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Press on

[The Glory Unveiled]

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ( Philippians 3:12 NIV )

The difference between the living and the dead is activity. The living are constantly engaged in some form of activity. Even when they are sleeping, their body parts and organs perform essential life functions. The dead, on the other hand, do nothing. The apostle Paul said he had not yet achieved his goal, but he pressed on to take hold of that for which Christ took hold of him. Every calling has its markings, and our success is tied to pressing on toward the mark of the call. At the time Paul made this statement, he was not a lazy or idle person. He had already achieved significant things and could have rested on the laurels of his past successes. The glory of his past accomplishments might have lasted him for a while. However, if he had done so, he would have “died” in a figurative sense. His relevance and purpose would have been lost in his own time. We cease to truly live when we stop striving and fail to press on to the next item on our agenda. Life is a continuous march forward toward a set goal. The apostle Paul never claimed he had achieved enough to stop pressing on. Despite all he had already accomplished, he continued to move forward with determination. We must also recognize that there is a force that drives us forward toward achieving our goals. For Paul, this force—this magnet—was the reason Christ took hold of him. The value we place on what lies ahead of us has the power to draw us toward it. If the target we set before us is truly important, we will make every necessary effort to strive toward it. Remember,  the world recognizes only the living—those striving to leave a mark. Be one of those.

Prayer_Bead: Lord, thank you for the vision you have placed in my heart to pursue. Help me not to relent. In Jesus name.

Wisdom_Quote: Press on towards the mark of your calling.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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One thing

[The Glory Unveiled]

Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” ( Mark 10:21 NIV)

There’s power in one. It’s amazing how great things often begin with a single individual or a single course of action. The Lord Jesus encountered a young man who expressed a desire to inherit eternal life. Jesus outlined the commandments the man needed to follow, and he confidently replied that he had been observing them since his youth. Yet, he was still unqualified to inherit the kingdom of God because he lacked one essential thing. For this young man, it was just one thing standing in the way of his eternal life. In Luke 10, when Jesus visited Martha and Mary, Martha was preoccupied with many tasks—household chores. However, in verse 42, Jesus told Martha that only one thing was necessary, and Mary had discovered it. Mary’s life stood out because she focused on the one thing that truly mattered, while Martha was distracted by many things. It wasn’t about doing numerous things; it was about identifying and prioritizing the one thing of greatest importance. For each of us, there is one thing that significantly impacts the quality and sustenance of our lives. Some of us are missing that one thing; many of us haven’t even identified what it is. As a result, we often find ourselves busy with everything, yet our lives lack clear direction. Have you noticed that you might be preoccupied with too many things? Take the time to discover the one thing that is crucial for your life and focus on it. As the saying goes, “A jack of all trades is a master of none.” Concentrate your gifts and attention on the one thing that truly matters to you.

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for the privilege to pursue the one thing that matters to my life and livelihood.

Wisdom_Quote: Change starts with one.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Hope beyond this life

[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.

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Jesus gave Himself for a reason

[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.

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When change is unnecessary

[The Glory Unveiled]

Do not move the ancient landmark
that your fathers have set. ( Proverbs 22:28 ESV)

It is a popular saying that change is the only constant. However, there comes a time when change is unnecessary. Even though change is something we will always encounter, it often arrives when we least want it. Change is like our shadows—we cannot banish them from following us. Even when we wish to escape them, they remain with us. Similarly, change is unavoidable. As a result, we have become so accustomed to change that we often resist keeping things the same for too long. Yet, there are moments when we must avoid change—times when we must consistently pursue a singular course of action. The author of Proverbs, in our anchor Scripture, advises the current generation not to move the ancient landmarks set by their forefathers. Landmarks are established to guide and serve as reference points for navigation. Removing or altering them in the name of change can cause significant problems and misdirection. When generational landmarks are removed, future generations may lose their way in matters of history. There are instances when change is unnecessary, especially in matters that extend beyond our immediate existence and livelihood. In such times, we must disregard fleeting sentiments and unnecessary customs. When change is unwarranted, it is essential not to embrace it. If there is something God wants you to keep at consistently,  don’t let go. Don’t change it even if half the world is doing something new. Be a statue if you must but remain insistent on your assignment of giving direction to others. And God will be pleased with you.

Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, thank you for the landmarks in my life. Help me not to move them against your will or distort your plans for my life and those around me.

Wisdom_Quote: When change is unnecessary don’t fight it.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Resurrection and life.

[The Glory Unveiled]

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” ( John 11:25-26 NIV )

The apostle Paul prayed, “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death” (Philippians 3:10). Paul understood something profound about the resurrection power of Christ and longed to experience it. He desired to encounter that power. He also recognized that resurrection is only activated in the presence of death and suffering. The one who believes in Jesus lives, even though they die. Death is not the end of existence. For some, death serves as a doorway into another reality. The same apostle wrote in Romans 8:36 that he was “killed all day long” for the sake of other believers. He lived daily as if dying to himself. Jesus also instructed those who wish to follow Him to take up their cross (embrace death), deny themselves, and follow Him. Death becomes an avenue, an instrument through which the resurrection power of Christ is experienced and shared. If we live by believing in Christ Jesus, we will never die (in terms of losing our relevance and ability to replicate ourselves spiritually). When Jesus lived on earth, believing in our heavenly Father, He multiplied Himself through many others. As a result, after He died and rose again to be with the Father, many “Jesuses” remained—His products. The same is expected of us. What would you want to know more than anything else? Paul made it clear that his deepest desire was to know Christ, and he pursued this with everything in him. When Jesus spoke to Martha, the sister of Lazarus, saying, “I am the resurrection and the life,” He was demonstrating that with Him, there is no loss. If she had Jesus, she could not truly lose anything, even when it seemed lost. If you have the Resurrection and the Life on your side, you have everything you could ever want.

Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life, I believe in you for my life and its sustenance. Let your name be glorified in me.

Wisdom_Quote: Death is a gateway to a new beginning.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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The help of God

[The Glory Unveiled]

With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. ( Psalms 18:29 NIV)

Help is needed where there are limitations in human strength and abilities. Since everything on earth and all that is accomplished through human effort is limited, we are in need of help. However, the help of man is often insufficient because all humans are limited. The writer of this verse in Psalms acknowledged that with the help of God, he was able to advance against a troop and scale a wall. He could do the impossible and overcome every hurdle and blockade in his way. Where human ability ends, God’s ability begins, covering all flaws and weaknesses. When the help of God comes, human weaknesses are concealed. A weak and frail man is only weak because he is not helped. When the help of God rests upon a person, the challenges and frustrations associated with humanity disappear. The help of God washed away the stain of human weakness in Moses. Moses was regarded as a god because he had the help of God. Whatever contradicts God’s plan for our lives or challenges His grace and provisions remains only because we rely on our own abilities and strength instead of the help of God. Humanity was created to depend perpetually on God. Relying on one’s own abilities or the help of man is the downfall of many. The arm of flesh always fails, rely on God’s help.

Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, thank you for the provision you have made for me in every area of my life. I receive your help daily.

Wisdom_Quote: The help of God conceals the weaknesses of men.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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A walk through fire

[The Glory Unveiled]

Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. ( Acts 28:3 NIV )

Fire is not entirely a bad master, even though it has earned that name through many people’s experiences with it. As a result, whenever we see fire, we are so eager to quench it that we have institutions set up to deal with it. However, fire in its nature is not all that bad. Fire has other wonderful purposes that only fire can fulfill. In the text above, the apostle Paul and other travelers reached a point in their journey where they had to make a fire to warm themselves. Nothing happened when Paul picked up his pile of wood, but as soon as he placed it on the fire, a snake came out because of the heat. The heat of the fire exposed what had been hiding all along. In the same way, God sometimes allows fires into our lives to purify us and reveal things we don’t even know exist. Some of us harbor habits and attitudes that are unwelcome, but we may never discover them until fire is introduced into our lives. The discomfort that fire brings will drive out everything that is not meant to remain in us. For some of us, the fires might be started by people closest to us. At other times, situations and circumstances beyond our control ignite these fires. Our willingness or unwillingness to accept the lessons that these experiences bring is what defines us. The fires and heat in your life are permitted by God for a reason. The fires in our lives are there on assignment. When the same Paul complained of a thorn in his flesh, God, who could have taken it away, didn’t. Instead, He said His grace was sufficient for Paul and that His strength is made perfect in weakness. God didn’t remove the thorn because it was serving a purpose in Paul’s life. So, when we walk through fire, we must understand that God is taking us on an assignment. You will come out with a glorious testimony.

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for your love for me. Thank you for the fire you allow into my life to refine me and prepare me for what you are about to do. In Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: Many life assignments are discovered after taking the walk through fire.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Victory over Sin and Death

[The Glory Unveiled]

But we thank God for giving us the victory as conquerors through our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One. [ 1 Corinthians 15:57 TPT ]

Different battles require different kinds of ammunition. However, victory is not achieved solely through skill or weaponry. Victory is, in essence, a certificate we receive—either because we won something ourselves or because someone else won it on our behalf. For us, victory comes because someone else did the work. Victory over sin and death was utterly impossible through human strength or strategies. When we sinned, we fell short of the glory of God—His nature and attributes, which empower a victorious life. By falling from that glory, we were reduced to a purely human existence. Yet, the love of God refused to abandon us. God conquered sin and death so that we might have freedom and enter His rest. Until sin and death are dealt with, humanity cannot truly experience freedom. Our current state is the direct result of sin, and restoration can only come when sin is permanently eradicated. Imagine not taking an exam yet having the top student’s results credited to you. Similarly, God assigned Jesus’ victory to us. Through Jesus, we are victorious over sin and death. Victory over sin is essential for walking with God. Without it, we cannot consistently walk in fellowship with Him. This is why God took the initiative to address the problem on our behalf. While we did not physically hang on the cross to conquer sin and death, Jesus did, granting us His victory through faith. This is why our hearts should overflow with gratitude to God.

Prayer_Bead: Heavenly Father , thank you for the victory you have given me as a conqueror through Christ Jesus.

Wisdom_Quote: We ride triumphantly on Jesus’ victory parade.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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The good we don’t see

[The Glory Unveiled ]

And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” [ John 1:46 NKJV ]

There is so much the ordinary eye cannot perceive. As humans, we do not see the end of things from the beginning—but God does. He sees the end from the beginning and from ancient times what is yet to come (Isaiah 46:10). This is why His counsel always stands. Humans, on the other hand, are limited and make decisions based on the incomplete information they have. As a result, we are often quick to judge people and situations because of our short-sightedness. But because God sees all things and knows all things, His judgments and decrees are perfect. When we feel overwhelmed by our struggles, we tend to give up. We shut every door of hope, thinking there is no help for us. Yet, if we leave the door of hope open, we would learn that the challenges we face often carry some good within them—even if we don’t immediately see it. There is a purpose for everything God permits in our lives. Some of those purposes may not align with our plans or feel good at the moment, but they undoubtedly have an intended purpose. Nathanael once thought that nothing good could come from Nazareth. Yet, in what seemed like insignificance and mess, God hid the Savior in Nazareth. In the crucibles of your struggles and hardships, God has hidden untapped resources—a blessing for many. Jesus endured the suffering of the cross because of the joy set before Him. There is glory ahead of your suffering. Your struggles may become the ladder someone else needs to cross over into joy and peace. Someone’s burdens may be lifted because you endured and overcame in that area. There is good you cannot yet see in what you are going through. Stick with Jesus through it all until your only hope is in Him.

Prayer_Bead: Precious Jesus, thank you for the good you have hidden in my nothingness. Help me to see the good, so that I may have hope. Amen.

Wisdom_Quote: There is good behind everything God permits.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.