Category: Inspiration

[The Glory Unveiled]

For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” [ Esther 4:14 NIV ]

The problem with the world is not that good people do not exist but that good people are silent while evil is loud. This problem has crept into the Christiandom as well. There are many passive believers who would rather sit and watch than take actions that will bring change. Sometimes because they don’t want to appear worldly or harsh. Other times in our societies, things go wrong because the many good people in the communities are passive about the evil happening around them while the few crooks in society are very active in making decisions. And sometimes these good people are silent because they feel that the wrong in society does not affect them in anyway. They feel they are untouchable by the scorching flames of these societal problems they’re overlooking. The truth is that, these people were brought into their place of “comfort” for the sake of the people they are supposed to help. In the case of Esther, she came into royalty to help save the entire Jewish nation. She didn’t become Queen just because of her own comfort and pleasure. She was there for the sake of others. Her private victory and comfort was intended for the public deliverance of her tribe. Some of us are brought into the place of comfort so that we can help others out of discomfort. But many times, when some people come into their place of comfort, they become indifferent to the needs and plights of their society. If by the grace of God, we come into a place of power, let us serve the purpose of our positions and help our communities and reflect the goodness of God in us.

Prayer_Bead: Almighty God, thank you for bringing me into my place of rest. Help me to see the needs around me and how I can help meet them.

Wisdom_Quote: Societies go in the direction of the most actively dominant voices.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. [ 1 Timothy 4:8 NIV ]

Physical training is good. But some people invest everything into physical training as if it would save them from all their troubles. There are those who have made physical fitness the sole purpose of their livelihood. They want to be in shape either for themselves or [mostly] others. Now we will be quick to admit that physical exercise is not a bad thing. It has its many benefits too. But the point is that, godliness [righteousness] has value for all things. So that we are given promises of both the present life and the life to come. Physical training can only meet the needs of our present life but not the needs of the life after this earthly one. If two different banks promise profit on your investment with them but one says they will pay you twice as much as the first bank is offering, with every other conditions the same. You will undoubtedly invest with the bank that promise twice the amount on investment. Now, spiritual exercise is promising us more than twice. Spiritual exercise has to do with commitment to and the practice of righteousness. It is the practice of imitating God, becoming His student and looking steadily into His word until we are changed into His image and our lives shining with the brilliance of God’s glory. And if spiritual exercise profits unto all things would we rather not give more of our attention and time to that? In our commitment to exercising spiritually, we become workmen who have no fear nor shame, rightly dividing the word of truth. May we passionately pursue spiritual training but not ignoring the physical.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord, thank you for showing us the benefits of spiritual exercise and why we need to invest more there. Help us to be committed to this discipline.

Wisdom_Quote: The purpose of every investment is profit.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

He moved on from there and dug another well, and no one quarreled over it. He named it Rehoboth, [4] saying, “Now the LORD has given us room and we will flourish in the land.” [ Genesis 26:22 NIV ]

The believer’s walk with God in this world may be faced with many challenges, trials and confrontations from those who do not understand why we do what we do. But amidst all that the believer will face on their journey, we cannot relent nor quit. Perseverance makes a true believer. Isaac dug a well and people rose up against it. But he didn’t stop just because there were confrontations, instead the more he was confronted, the more well he dug. And through his perseverance, he left an indelible mark in that community and among his people. He named the well that was free from quarrels and aligations, Rehoboth meaning “God has given us room”. Imagine what would have happened if he stopped digging. He wouldn’t have come into the experience of that room (opportunity) that God would have given him. It would have seem like God didn’t give him room in that new land if he hadn’t persevered. The things we desire and are earnestly praying for may be lying behind the lines of perseverance and relentlessness. There is room for you in what you do but you will never know it until you persevere amidst challenges and confrontations. Don’t complain, don’t murmur if you have given up too soon. God is not to blame for not having a room to flourish and excel in your chosen field, if you cower at the least confrontations. Arm yourself with this understanding that you will face challenges if you want to leave a mark here on this side of reality. And that God is committed to giving you room to flourish.

Prayer_Bead: Our Father, thank you for the grace to flourish in this land of my calling. Help me to persevere amidst challenges and confrontations. In Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: Perseverance makes a true believer.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not. [ Genesis 24:21 KJV ]

Many times, many people miss their blessings not because they were not qualified for the blessing but because they could not properly discern the timing of God. Other times, they miss the blessing because they assume wrong. Even though God might have said something at one time does not make it a permanent mark in a stone. And for that, we need to constantly check on the last instruction. We need an updated version of what God said. The servant of Abraham was sent to find a wife for Isaac. He had prayed that God should answer him with a sign. Later when it seem he was answered because the sign came through, he didn’t immediately run for “the answer,” instead he held his peace to examine if what he was seeing was actually what God had sent. You see, we live in a world where counterfeits look like the real deal and so it is expedient that we discern and cross check the offers that are presented to us. Jacob ordered for Rachel but Leah was delivered to him unexpectedly. It may look exactly like what you ordered but it may not be what is delivered. This is why the Scriptures admonish us to be as wise as serpents and harmless as doves. We need the wisdom of God more than ever in our day. So, hold your peace and examine what you are being presented with.

Prayer_Bead: Almighty God, thank you for the privilege to be armed with your word. Help me to be discerning in all things as I walk in wisdom in this deceptive world.

Wisdom_Quote: What you ordered may not always be what is delivered.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. [ Acts 11:20 NIV]

The true purpose of challenges is not known until long after the dust of its distractions are settled. Most times, it is many days or years later. The early church faced persecution from the Jews and other unbelievers. During this persecution, Stephen was stoned to death (Acts 11:19). This unfortunate situation sent most of the church leaders running helter-skelter. In this disorderly dispersion, they went about preaching the gospel wherever they went. Initially, the gospel was centralized; concentrated and confined to one place. But the unfortunate event of Stephen’s death, brought about the spreading of the gospel like wide fire. This event was primarily the reason why the gospel left the concentrated location of the Jews to the Greeks also. Many times, we are faced with challenges that seem to throw us off hook. It makes us feel we have lost it all and there is nothing more we can do. It is at this point that sometimes the devil whispers thoughts of suicide to people. But the truth is that, such tragedies and losses as they may seem are actually, painfully but ironically, pathways for God to do what we never imagine or hope could happen. The church would probably not expand at the time it did if that tragedy had not befallen it. My dear, whatever might have happened until now cannot excuse what God will do. Don’t despair, hope in God. God will bring beauty out of our ashes. Let’s trust His love and Omnipotent power.

Prayer_Bead: Father in heaven, thank you for your mercy and love even if I don’t understand it. Thank you for all that has happened, both the good and the bad. Let your name be glorified in my life.

Wisdom_Quote: Except a seed loses itself to the soil, a tree cannot be born.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.