GNews

[The Glory Unveiled]

When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! [ Luke 15:17 NIV ]

The lost son, famously known as the prodigal son, was lured back into the loving economy of his father by his circumstances. Sometimes, God draws us back into His embrace through the challenges life presents. Certain life obstacles lead us to seek refuge in the secret place, bringing us into the arms of our Father when circumstances chase and attempt to mock us. The prodigal son mirrors every believer who flees from God’s presence, thinking they are stable enough to be independent. Unbeknownst to us, our true existence and sustainability are tied to God; we cannot live fulfilled lives outside His environment. The prodigal son found himself in a predicament that led him to realize he had departed from the source of his needs and comfort. Ultimately, his situation fulfilled its purpose, as he expressed in the next verse that he would return to his father, and he did. Jonah, an Old Testament character, also attempted to move away from God’s position, but soon realized he could not live without God. David asked, “Where can I go from the presence of God? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there” (Psalms 139:7-8). By default, we are dependent on God; there is something in us that cannot live without Him. The farther we move away from God, the messier our conditions of existence become. Perhaps the solution to your present predicament is a return to God. Like the prodigal son, all it takes is a recognition of your separation from God and reconciliation. May God bless your commitment to change.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the challenges life presents and how you force them to draw me into your loving arms. Help me to be committed to you in all things. In Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: Life predicaments are God’s bait for drawing us into his presence.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. [ Genesis 3:17 NIV ]

When we obey others rather than God, we plunge ourselves into a cycle of fruitless labour and sorrow. God is the maker and giver of all laws. Our adherence to God’s laws demonstrates our respect and loyalty to God, conveying much about His place in our lives. The Lord Jesus says on that day He will say to them, I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’. (Luke 13:27). This is because such people obeyed others rather than God and so, all their labour for the Lord is waste and unrecognized. Many of us, put the voices of other people above the voice of God, echoing the mistake of Adam and Eve—favouring the voice of the serpent over the voice of God. This epitomizes disobedience, placing others’ voices above the authority that established the law. The other thing about disobedience is that it invariably brings consequences, as laws inherently carry punishments for defiance. So that when Adam and Eve disobeyed the command of God, they had to be punished because part of what made the statement a command is the portion of it that carried the consequences for disobedience. Adam obeyed a voice other than the voice of God; the voice of his wife Eve. Eve listenened to a voice other than the voice of her husband, Adam, she listened to the voice of the serpent. The result of their listening to a voice other than the voice that gave them the instructions led to their fruitless toil and sufferings. Your response to the commands of God should have God in view.

Prayer_Bead: Father in heaven, thank you for the grace to obey you in all things. Let your voice be superior to all other voices around me. In Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: The voice of God is the language of God.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. [ Matthew 6:21 NIV ]

Our hearts are drawn to the place of our treasures; the heart always stays with what it treasures. The posture of our hearts mirrors what it treasures. If we treasure the kingdom of God, our hearts will be in the kingdom of God. Scripture records in Matthew 6:33 that we should seek first the kingdom and its righteousness and all other things shall be added. This is so that our hearts will be fixed on the kingdom as one can only truly seek what they treasure. And so, the Lord Jesus is luring our hearts to cleave to the kingdom of God, to treasure it with all our hearts. For if our treasure becomes the kingdom of God, then our hearts will be with the kingdom. And our lives will be lived desiring the things of God; walking in righteousness. Do you realize that you seem to care more about the things you treasure and value as important than those you deem less important? It is the same with spiritual things. Our hearts lie with whatever holds importance to us because there our treasures lie too. If it does not hold any treasures, our hearts will not go after it. The heart is a seeker, chasing after treasures, mining in deep caves where treasures are assured. Wherever you want your heart to be, hide your treasures there and your heart will follow suit. Treasure the word of God and the righteousness of His kingdom, and your heart will follow in the same direction. What do you treasure? It isn’t surprising that your heart cleaves to that thing. Embrace the glory of God’s kingdom as treasure and your heart will no longer wonder.

Prayer_Bead: Treasure of my heart, thank you for luring me into your embrace. Help me to stay with you throughout my journey on earth.

Wisdom_Quote: The heart is a seeker, mining for treasure.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.