourhood with impurity as your next dance tune. And at this stage the conscience is seared with hot iron, unresponsive to the prompting of God’s Spirit. Instead of this, let us embrace the way of life we received when we heard about Christ and were taught in Him in accordance with the truth. It must be a conscious, deliberate effort.

Prayer_Bead: Father God, deliver me from the evil wind of destruction aimed at me. Help me to embrace your truth and walk in it at all times. In Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: Your appetite for sensuality is the gauge that shows you how far you’ve gone from the things of God.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

Actions and Words

[The Glory Unveiled]

Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? [ Luke 6:46 NIV ]

In God’s hierarchy, obedience is more valuable than making sacrifices. God isn’t deceived by mere words or lip service; He discerns the heart of every individual, making it impossible to deceive or confuse Him. It is a fruitless labour to attempt deceiving God with our words when our motives and actions communicate something different from our words. The word, “Lord” means master and owner, indicating that acknowledging Jesus as our Lord means recognizing Him as our master and owner. If He indeed holds authority over us, why do we not obey Him? Failure to obey God, demonstrates that He isn’t truly our master. Many of us resemble the individuals Jesus questioned in the text above, loudly proclaiming Jesus as our Lord in public yet disobeying Him in private. We disregard His instructions, choosing our own paths as if we were our own masters. Jesus isn’t swayed by empty words; He sees our hearts. We may deceive those who judge by appearances temporarily, but we cannot fool God. If we claim God as master, we must make clear commitments in submission to Him. Our actions must align with our words; otherwise, our words hold no meaning. Jesus is more concerned with our actions than our spoken words. Let your actions bring glory and honour to the Lord.

Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, I submit to you as my Lord in all my actions. Help me to bring you honour and glory. In Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: Words that disagree with a person’s actions are empty.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

Keep guard over yourself

[The Glory Unveiled]

”So, little children, guard yourselves from worshiping anything but him.“ [ 1 John‬ ‭5‬:‭21‭TPT‬‬ ]

Our world today has erected many idols. The ordinary person is forced to bow to one of the many modern gods—anything that seeks to take the place of God in our lives. The scripture above suggests that “little children” are prone to the temptation to submit to anything but God. “Little children” are those whose walk with God is new and growing. They may be old in age but young in their relationship with God. Children are usually vulnerable and susceptible to deceit. The apostle, through the scriptures, teaches us to guard ourselves as children from the influence of those things that turn our attention away from God. The responsibility lies with us to guard ourselves. A guard stands at their post to defend and ensure that nothing intrudes. To guard ourselves as children of God, we need the word of God as a barricade and guide. Dwelling in the word of God helps break the influence of the world over us. The believer in God is the target of the distractions and gods of this world. The laws that were made and, by extension, the gods that were created in the day of Daniel were targeted at Daniel, a believer in God. They didn’t really care about those already on the side of their system. Therefore, as children of God, we must arm ourselves with the knowledge that the enemy is aiming at our souls. Keep away from anything that takes the place of God in your life, including the innocent ones. There are certain things that seem harmless, but they are the bait that drags us into the arms of the devil. We must be aware of them; creating a system and a culture for ourselves that inhibits us from indulging in the things of the world. But rather submit to God in all things.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Father, thank you for your jealous love over us. Help us to guard ourselves against the deceit of Satan through your word and Spirit. In Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: The word of God is the believer’s guarding guide.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

Open your mouth

[The Glory Unveiled]

Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, [ Isaiah 38:2 NIV ]

A closed mouth is indeed a closed destiny. Many lives are lost, destroyed, or robbed because mouths were closed when they should be opened. There is so much power in words; God made it so. He Himself is our example. When He faced a chaotic world without order, Genesis 1 records that He spoke. God did not keep quiet over the situation; He spoke order into it and called out what He wanted to see. Hezekiah, the man spoken about in the text above, was given a death sentence by a prophet of God. But he didn’t keep quiet and accept it as his fate. Instead, faith rose within him, and he opened his mouth in prayer to change the verdict. It was when he opened his mouth that fifteen good years were added to his life. Imagine what would have happened if he had kept quiet; his silence would have endorsed the sentence. Everyone is either being destroyed or built by their mouth. What happens in our lives is determined by the things we confess. Your mouth is a gateway; you decide and design your future and present circumstances with it. Don’t keep quiet; keep talking and confessing your convictions and desires. Bend the arm of circumstances to favour God’s purpose for your life. Some things are dying because no word is being spoken over them. The early church lost James because they didn’t speak on his behalf. When Peter was later imprisoned, they prayed earnestly for him (Acts 12:5), and he was saved. You will lose whatever you don’t protect with your mouth. Your destiny depends on your words; don’t shut your mouth.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for the power you have given me to order the circumstances of my life. Let your name be glorified in my life.

Wisdom_Quote: A closed mouth is a closed destiny.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.