GLORIFIED BY HIS GLORY

All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory (Isaiah 60:7).

God’s glory changes constantly and continuously on His throne. The angelic beings see His glory and bow in worship. By the time they raise their heads, the glory has changed, and they bow again; this continues throughout eternity. “And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen” (Revelation 7:11-12). Something beautiful happens when we behold the glory of God and worship Him.

The more of His glory we see, the more glorious we become; the more we’re beautified by His glory, and we can’t but glorify Him again. “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18). Through worship, our spiritual eyes are opened to behold the glory of God.

Incidentally, when we see His glory, we see our glory. That’s why God tells us to worship Him; it’s so we can behold His glory and be glorified. You can expect miracles when you worship Him because, then, your eyes are opened to see what you’d never have seen any other way. You’re the glory of God, and He demonstrates His manifold wisdom through you!

Further Study:

1 John 4:17;
Romans 8:30

CALLED TO MANIFEST HIS GLORY,

For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God (Romans 8:19).

Zion is revealed in God’s Word as the perfection of beauty, from where God shines forth (Psalm 50:2). This means we’re the manifestation of His glory; we radiate His splendour. Halleluiah. The world ought to see the expression of God’s beauty in our lives, for that’s the life He’s given us—a life of glory and excellence (2 Peter 1:3). Hebrews 1:3 describes Jesus as the effulgence of God’s glory, and the express image of His person. The Lord Jesus Himself proclaimed, “…he that hath seen me hath seen the Father…” (John 14:9).

As a Christian, the same truth applies to you today because as He is, so are we in this world (1 John 4:17). You’re His icon, express image, and the out-shining of His glory. Romans 8:30 says, “Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”

It reminds of the words of Jesus in John 17:22: “And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one.” God’s purpose isn’t just to have His glory reside in you, but for you to be immersed and completely inundated by it until you become inseparable from the glory, thus becoming the glory. You’re not journeying to become the glory of God; it’s already a present-hour reality. You were born the bearer of the glory of God. Wake up to this truth, and it’ll change your mentality! Every day, say to yourself, “I’m the manifestation of the glory of God; His splendour, excellence and perfection are expressed through me.” It makes no difference the challenges you might be facing, the glory of God is going to be manifested in that situation! The whole creation is waiting for your showing up: for you to manifest the glory of God. Live confidently today with this consciousness!

Further Study:
1 Peter 2:9 (AMP)

BE COMMITTED TO ACTUALIZING HIS DREAM

Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants….Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me (Philippians 2:25-30).

We have a divine commission to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Jesus said: “…Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). You can be rest assured that what we require to achieve this great task is already available to us. The Lord Jesus said something remarkable to His disciples: “…When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye anything? And they said, Nothing” (Luke 22:35). When God sends you on an assignment, He sees to it that everything you require to accomplish that assignment is made available to you.

All God needs from us is our commitment to actualizing His dream. You have to make a commitment that there’ll be no limit to how far you’re willing to go and do for the Gospel. As far as God has given breath in your nostrils, as far as He has made your body His living tabernacle, the Gospel will not be limited. That’s the kind of commitment David made in Psalm 145:3-5. He said, “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. I will speak of the glorious honor of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.”

There’re people who have committed their time and resources to ensuring that the Gospel of Jesus Christ reaches every nation of the world. They do great exploits for the Kingdom, making up for what others may not have been able to do. They give so much money to the furtherance of the Gospel; and the more they give, the more the Lord channels resources their way so they can accomplish greater things for Him.

What’s your commitment to the Gospel? What’s your role in ensuring the establishment of Christ’s Kingdom on earth? Let the actualization of His dream be your greatest pursuit. Decide that through you, the Gospel will continue to prosper, and you’ll keep at it, until the “roll is called up yonder,” when we stand before the Master.

Further Study:
1 Corinthians 9:16-18;
Romans 1:14-16

CULTIVATING GODLY HABITS.

According to his usual habit Paul went to the synagogue. There during three Sabbaths he held discussions with the people… (Acts 17:2 GNB).

Some habits programme you positively for success, while some others programme you negatively for failure. For example, a student who stays up late to watch movies is definitely programming himself wrongly. He shouldn’t expect to turn out the same way with another who’s studious at night, and spends his time wisely. The latter will most likely end up an excellent student, while the former ends up average or even obtuse.

Human beings are born with “wild” instincts; they come into the world as babies who are uncultured and untamed.

As they grow, their inherent “wildness” makes it easier for them to pick up bad habits faster than good ones. This explains why a child may start telling lies without anyone necessarily teaching him how to. As he continues in it, it forms his character.

Thus the Bible says, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). Children are to be taught early to imbibe godly habits. The older you get, the more difficult it is to adjust your habits. An adult can’t change easily because he already has a lifestyle, and to change it, he’ll have to get a new one. He’ll only have the opportunity of a new lifestyle when he’s born again; that’s when he receives a brand new life and a new Lord over his life. If you’re unhappy because of an unwholesome habit, don’t become frustrated; rather, realize that habits are simply repeated actions. If you’d replace that old habit with a good one, you’d get rid of the one you don’t like.

The Bible says sin shall not have dominion over you (Romans 6:14). God’s Word is given to us to guide our thoughts, habits, character, and ultimately build our lives. Whatever godly habit you desire to cultivate is possible. Spend more time in God’s Word and prayer, and your life will align with His perfect will.

Further Study:
Philippians 2:13;
Ezekiel 36:27

PUT AWAY LAZINESS

I once walked by the field and the vineyard of a lazy fool. Thorns and weeds were everywhere, and the stone wall had fallen down. When I saw this, it taught me a lesson: Sleep a little. Doze a little. Fold your hands and twiddle your thumbs. Suddenly poverty hits you and everything is gone! (Proverbs 24:30-34 CEV).

To keep making consistent progress in your spiritual life, as a Christian, you must put away laziness. Not only are lazy people unable to keep pace with God, they’re also unable to keep pace with life itself. Their insensitivity to responsibilities hinders them from making significant progress in life. Observe our opening scripture again; it’s an important admonition to put away laziness.

Laziness is much more than not making your bed when you wake up in the morning; some people are too lazy to pray. They have a pressing problem and they just don’t think to pray about it. I recall a lady who kept telling me she felt a consistent headache that prevented her from doing a lot of things. My question to her was, “Have you prayed about it?” Of course, her answer was “No.” I told her to go and pray about it.

When I saw her a few days later, she said the headache was still there, suggesting apparently that she didn’t pray about it as I instructed her. Then, I said to her, “Let me tell you this, if you don’t deal with the devil, he’ll deal with you.” This statement jolted her. She realized it was more serious than she had thought. If you feel a headache, speak to the ache to leave your head. Take authority over it. Don’t treat it with levity. If you give the devil a rope, he’ll want to be a cowboy. Don’t give him any place around you. The Lord Jesus Christ didn’t give the devil any chance. He didn’t play around with His Father’s business. He was never lazy to speak the Word. It’s unfortunate that out of laziness, some Christians wouldn’t even confess God’s Word concerning them. They feel they can always say it later. Don’t wait till later to get the devil off your body or your situation. The Bible says, “…Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7); it’s your responsibility to tell the devil off whenevr he rears his ugly head. Don’t procrastinate.

Further Study:
Romans 12:11;
Proverbs 6:6;
Proverbs 13:4;
Proverbs 20:4

DON’T NEGLECT SPIRITUAL DETAILS

Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life (Proverbs 4:13).

As you walk with the Lord, and carry out that which He instructs you to do, you must painstakingly pay attention to spiritual details because of their importance. Moses, for example, learnt this the hard way. In Numbers 20:8, God instructed him, “Take the rod, and …speak ye unto the rock…and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water….”

Moses didn’t know how important it was when God told him to talk to the rock. The instruction to speak to the rock was of spiritual significance which he ignored and struck the rock instead. It was the mistake of his life. The instruction seemed so light to Moses, but the rest of his ministry was hinged on it; he didn’t know it. Moses, however, wouldn’t be the one to lead the children of Israel to the Promised Land, because of this error.

In serving the Lord, it’s very important that you always listen to the details of His instructions, however insignificant to the flesh they might sound. God’s Word is God’s instruction. Live your life, not according to man’s instructions, information or opinions, but according to the Word. God leads you in the path of greatness by giving you clear and specific instructions to follow. It’s not about what somebody advises or instructs you to do; the question is, “What is God’s instruction in His Word about it?”

This is why I love the Bible, because it’s God’s instruction manual for a glorious life. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” Do you want to have an excellent life, full of glory and success? There’s a way: Follow God’s Word; don’t neglect the details in His instructions.

Always remember that His wisdom is greater than man’s wisdom; therefore, be sensitive to the guidance He gives you through the Word, and by the Holy Spirit, and you’ll have a beautiful and exceptional life, and gloriously fulfil His calling and destiny for your life.

Further Study:
Proverbs 8:33;
Proverbs 23:12