Step up in Glory

Text: Gen.37:12-17
More Lessons: Gen.39:1-21
Bible Reading in one Year: Ezekiel 28-30

Light looks white when seen, but when light is passed through a medium it becomes colourful. God created His people to be glorious and move on to full glory, but the fullness of glory in all its beautiful colours cannot be seen until it is passed through a medium. A man who refuses to pass through will never get to his destination of victory. This was clearly experienced by Joseph in today's reading. Joseph did not stagnate because he passed through the process for the glory. As you also pass through your divinely chosen process, you will not stagnate in destiny.

What were the things that gave Joseph a step up into glory:
i) His gift and talents. Joseph had natural endowment of dreams and interpretation of dreams. Gen.37:5, 9-11;40:12. His gift was not hidden but declared. Because of laziness and ignorance, a lot of people hide their talents and end up as non-entities perpetually. Do not hide your talents, declare them and use them.
ii) Joseph served readily; he served his father, Potiphar and the prisoners. Gen.37:13; 39:4; 40:6-7. To step up in glory, serve God. It is said that “God loves you because of who you are and He blesses you because of what you do” what are you doing for God?
iii) Joseph knew his opportunities and stepped into them. Gen. 40: 14. Joseph though in prison was not imprisoned in his mind. He had no bitterness against God. He still behaved properly in prison.
iv) Joseph was liberal; he went beyond what he was told and gave wise counsel which stepped him up to the throne. Gen.41:34-37. There are some people with creative and innovative ideas in them but they are not forthcoming with these ideas at work or elsewhere. Such people cannot step up in glory.
v) He was godly in all he did and at all times. Even in the face of terrible temptation, he refused to compromise his faith and obedience to God.
The man that fears God will be promoted by God, though the promotion may delay but as God did for Joseph and he fulfilled his glorious destiny, God will do the same for you!

Prayer/Action
* Lord, do to me all that will cause the faces of glory you have put in me to manifest.
* Joseph did not stagnate in glory, I also will not stagnate.

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All-round Strength

Text: Isa. 40:28-31
More Lessons: II Cor. 12:9-10
Bible Reading in One Year: Ezekiel 25-27

God does not hold back His blessing but gives to all men liberally and upbraids not. He always gives His best and His all, for the gifts and calling of God are without repentance: Rom.11:29. He was not satisfied with His Spirit coming upon man intermittently in the old covenant, so He came up with a new covenant where His Spirit permanently dwells in man. In the same way, God gives all-round strength to His people. Finding no one to send for man's redemption, He came down Himself, And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth: Jn 1:14.He gave all of Himself to rescue man from the shackles of sin.

After accomplishing this task on the cross of Calvary and it was time to return to the Father; He never left us comfortless, He puts in us the totality of Himself in the Holy Ghost to abide with us forever (Jn 14:16-17). Thus,...we all, with unvailed face, the glory of the Lord beholding in a mirror, to the same image are being transformed, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord: II Cor 3:18 (YLT).

Part of our heritage in God through the work of salvation is all-round strength because there is no iota of weakness or fainting in God, He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength...:Isa.40:28-29. This is to say that God gives all-round strength to those who don't have. God is able to bring increase to your life from nothing as He did at creation when all things were made from things that can’t be seen (Heb 11:3). He has equally given to us all things that we need for godly life through the knowledge of Him, and has shared His glory with us and given us all-round strength (II Peter 1:3-4).

However, you may sometimes experience some moments of weakness in one area or the other in your life and quickly jump into conclusion that you have weakness in such area, forgetting that all-round strength is a function of knowledge and not feelings,...the people that do know their God shall be strong and do exploits: Dan 11:32. Also, II Peter 1:3 clarifies this truth. Even then people become strong after being weak (Heb11:34). Indeed, the strength of God is made perfect in weakness, so that when we are weak, then we are strong (II Cor12:9-10).This manifold wisdom is paradoxical, and cannot be understood by the devil; for if he had known, he would not have crucified the Lord of glory (I Cor 2:8). Though the resurrection of the dead is sown in weakness, it is raised in power (I Cor. 15:42-43). All-round strength is not a myth after all, but the expression of God’s divine nature in us through His knowledge. I Jn 4:17 makes it more explicit...as he is, so are we in this world. In this year of season of glory, Jehovah's everlasting strength will be manifested in every area of your life.

Prayer/Action
* Declare that God’s strength will be sufficient for you.
* Ask for God’s strength to be made manifest in your weakness.
* Declare all-round strength.

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Looking unto Jesus

Text: Heb.12:1-13
More Lessons: Jer .1:1 1-12
Bible Reading in one Year: Ezekiel 22-24

A true friend is one who loves you and is with you in adversity, pain and difficulty. Jesus is a true friend. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends: Jn.15:13. Jesus loves us so much that he died for us, rose from the dead for us and even now, He intercedes for us in heaven. He is ever with you in joy or sadness; in peace or trouble. He is sufficient for today and tomorrow, that is why we need to look to Him. Looking to Jesus means keeping Jesus in sight. Your sight determines your destination. It also means living unto him, focus on him, this is the number one purpose for every man in life. You must do everything to stop the distractions around you that hinder a steadfast looking to Jesus.

Secondly, your sight determines your direction. Only a man with correct sight can get to a place of fulfilment. Everything about you cannot be fulfilled until you see it. See it and get it. Jer .1:11.Your sight helps your focus and when your focus is sustained, all you need to do can be accomplished. Matt 6:22 makes it clear that a man's sight is his brightness. The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body will be full of light. Thirdly, your sight determines your future therefore, mind what you see and be careful what you watch. Looking unto Jesus means seeing the victory of Jesus and all he has gone to prepare you for heaven. No wonder he said, Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my father's house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am, there you may be also: Jn.14:1-3.What tremendous promises to keep our sight on.

Anything that will become bigger than Jesus, keep your sight away from such including the discouragements of men and their fears. Think about positive things and your fears will disappear. Keep Jesus in sight!

Prayer/Action
* Father, forgive me for not keeping my focus on Jesus.
* Henceforth, I will keep my focus on Christ and I will reach my desired destination in Jesus name.
* I destroy all distractions that hinder me from seeing well.

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The 37th Psalm II

Text: Ps. 37:11-27
More Lessons: Ps.34:11 – 22
Bible Reading in one Year: Ezekiel 19-21

Still on the vital lessons from this Psalm of instruction. Today, we will consider the attitudes that enable the righteous to do well in the land. The first attitude to consider with the benefits attached is meekness. This is a fruit of the Spirit Gal.5:22 and the nature of Christ Matt.11:29. It is an essential key to prospering in this present world even though the people around us will think otherwise. Meekness here also contradicts the attitude of some in the world that says if you can't get what you want in peace; kill and destroy lives to get it by all means. A meek man rather will do what is right and walk in the fear of God to get what he wants in this world. Consider the rewards of meekness in today's text:...they shall inherit the earth... implying because they wait for God, he will put the world at their feet. The meek will delight themselves in abundance of peace and finally, the days of the meek are known by the Lord implying that God takes particular notice of them to help them and to bless them.

Another good attitude is contentment in righteousness Ps.37:16.The little that a righteous man has will bring him joy and gladness than abundant riches gotten by wicked practices. Also, a vital additional attitude is to show mercy to others. Ps.37:21; 26.A man who gives will never lack because God will be his source. See what the Word of God says about you as you give and show mercy to others” He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed. The blessings of showing mercies are so tremendous that you and your generations of children eat from it. Be encouraged today to believe these inspired words of God that righteousness pays. Savour the summary of this blessedness:
i) The Lord upholds the righteous Ps.37:17.
ii) Their inheritance is forever Ps.37:18.
iii) They shall not fear in evil times Ps.37:19a.
iv) In famine they shall be satisfied Ps.37:19b.
v) God orders their steps and delights in them Ps.37:23.
vi) They are never forsaken and their children will never beg Ps.37:25.

These are just some of the benefits of righteous living in a world that cries against righteousness. Walk with God in righteousness and you will testify all day long as you shun all acts of wickedness. Mark the perfect man and behold the upright for the end of that man is peace: Ps.37:37

Prayer/Action
* I receive power for righteous living as I step into this day.
* I will surely enjoy the benefits of righteousness and my portion, another man will not take from me.
Make a conscious and particular effort to do something good to someone today and add to your rewards of righteous living before the Lord.

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