Category: Gospel

[The Glory Unveiled]

But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” ( Matthew 26:54 NIV )

The glory of our lives comes from living according to God’s purpose for us. Jesus said, “In the volume of the books it is written concerning Me, to do the will of the Father” (Hebrews 10:7). Jesus had the power to do as He pleased. From His prayer in Gethsemane, we can tell that He could have taken a path different from what God preferred. He was free to act as He wished, yet He chose to stick to the script for His life and ministry. From our anchor scripture, we see that people came to arrest Jesus, led by Judas Iscariot. One of the disciples, attempting to prevent Jesus’ arrest, drew his sword and struck off the ear of one of the men who came for Jesus. It was then that Jesus made the statement above. This small yet profound statement reveals the principle that underpinned Jesus’ life on earth and His philosophy. Jesus lived His earthly life moment by moment, ensuring alignment with every scripture written about Him. He intentionally and deliberately fulfilled Scripture, to the point that He would rather inconvenience Himself or endure suffering to see God’s word concerning Him come to pass. He placed the word of God above every decision and action, living so that God’s word would be fulfilled through Him. As believers, we share the same mandate: to submit our lives to the influence of Scripture. We must align our lives with what is written concerning us. Let it happen to you according to God’s word.

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for your word concerning me. Help me to walk according to everything written about me. In Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: The life of the believer is supposed to mirror God’s word.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. [ John 6:68 KJV ]

In this life, people are driven by and lured to the things that appeal most to them. What appeals to people differ from one person to another. For one person, it may be food; for another, it may be clothes; and for others, it may be power. During Jesus’ earthly ministry, many people followed Him. However, from our anchor scripture and other verses, we discover that not all of Jesus’ followers were drawn to Him because of the word of life. In fact, the Bible mentions that some followed Him because of the bread and fish He multiplied for them to eat until they were satisfied. These people stopped following Jesus when He stopped multiplying bread. As a result, He turned to those who continued to follow Him and asked if they, too, would leave. But Peter responded with the words recorded in our anchor scripture. Peter’s response revealed what truly motivated their pursuit of Jesus—the desire for the words of eternal life. This desire kept them committed. It implies that if Jesus had stopped providing the words of eternal life, they might have also stopped following Him. Reflect on what drives you to the things you pursue with dedication. What keeps you attached to something will likely be the same reason you let go of it. The question to ask yourself is: Does what I am chasing offer eternal life? Only something of eternal worth can endure beyond our temporary needs and desires. Pursue what lasts beyond your name and fame.

Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, thank you for your words that gave me eternal life. Help me to follow you in all things and at all times.

Wisdom_Quote: Your desires and needs drive your focus.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. [ Ephesians 5:11 NIV ]

Seeing fruits anywhere is no guarantee of success. However, the nature of the fruit serves as the judge. In Matthew 7:18, it says, “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit.” And in verse 20, it states, “By their fruit, you will recognize them.” Fruit is not always a guarantee of good alone; rather, it helps to discern whether something is good or bad. The fruit reveals the tree. You may not know that a tree is bad until it begins to bear fruit. It is when the fruit begins to show that you can make a judgment about the type of tree it has been all along. In our anchor scripture, the apostle Paul says we should have nothing to do with the fruitless works of darkness. This suggests that the fruit of darkness is evident, and it is not worthy to be eaten as fruit. This also implies that the fruit of darkness is diabolic and ultimately fruitless as it is not productive. This is why we are instructed to have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness. There are those who chase after all kinds of fruits. They don’t care what the fruits are; as long as they are called fruits, they pay no attention to their dark nature. This is how many are led astray, often the gullible ones. However, the apostle teaches us to expose the fruitless works of darkness. Because, you see, unless you expose the things that hold you down, you will remain down. Many people continue to partake of the fruit of darkness because they compromise with it rather than exposing it. And over time, they are eaten up by darkness. Wherever you encounter the fruit of darkness, expose it with the fruit of God’s light in you.

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for teaching me to expose the fruitless works of darkness. Help me to be an example of the fruit of light.

Wisdom_Quote: Whatever you don’t expose, will be imposed on you.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. [ Galatians 5:1 NIV ]

There is a purpose behind every action undertaken by humanity. The Lord Jesus did not go to the cross without reason; He went with the greater purpose of saving the world. The Lord Jesus said that if anyone wants to build a tower, they must first sit down and estimate the cost to see if they have enough to complete it. A lot of planning and thought goes into taking any worthwhile action. In the same way, Jesus went to the cross on our behalf to bring us freedom. Before the cross, we were held captive by the power of sin. The price required to free us was the death of the Son of God. His holiness and righteousness were given in exchange for our sins and iniquities. However, after Christ Jesus fulfilled His part, we must fulfill ours by staying within the provisions of His sacrifice. His death made a way for our freedom, but we need to remain within the boundaries of that provision. We are called to stand firm and resist every burden and yoke of slavery. The enemy will always seek to exploit people’s ignorance to burden them again with what Christ has already dealt with. To protect ourselves from the enemy’s deception, we must stand firm in the knowledge of our inheritance. Jesus died for us, and we must hold fast to this awareness and truth. You are free if you have embraced the provisions of Jesus’ death and resurrection by faith. Walk in this consciousness.

Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, thank you for the privilege to walk in the provisions you made for me through Your death.

Wisdom_Quote: Jesus’ death and resurrection provided for our every need.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” [ John 8:32 NIV ]

The Lord Jesus asked this question: “Who do men say that I am?” Through this, He was teaching His disciples a profound truth. He posed this question before telling them that the truth frees those who know it. The Lord Jesus teaches that it is our relational knowledge of Him that sets us free. It is not merely the intellectual ability to understand or recall what the Scriptures say about Him, even though there is a degree of deliverance that comes from knowing about Him. True freedom, however, comes from having a personal relationship with Jesus. It is about knowing His heart, seeing Him for who He truly is, and embracing His character. “Knowing the truth,” as described in our anchor Scripture, refers to knowing the person of Jesus, not just the texts that speak about Him. Nicodemus, for example, was a learned man and a Pharisee. He knew much about what was written concerning Jesus but lacked a personal relationship with Him. As a result, he found himself spiritually trapped. One day, he sought Jesus and met Him face to face to begin a relationship. (John 3:1-2) In verse 2, Nicodemus said: “We know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” This shows that while Nicodemus knew about Jesus, he did not truly know Him relationally. This is why Jesus had to take Nicodemus back to the basics—inviting him into a relationship with God by being “born again.” We, too, need to know the Truth—who Jesus is—and relate with Him personally to experience true freedom.

Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, thank you for revealing yourself to me. Teach me to walk in the reality of who you are. Amen

Wisdom_Quote: Jesus is more than what is written about Him.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. [ Genesis 3:8 NIV ]

Adam and Eve had just sinned by disobeying God’s instructions. However, they still heard the sound of God in the garden. Not only did they hear the sound of God, but in verse ten, it is clear that what they actually heard was the voice of God. Although their disobedience did not silence God’s voice, it severed their relationship with Him. Their disobedience led to their banishment from the garden, and God’s voice became distant to their ears. This increased distance between them and God’s voice plunged them into spiritual oblivion. Our walk with God hinges on hearing His voice. We cannot afford to walk with Him without recognizing or hearing His voice. The voice of God is our compass, directing us toward the true north of our destinies. Without a compass, a traveler may easily become lost in unfamiliar territory. For the believer, God’s voice serves as our moment-by-moment guide. However, here is the reality: you may hear the voice of God, but disobedience can cause you to miss His direction. Adam and Eve heard God’s voice, yet their disobedience prevented them from remaining in His presence. As believers, it is vital not only to hear God’s voice but also to obey it. Sometimes, God’s voice comes to us through the help of others, as it did for Eve and Samuel during the early stages of their walk with Him. Regardless of how His voice reaches us, adherence to it is key. Stay in God’s presence by continually walking in obedience.

Prayer_Bead: Heavenly Father, thank you for the privilege to hear your voice and obey your instructions. In Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: The voice of God gives direction to the believer.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. ( 1 Corinthians 15:19 KJV )

Every intentional action is motivated by a vision and a hope that goes beyond immediate desires. Hope is the fuel that keeps humanity moving forward. Anything that gives hope should provide people with a reason, or reasons, to persevere or pursue a course of action. While the degrees of what and why people subscribe to certain things may vary, hope offers a long-term assurance of something greater. The apostle Paul asserts that if our hope in Christ yielded only earthly benefits, then we are, of all people, most to be pitied. Imagine the sacrifices we make as believers and the lifestyle choices we adopt to be Christlike. If, after all these sacrifices and changes, our hope were confined to the limits of this earthly existence, then the reward would not justify the sacrifice. What is sacrificed must pale in comparison to the reward envisioned. This is the essence of why anyone places hope in something. Nobody invests their hope in something that does not promise a meaningful outcome in the future. If our hope in Christ were limited to this life alone, it would be a loss compared to other earthly pursuits one could engage in. However, the reason we hope is undeniable: this hope extends beyond this life into the eternal. This is why we confidently continue pursuing this hope. And it is also why, despite suffering or losses, we are not miserable. The hope we have sustains us, transcending the challenges we face in its pursuit. So, keep this hope alive.

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for the hope of my calling. I wait persistently for the full manifestation of your purposes.

Wisdom_Quote: Hope is humanity’s fuel for perseverance.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. ( Titus 2:14 KJV )

From the eleventh verse of our anchor Scripture, it says that the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. This grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts. We are called to look forward to the hope and appearing of Jesus. It is this same Jesus that our anchor verse describes as having given Himself for us. But why did He give Himself up? Was it worth it? Our anchor Scripture aligns with the description of Jesus’ work in the salutation of the apostle Paul in his letter to the Galatians, specifically in Galatians 1:4. The Lord Jesus gave Himself for a reason. His purpose was to redeem us from a life of sin and iniquity and to purify us unto Himself. He paid the ultimate price so that we could be set apart for Him, without blemish. If such detail and attention were devoted to our redemption, then it is not something to take lightly or jeopardize. Our redemption is as precious as gold, something to be treasured. The fact that He gave Himself for us, rather than sending an angel, demonstrates the immense value He places on us. We are worth His Son. God values us as much as His only begotten Son. But He also redeemed us for a purpose. If Jesus truly redeemed us, then this redemption should manifest in our lives. We must be peculiar and zealous in our good works for Him. Our peculiarity stems from being called out of what we once were, and our zeal is fueled by our knowledge of Christ and our gratitude to God. May God continually help us in our walk with Him.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Jesus, thank you for your redemption and the blessings you have called me into. I am eternally grateful.

Wisdom_Quote: Jesus redeemed us for an assignment.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.