Category: Gospel

[The Glory Unveiled]

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” [ John 21:15 NIV ]

The twentieth century revivalist, preacher and writer, Vance Havner is quoted to have said, “the primary qualification for a missionary is not love for souls, as we so often hear, but love for Christ.” This statement by the missionary who has gone to be with the Lord is a statement of fact extracted from Jesus’ words to Peter, who was sent out into the mission field with the other disciples. Jesus wanted to send Peter to the mission field to feed his lambs (people who were ignorant or had no experience with the word), He asks Peter whether he loved Him. One would wonder why that question and if at all that was even fair in that moment? It would be thought that Jesus should have asked Peter whether he loved the souls (lambs) he was being sent to. But instead, Jesus asks whether Peter loved Him. This shows us that the basic requirement for the mission field is not love for the souls (lambs) but rather love for the Saviour. If we don’t love Jesus enough to obey His instructions and commands, we cannot be zealous enough to go out to invite souls into the kingdom of God at all cost. The only thing that can adequately fuel our decision and commitment to go out to the mission field to witness to souls about the Lord is first of all our burning love for Him. Jesus said to Peter, “if you love me, feed my lambs.” The same words are spoken to us today. If we love the Lord, then it will be proven by our witnessing to souls. Our love for God should be expressed in our missionary activities. This is why our love for souls cannot be the true fuel for missions because we do not love any soul more than Jesus who died for them and us all. And so, our missionary endeavors must be powered from a deep love for the Lord Jesus Christ. And so, Jesus asks us the same question as He did Peter, “do you love me [Jesus] more than these?

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for showing me the primary qualification for working in your vineyard. Help me to love you more than every other thing.

Wisdom_Quote: The primary qualification for a missionary is an ardent love for Christ.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. [ Deuteronomy 30:14 NIV ]

The New Testament copy of our anchor scripture is recorded in Romans 10:8. The scriptures speak about the proximity of the word of God and how we are without excuse as believers, for that matter. The word that shows us what we ought to do is the same word that judges us; the word of God in our hearts and mouth. And so, we have no excuses to give for our negligence. Just as a man who has fire extinguishers in his house but failed to use them to control a fire that broke out and later became uncontrollable has no one to blame nor excuses to make. But then, sometimes, even though people have fire extinguishers, their houses still get burnt to ashes because their extinguishers are far from the place of the fire. In the same way, people become casualties of temptation’s fire outbreaks because their spiritual fire extinguishers are far from them than they ought to be. The place of the fire refers to the sins that easily besets you. Hebrews 12:1, says “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Do not keep your fire extinguishers in a different room from where you predict your fire to break out. If your fires break out around sexual temptations, pornography, theft, alcohol, or whatever it is, you should get your extinguisher close by—throwing off the things that entice you in those areas. The word of God is in your heart, it is in your mind. Obey it, when the Holy Spirit prompts you with a word that forbids you from doing something; whatever it is that kindles the fires of your temptation. Just obey that word of God in that moment without any reservations or reconsiderations and then your house will not burn.

Prayer_Bead: Gracious Lord, Merciful Father, thank you for teaching me your word. Help me to always obey your word promptly. In Jesus’ name

Wisdom_Quote: Houses burn not because they do not have fire extinguishers but rather because they were not used.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” [ Romans 4:18 NIV ]

Hope plays a very vital role in faith by helping us not to quit. It fuels the magnetic field of our faith. And sends us a bill of guarantee. But have you ever felt pushed so hard against hope, that you couldn’t hope again? Have you ever been to the edge of hope? In that place, the heart becomes depressed and sick even. “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” (Proverbs 13:12). For Abraham to be pushed to the boundary of hope and still hope was more than a human achievement. “Against all hope” means that what he could hope for was against him, there was nothing to hope for, yet he believed God to be faithful. Sometimes, in some rare instances, against all hope, faith becomes our only available flight to the destination that even hope cannot afford. When it looks hopeless and the promises of God seems far from reach, we can still believe in the faithfulness of God. Just as against all odds, when it looked irredeemable, Abraham believed God to fulfill His promises. He took God at His word, and the result became his transformation into the image of the person God had called. Many times, the challenges of life push us against the wall of hope, hemmed in by our fears and doubts. And then, after some time with fear as our master, we begin to break apart and lap into depression. But the word of grace to us today is that, against all hope, we should still hope in God. God is faithful and committed to His promises. Even when nature and science conspire against His words, and Kings and Princes plot against Him, He will still come through because of His Sovereignty and Majesty. Are you pushed against hope? Hope again.

Prayer_Bead: Omnipotent Father, All-Sufficient Lord, thank you for giving me the strength to hope again. Thank you for your faithfulness.

Wisdom_Quote: Hope is the magnetic field of faith.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

“How can a young man stay pure? Only by living in the Word of God and walking in its truth.” [ Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭9‬ ‭TPT‬‬ ]

The statement in our anchor scripture is one of the boldest statements in scripture. Even though some people believe that Ezra wrote Psalms 119, the poetic style of writing is unique to King David. And if David, we can be sure he knew experientially what he was talking about here in our anchor verse and hence, the reason for such audacity. It says, the only way a young person can stay pure is by living in the word of God and walking in its truth. At some point, David had challenges staying pure himself. And if he says the only way out is living in the word of God, then that’s the only way out indeed. But don’t take David’s words for it, the Lord Jesus said in John 8:32, “And you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” The Lord Jesus is saying the same thing here, that freedom comes by intimately knowing the truth; God’s word. Real freedom is hidden in our acquaintance with the truth. Unless we are properly acquainted with the truth, freedom is only a distant dream. The man or woman who is ready to break free from the world and its lusts is one who is ready to marry the word of God and die in its truth. Breaking free from addictions and evil habits and staying pure has everything to do with living in the word of God and walking in its truth. But how does one live in the word of God? We live in the word of God when our lifestyles fit into the boundary of God’s word. When we allow our lives to be dictated by the word of God, patterned after Jesus Christ. And we walk in the truth of God’s word through obedience; obeying the word of God in all things. Stay pure.

Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, thank you for your mercy. Thank you for your living word. Help me to stay pure, in Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: Our freedom is mingled with our intimate knowledge of the truth.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

“After they had breakfast, Jesus said to Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you burn with love for me more than these?” Peter answered, “Yes, Lord! You know that I have great affection for you!” “Then take care of my lambs,” Jesus said.” [ John‬ ‭21‬:‭15‬ TPT‬‬ ]

After Jesus’ death, in John 21, the disciples, led by Peter, went back to fishing. In the anchor text above, although it may not be clear whether the Lord Jesus was referring to the fishes that had just been caught or the other disciples when He said “do you burn with love for me, more than ‘these?’,” For the purpose of our study, we will assume He was referring to the fishes as it applies more with Peter who was a fisherman and loved fishing. The statement made by Jesus shows us how to break free from the bondage of the things we love, things we are so used to. He shows us that we need a wedge fixed in between the habit that has control over us and the new habit that we want to develop. And so, Jesus told Peter to take care of His lamb; to Peter it was a measure of His love for the Lord but it was also a new habit that was being grafted into his old setup. In other words, Jesus was saying take care of a new business; burn with love for something else. We could refer to Peter as an addicted fisherman who loved to go fishing every time. And even though Jesus had called him from that old life to now be a worker for God, he went back to fishing when he felt Jesus was gone. [This is the place of relapses in addiction recovery.] He relapsed because the wedge was taken out. Addiction relapses happen as a result of the direction of one’s love and passion. Where our interests lie, there our energies are directed. Peter had his attention and passion redirected to fishing. And so, the Lord Jesus now asks him if he loved him more than the other thing—fishing? That’s the entry point for anyone who wants to break free. Freedom from addiction rests on the shoulders of our passionate love for God. How passionately we love God determines what we will do. In that moment of change, we would have to weigh the addiction against our love for God. And then divert the energy of our love to God through our ministries and callings. Do you love Jesus more than what your heart burns with lust for?

Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, thank you for showing me yet another way out of any addiction that has robbed me of time with you. Help me to love you more than every other thing.

Wisdom_Quote: Freedom from addiction starts and is sustained by getting addicted to Jesus and His mandate.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.