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God’s love gift

[The Glory Unveiled]

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—[ Ephesians 2:8 NIV ]

Our salvation is solely the result of God’s grace. We did nothing to deserve or earn it; it is a love gift. Like all gifts, you don’t have to do anything to earn it. However, even though it is a gift, you must receive it, and in this case, you must receive it with faith. Without faith, even though the gift is available and free, you cannot have it. Faith is the only hand that can take from God; without it, we cannot receive from Him. The first step to receiving this gift is to look away from ourselves, as salvation does not come from us. Depending on ourselves for what we cannot offer is a futile pursuit. Since salvation cannot come from us, we cannot boast that we attained it ourselves or received it as a reward for something we have done. The truth is that we had countless opportunities to save ourselves from the time of Adam and Eve until the birth of Jesus, but we couldn’t do it ourselves. These opportunities were meant to convince us that we cannot achieve salvation on our own. In the garden of Eden, God made it clear that humans couldn’t clothe themselves with His identity as it was depicted in their attempt to clothe themselves. The man and the woman clothed themselves with leaves, while God made a covering for them out of animal skin. God’s provision was better than what they did for themselves, but they had to accept the gift before it could benefit them. Similarly, we need to receive the gift of salvation, which comes to us by grace, in order to enjoy its benefits.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the grace that brought me salvation through your Son Jesus Christ.

Wisdom_Quote: Faith is the only hand that can receive from God.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Decide your use

[The Glory Unveiled]

In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. [ 2 Timothy 2:20 NIV ]

There are various types of articles in our homes, each crafted from different materials based on the potter’s default design. Similarly, none of us created ourselves; we didn’t decide how we should be made or where we should be born. We are shaped by God. However, our impact on the world depends on our choices. What we’re made of is not crucial for influencing our world; background isn’t a disadvantage. You can shape your life positively, regardless of where you are. Just like articles in a house, their use depends on cleanliness. According to 2 Timothy 2:21, an item for common use can become “special purpose” through self-cleansing. Whether an article serves a common or special purpose has nothing to do with the material it is made of. Gold can serve common purposes if unclean, while a clean clay article can fulfill a special purpose. The purpose we attract is linked to our cleanliness. Often, we blame life’s situations on others instead of examining our souls for “uncleanliness” affecting our experiences. Our lives are influenced by what happens within us more than external events. External events can only do so much, but what truly drives our lives is what we permit within us. Whether God will use us or not, and for what purpose depends on us. Keep your vessel clean from common use, and your true purpose will surface.

Prayer_Bead: Heavenly Father, thank you for the grace to keep myself clean from common use. Use me for your special purposes. In Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: Your impact in life is influenced by your choices.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Maintain your saltiness

[The Glory Unveiled]

Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? [ Luke 14:34 NIV ]

The value of salt lies in its saltiness; without it, it serves no purpose. Moreover, once salt loses its saltiness, it cannot be restored. Similarly, as believers, we’re akin to salt, having only one life to fulfill our purpose. Like salt maintaining its saltiness, we must make the most of our lives. Our significance, glory, value, and purpose stem from our saltiness. The world depends on us for this. Losing our saltiness, as the Bible notes in Luke 14:35, results in being discarded. Our earthly assignment is to fear God and follow His commandments, aligning with Jesus’ words to love God wholeheartedly. This way, our saltiness benefits the world, glorifying God. Conversely, succumbing to worldly pleasures renders us ineffective. Sin is the force that depletes our saltiness as believers, corroding the divine nature within us and transforming us into something monstrous. The solution to the sin predicament lies in aligning with the Lord Jesus; in doing so, our saltiness remains intact. Rather than permitting sin to erode your essence, make a resolute choice to stand with Jesus in every aspect of life. Turn away from the distractions and temptations orchestrated by Satan. Firmly declare to sin, “No more!” and affirm to righteousness, “You are my new nature.” Embrace the life exemplified by Jesus and dedicate yourself to living for God. Living for God brings glory and praise to Him. Let us live in a manner that magnifies God through our actions..

Prayer_Bead: Almighty God, thank you for giving me a unique purpose for life. Help me to live out my calling as I embrace righteousness.

Wisdom_Quote: Salt is useful because of its saltiness.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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You are light

[The Glory Unveiled]

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. [ Matthew 5:14 NIV ]

The Lord Jesus was very specific about our identity: we are the light of the world. However, some believers are only the light of their churches and families, not the world. The Lord Jesus didn’t say we are the light of the church but the light of the world. Many believers who act as the light of their churches are not truly shining; they are merely reflecting the light around them through pretense, not emitting their own. They resemble candles or Catholic rosaries, absorbing and emitting light without burning or being lit with a matchstick. Our identity as the light of the “world,” has to do with influencing the cosmos, the world’s systems. We are meant to radiate the light of Christ Jesus in the dark systems of the world. If we’re in the world and there’s no noticeable difference, our light is darkness. In the earthly days of the Lord Jesus Christ, wherever he went, the testimony was that he was different; his light was so bright that it couldn’t be ignored, like a city upon a hill. Our light should make us visible wherever we are. If we abandon our identity as light, we risk being swallowed by the darkness we’re in. Darkness can engulf light if it’s not bright or illuminated. Remember, you are light, so shine. The world must see our light and feel our impact. We must live with the consciousness that we are the world’s light, and the world is always watching. Therefore, we must represent Christ well wherever we find ourselves.

Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, thank you for making me the light of the world. Help me not to hide but to shine, to the glory of your name.

Wisdom_Quote: The true light of the world cannot be hidden by darkness.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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The environment of your vision

[The Glory Unveiled]

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. [ Luke 1:41 NIV ]

Mary had never been pregnant, and the baby she carried was prophetic. Similarly, Elizabeth had never experienced pregnancy before, and everything surrounding her pregnancy, just like Mary’s, seemed strange. It seemed impossible, but it was happening. Consequently, they needed to be surrounded by people who were going through similar experiences and could understand them. Mary had to leave her current residence because no one in her immediate community understood what she was going through. The Angel then directed her to someone else facing a similar situation. When Mary greeted Elizabeth, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb leapt for joy. This baby symbolized the vision Elizabeth carried for her life. Often, visions perish due to associations, while others thrive and leap forward in the right environments. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit as a result. Being in the right environment energizes and empowers you to fulfill your life’s assignment. Associations can either nurture or kill visions and dreams. You will excel in your calling when you surround yourself with people who share similar assignments, passion, calling, and faith. If you want your vision to leap forward, ensure you are surrounded by the right people.

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for showing me the importance of my associations in relation to my life’s assignment. Help me to keep the right company.

Wisdom_Quote: Associations can either nurture or kill visions and dreams.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.