Category: Gospel

[The Glory Unveiled]

Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance. [ Matthew 3:8 NKJV ]

The fruit of a tree is evidence of the kind of tree it is, as the fruit cannot be different from the tree. An orange cannot claim it came from a mango tree. Similarly, as believers who have been called from one reality of life into another, we must live in a way that expresses and reflects the image of those who belong to this new life. Sometimes, even without knowing the type of tree, its fruit can give us a clue. In the same way, our “fruit” should reveal who we are and what we stand for. Believers were first called Christians because they behaved like their Master, Jesus. In fact, at one point, the leaders took notice that the disciples had been with Jesus because they lived like Him. In other words, they began to bear fruit like Him (see Acts 11:26 and Acts 4:13). Just as with these early believers, we recognize a person as a believer by their fruits. What convinces others that someone has truly repented is the change visible in their lives afterward. Galatians 5:22-23 speaks about the fruit of the Spirit. These fruits are not gifts handed down to us but the results of our walk with God—His virtues and attributes rubbing off on us. A believer in Jesus is identified by their Christlike fruits. This is how the world is drawn to Jesus: as people see the transformation in our lives, they are inspired and changed by it. Let our walk with Jesus produce fruit worthy of the One we follow.

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for the grace to bear Christlike fruit. Transform my world by my fruits. In Jesus name.

Wisdom_Quote: The fruit of a tree is the evidence of its nativity.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” [ Matthew 4:4 NKJV ]

Everything on earth, whether animate or electronic, operates on a system of instructions—whether habits, ideals, beliefs, codes, culture, or anything else that makes them function. Neither we nor machines operate simply because we are capable; we operate based on codes—codes of conduct or operating system codes. Without these codes, we cannot function properly; we become dysfunctional. Our anchor Scripture says, “Man shall not live by bread alone.” This means that while man may live on bread, there are more important things to live by. Food nourishes the body, and the body hosts our souls and spirits. So, food is important, but it is not the most essential thing to live by. Scripture tells us that the most important thing to live by is every word of God. The word of God is the foundation upon which everything, both visible and invisible, exists. Therefore, we cannot underestimate the role and importance of God’s word in our lives. The word of God has everything needed to sustain us. The world, on the other hand, has much to offer that can ensnare us if we become its slaves. Unfortunately, our bodies—the part of us that needs food to survive—can be enticed by the world’s offerings, whether they are literal food or things that appeal to our bodies, including social media, pleasure, or sin. The world offers things that our flesh desires, and we must always be on guard against such enticements. If we are not to live by bread alone, then we must study the word of God and let our lives operate by it. What is your life operating on?

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for teaching me not to live on bread alone. Help me to live on your Word at all times.

Wisdom_Quote: Man shall not live by bread alone.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” [ Matthew 26:39 NKJV ]

Worship is an expression of our allegiance to God. It demonstrates what we are willing and ready to let go of because God asks for it. Abraham was willing to let go of his only son, Isaac. That was his true worship. The owner of the donkey’s cult in Matthew 21:2-3 gave it up for the master’s use, that was worship. Esther and Moses were willing to give up their royal positions to serve God’s purpose. Worship is the voice that says, “Not my will, but Thine be done.” It is when we set aside anything that points to us and embrace everything that points to God. When Jesus lay in Gethsemane hours before His crucifixion and said, “Not my will, but Thine be done,” as recorded in our anchor text, He was worshiping. We know how that turned out—His own life had to be lost. He had to die to His will, which was independent of the Father. Every kind of true worship contains an element of death. No wonder the Old Testament worshippers always killed animals; these were symbolic of what worship meant. Romans 12:1 similarly asks us to present ourselves as living sacrifices (a type of death), which it calls our reasonable and acceptable act of worship. When Romans 12:1 instructs us to present ourselves as living sacrifices, it doesn’t limit the presentation to our bodies alone. Some people assume that only our bodies are meant to be sacrificed in holiness, but it’s more than that. Our desires and wants must also be on the table and given up when God calls for it. Are you ready to give up anything the Father needs from you?

Prayer_Bead: Heavenly Father, thank you for showing me the acceptable expression of worship. Help me to die to my will and desires. In Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: Genuine expression of worship is death to self.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God._

[The Glory Unveiled]

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. [ 1 John 2:15  NKJV ]

The world is not merely the physical space we inhabit but the society, philosophy, ideals, and customs that shape our lives. Consequently, the world exerts a certain influence on its inhabitants, presenting them with what appeals to their desires. The world offers what our willpower is often too feeble to resist and what our appetite is often too weak to reject. In simple terms, the world offers temptations that can be difficult to refuse. John 3:16 says that God loves the world so much that He gave His only Son for us. The kind of love that God has is shared abroad in our hearts. However, love for the world stifles our love for God, which is why one who loves the world cannot love as the Father does. Jesus came as the embodiment of the Father’s will to teach us how to be children of God. Through His actions, Jesus demonstrated that He did not love the world or the things in it. He showed this by not loving His life so much that He wouldn’t sacrifice it. The willingness to part with one’s life for the sake of others is a powerful expression of love for God. In contrast, some people today take their own lives, not to save others, but without regard for the impact their death will have on others. Yet, the love of God teaches us selflessness—to prioritize the needs of others over our own desires. Practicing this kind of love helps to drive out love for the world and the things in it.

Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, thank you for showing me with your life how to love. Help me as I endeavour to imitate you.

Wisdom_Quote: One’s love for God stifles their love for the world. 

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” [ John 20:27 NKJV ]

When the apostle John wrote, “that which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life we declare to you,” he meant it literally. They lived with Jesus, walked with Him, learned from Him, and were transformed by Him so profoundly that they could speak about Him with certainty. One can only write the biography of another if they deeply understand and identify with that person. The disciples of Jesus were given the privilege to make mistakes and question Jesus for as long as they needed. God did not destroy them or turn them into animals or stones because they struggled to believe in the Son of God. In fact, He allowed them so much freedom that one of them dared to say that unless he touched Jesus and put his finger into the nail scars, he would not believe what the other disciples said about Jesus’ resurrection. When Jesus returned, He did not rebuke Thomas; instead, He reached out to him with His nail-pierced hand. Jesus was ready to provide him with proof of His resurrection. As ambassadors of Jesus, we need to carry proof to the world that Jesus died and rose again. We must equip ourselves with the knowledge of God so thoroughly that we can confidently tell others about the sacrifice of Christ. And to those who hear of what Jesus has done and who He is, let us not be unbelieving.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for the privilege to represent you in this world. Help me to believe you with all my being.

Wisdom_Quote: The unbelieving believer is an embargo to the spread of the gospel.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

I pray that the light of God will illuminate the eyes of your imagination, flooding you with light, until you experience the full revelation of the hope of his calling —that is, the wealth of God’s glorious inheritances that he finds in us, his holy ones! [ Ephesians 1:18 TPT ]

There is a heavenly expectation for our being called into the family of God. Yet, the full revelation of the hope of that calling in our lives is only experienced when we are flooded with light. We are flooded with light when we stay in the presence of God—when the light of God overwhelms our understanding and imagination, and when God’s soothing and peaceful presence calms the cares of this world and drowns out the noise in the silence of His peace. As we enter into this experience, we come to understand the depth of God’s love for us. The hope of God’s calling in our lives is a glorious inheritance deposited within us. However, the reality of this deposit is Christ. God made Him the custodian of all the realities of God, which is why this reality is encountered through our knowledge of God. When we embrace the truth of God’s word, we are equipped with light, and our souls become illuminated, radiating the beauty of God. Whatever God has in store for us, no matter how precious, will only benefit us once we have received adequate knowledge of God. The gifts that God has deposited will only truly benefit the body of Christ and ourselves when we approach these gifts from a position of knowledge rather than mere sentiment and emotion. May the light of God illuminate our minds and hearts so that we can experience the full revelation of the hope of God’s calling.

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for the hope of your calling. Let the eyes of my understanding be illuminated with light.

Wisdom_Quote: The word of God is the light of the souls of men.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.