What was His crime?

[The Glory Unveiled]

“Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!” [ Mark 15:14 NIV ]

Usually, before a person is incarcerated or punished, they must have committed a crime first. It is abnormal, absurd, and unheard of to punish someone without a crime. In the scripture above, Pilate, the governor, asks what crime Jesus had committed to warrant His crucifixion. To find the true crime of Christ that led Him to the cross, we will have to visit the first book of the Bible, Genesis. The true crime that Jesus is accused of is a crime humanity had committed through Adam. The disobedience of Adam was the offense that was supposed to be punished by death, for God did say, “for when you eat from it—disobey—you will certainly die” (Genesis 2:17). In the command God had given Adam was the punishment for disobedience proclaimed. But since Adam represented the whole human race, his punishment meant that all of humanity had to face that same punishment. But God, being rich in mercy and abounding in compassion, decided to take the place of man in the punishment for the crime of disobedience. So that, rather than the whole human race dying, one man [God] will die in place of the many. Caiaphas, the high priest, said, “You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish” (John 11:50). And so, by the love of God and His wisdom, he put the crime of the human race on the shoulders of Jesus so that He would also carry our punishment of death. That death, though physical, was more than just the soul leaving the body. It was a total separation from God. And so, Jesus was separated from the Father for our sake so that for His sake we might become the righteousness of God. Now, we are charged guiltless forevermore!

Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, thank you for the great price you paid for my redemption. I appreciate you for your love and grace. I am not condemned, I am redeemed.

Wisdom_Quote: His crime was our crime hanged on Him.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

Favour-contained relationship

The Glory Unveiled]

If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favour with you. Remember that this nation is your people.” [ Exodus 33:13 NIV ]

This prayer was the request of Moses when he discovered that God was pleased with him. Of all the things Moses could have asked for, he asked to know God and to continue to find favour with God. The verse of scripture reveals that, favour with God comes at a cost. Even though it would look like the person being favoured contributes nothing to receiving it; yes it is possible to stumble into favour with God, but to remain favoured, one must know God’s ways. Knowing the ways of God leads to a consistent experience of favour. While stumbling into God’s favour is possible, maintaining it necessitates understanding and following His ways consistently. While a one-time favour might occur by chance, sustaining a favour-filled relationship with God demands intentional efforts to align with His desires. It is easier for a person who knows the Lord to receive favour than one who does not know the Lord. Just as it is easier to support or help someone you are pleased with than the person you’re not pleased with. God favours those who learn His ways and endeavour to live a life pleasing to Him. The price of favour is a life pleasing to the one you seek favour from. All the men in the Old Testament who obtained favour from God or men did so by doing something their master liked. This is why Moses asked God to teach him His ways so that he may know God better and serve Him better. This is why there is no favour that is unmerited. Even the ones we call unmerited favour, we merit them through the love of God and the sacrifice of Christ. We can live in a favour-contained relationship with God where God favours us at all times and in all situations. So, even though favour is suggestive of something given or done for free, it comes at a cost. Pay the price and enjoy the package of divine favour.

Prayer_Bead: Almighty God, thank you for showing me your ways through your son Jesus Christ. Help me to live a life pleasing to you always. In Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: Continous favour is engineered by knowledge.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

Remember and Wait

But they soon forgot what he had done
and did not wait for his plan to unfold. [ Psalms 106:13 NIV ]

Humans are prone to forgetfulness. People often forget the changes in their seasons and the kindness shown to them during difficult times. The Israelites experienced a similar phenomenon. The anchor scripture states, “But the Israelites forgot what God had done, and they did not wait for God’s plan to unfold.” They took the lead and moved ahead of God because they had forgotten what He had done for them. Remembering God’s past deeds is crucial for maintaining fresh and stable trust in Him. It’s challenging to trust someone without a proven track record, but easier when there’s a history of trustworthiness. The Israelites forgot the things God had done for them, leaving them with nothing to base their trust on when they needed it most. Consequently, God’s plan couldn’t unfold in their lives. They delayed the plan through their own forgetfulness. His plan for them included a waiting period, necessitating trust. God desired their trust to be firm, grounded in His past actions. Many people’s lives lack the unfolding of God’s plan due to forgetfulness. Forgetting what God has done leads to actions that hinder His plan from coming to fruition. Keeping an active memory of God’s past deeds enables us to trust Him for what He has yet to do. Therefore, it’s essential to patiently await the unfolding of God’s plan for our lives.

Prayer_Bead: Lord who wraps Himself with light as with a garment, makes the clouds His chariot and rides on the wings of the wind, thank you for Your works of old. Repeat them in my life. In Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: A forgetful person delays their future.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God

A good and perfect gift

[The Glory Unveiled ]

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. [ James‬ ‭1‬‬:‭17 NKJV‬‬ ]

Whatever God does is good and perfect because His attributes reveal His ability to see the end from the beginning and to know what is to come from ancient times (Isaiah 46:10). As a result, He considers every possibility before initiating anything. Therefore, if it originates from God, it is good and perfect. As humans, we typically deem something good or perfect when it meets a need or fits a situation. However, in God’s perspective, something is good or perfect because it originates from Him. Thus, perfection or goodness is not situation-dependent but rather God-dependent. Essentially, our measurement system differs from God’s. To attain peace and avoid battling with uncertainties and unstable emotions, we must embrace God’s measurement system instead of ours. By doing so, we can expect consistency in results because with God, there is no shadow of turning—no uncertain aim. God remains faithful and consistently adheres to His ways. If a gift comes from the Father of lights, we can be certain it is good and perfect, even if it initially appears inadequate or unsuitable for the present need. For instance, Joseph’s gift of dreaming initially led him to the pit where he was sold. At that moment, it seemed like his gift was far from good and perfect. Yet, in due time, that same gift elevated him to the highest office in Egypt. Whatever God provides is sufficient to meet every need we face. However, we must realize that God’s good and perfect gift may not seem ideal in our human situations, yet it reveals God’s faithfulness. Hold onto what God has given you, be content with it, and witness the goodness of God.

Prayer_Bead: Heavenly Father with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning, let your name be glorified in my life through your good and perfect gifts.

Wisdom_Quote: A good and perfect gift is any gift from God.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

The Jesus credit card

[The Glory Unveiled]

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. [ Mark 11:24 NIV ]

In the world, we only receive things by sight, then we are sure we have received them. But when it comes to receiving from God, we need to receive them first by faith before we receive them by sight. It will not enter your hands until it first enters your heart. Many times, believers want to have them in their hands first before they believe in their hearts that they actually have them. But the opposite is what makes our requests available. God said His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:9). God’s method is the opposite of the world’s method. While the world says you need to have them in your hands to believe, God says we need to have them (believe) in our hearts to have them in our hands. This is why many believers chase after their needs but never catch up to them. Whatever we desire as believers, when we go to the marketplace of prayer—the currency for purchasing is faith—we need to believe that we already have what we need. So, in the faith market, you take whatever you want on credit by believing—to be charged to Christ’s account, before it is actually credited to you physically. Faith is your credit card; you can buy whatever you want on account of Christ. And then, it is physically delivered to you. What you want or need will be yours after you have made it yours by faith. So, don’t pursue it with your eyes first; pursue it with your faith. Lay hold of it by faith, and your hands will handle it later.

Prayer_Bead: Father in heaven, thank you for the revelation from your word. I receive whatever I ask for in prayer by faith. In Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: The believer receives by faith before they receive by sight.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

Do you believe?

[The Glory Unveiled]

And whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” [ John 11:26 NIV ]

God told Adam and Eve that they should not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when they do, they will surely die (Genesis 2:17). Later, they ate from that tree, but they lived for many years afterward; they didn’t die as we know it. So, did God’s word fail? No, it didn’t. Adam and Eve died immediately they disobeyed God—the death was a separation from God. They were alienated from God’s life. And they were supposed to physically die immediately because just as a fish cannot live outside water, the soul of man cannot live outside God. But the reason they lived on for many years afterward was that they had harnessed a substantial amount of God’s life into their soul which kept them going until it ran out. And when the energy of that life force depleted, their bodies had to break down, resulting in physical death. Eating the fruit in disobedience resulted in a separation from the life of God. But in the new covenant, believing in Jesus means eating in faith, the fruit of the life of God, which is Christ. Jesus said whoever lives by believing in Him will never die. This means, in essence, whoever believes in Jesus will never be separated from the life of God, which is the real death. They will remain connected to the life of God. The question is, do you believe it? Do you believe that believing in Jesus gets you perpetually connected to the life of God? If you do, death cannot cut in on you; your life becomes linked to the life of God. Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn among many brethren. You can become one of His brethren if you’re not. Believe the gospel, believe the truth about Jesus, and accept His Lordship today.

Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, I accept you as my Lord and Saviour. I believe you are the Son of God, the life of God given to men. I welcome You into my heart. May I live forever in your presence. Amen.

Wisdom_Quote: Separation from the life of God is death.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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.