The secret of being radiant & youthful

Daniel 1:12 (NKJV): "Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink."

The word 'vegetables' here is 'pulse' in King James Version, i.e. 'zeroa' in Hebrew, which means 'something sown'. It's from the word 'zara', which means 'to sow, seed'. By the way, 'pulse' means 'seeds of various plants'.

Let's now see this verse from the spiritual point of view. There's definitely a spiritual meaning here, and it's not literally talking about being a 'vegetarian'! You see, some people eat lots of vegetables but aren't 'radiant' at all, because they may also have lots of hurts, unforgiveness, or condemnation inside. Of course, on the other hand, people who eat much meat may not necessarily be 'radiant' either! So, it's not physical food we are talking about here, even though you should take good care and be a good steward of your body (which is the temple of the Holy Spirit).

Every name, object, item, or place in the Old Testament has its meanings. The exciting part is these are for you to discover and unlock! You see, the New Testament is mainly direct and literal in its meaning, but more often than not, the Old Testament is symbolic in nature, being the 'shadows' of the things to come. Your Bible-study becomes very much alive when you learn to 'trace' and 'find' Jesus as you read through the Bible. Jesus is the Word, and He is in the Old Testament concealed, and in the New Testament revealed.

So, what does eating vegetables (i.e. 'zeroa') in Daniel 1:12 mean?

It means feeding on the 'seed'!

Let Scripture interpret Scripture now, and let's go all the way to Matthew 13:3-23 about the Parable of the Sower. Here, you see that 'seed' means the Word of God! And he who receives the 'seed' (i.e. being the 'good ground' he is) bears fruit and produces, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty (Matthew 13:23).

At the end of ten days, Daniel and his friends appeared more 'radiant' (i.e. shining brightly, full of youthfulness and life) and better in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king's delicacies (Daniel 1:15).

Now, if 'zeroa' represents the Word of God, then 'the portion of the king's delicacies' represents the 'food' that one feeds from the world (e.g. newspaper, tv, etc). You see, that made a whole lot of difference between Daniel (and his friends) & the rest! Not only that, Daniel 1:20 says, 'And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, the king found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his (the king's) realm'. Praise God! May you also be the 'Daniels' of today. Amen!

2 Corinthians 3:18 says, '... beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord (i.e. the radiance of the Lord), we are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord'. The 'mirror' here speaks of the Word of God as well. It means as you meditate on the Word day and night, you'll also be transformed into the same image, i.e. you'll be changed according to what the Word says about you!

Unfortunately, the opposite is also true when one 'beholds' from sources that are contrary to the Word of God!

Here are some of the verses personalized for you to increase in radiance & youthfulness:

1. I behold the glory of God and am transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:18).

2. God gives power to me and He increases my strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but I wait on the Lord and be renewed in my strength; I mount up with wings like eagles, I run and I am not weary, I walk and do not faint (Isaiah 40:29-31).

3. My youth is renewed like the eagle's (Psalm 103:5).

4. The Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in me, and God who raised Jesus Christ from the dead gives life to my body through His Spirit who dwells in me (Romans 8:11).

5. My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and God's name is glorified both in my body and in my spirit, which are God's (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

6. I am without spot or wrinkle or any such thing but I am holy and without blemish. My body is a member of Christ's body, of His flesh and of His bones (Ephesians 5:27-30, 1 Corinthians 6:15).

7. My whole spirit, soul and body is preserved blameless at the coming of my Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

8. Christ is magnified in my body (Philippians 1:20). 
Note: It means "Christ's health, radiance, and youthfulness increases in my body". 

9. God satisfies me with long life and shows me His salvation (Psalm 91:16).

10. Just as Moses' eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished, my eyes are not dim nor my natural vigor diminished (Deuteronomy 34:7).

11. My eyes will not be dim at all. The words of God are pure, enlightening my eyes (Isaiah 32:3, Psalm 19:8).

12. My teeth are like a flock of shorn sheep which have come out from the washing, every one of which bears twins, and none is barren among them (Song of Solomon 4:2).

Meditate (by speaking under your breath) and confess aloud these verses over and over again to yourself, and that's how you'll be transformed into the same image as the Lord's. Notice that Jesus continued to increase (Luke 2:52) until He has fulfilled all of God's purpose on earth, and only then He went up! He never diminished, and of course, was never sickly! As He is, so are you in this world. Believing, you'll be likewise. Amen! 

Jesus identifies with you!

Isaiah 53:5 (NKJV): But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace (well-being) was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

The word ‘stripes’ here is ‘chabbuwrah’ in Hebrew (pronounced ‘khab-boo-raw’), from the word ‘chabar’ (‘khaw-bar’), which means ‘to join (together), to have fellowship with, to join oneself together, to be coupled together, to come into alliance with, to be associated with’. In other words, the statement ‘by His stripes you are healed’ can mean ‘by His joining together with you, you are healed!’ Wow! You know what it means? When He died for you on the cross, He has also identified Himself with all your pains and sicknesses.

‘To identify’ means ‘to share with somebody, to be joined together with, to be recognized with that somebody’, and that’s exactly what He has done for you on the cross! In other words, He identifies with your pains, and in exchange, you identify with His healing and divine health!

The word ‘bruised’ in this verse is ‘daka’ in Hebrew, which means ‘to be crushed, to be broken in pieces’, and Isaiah 53:10 says ‘it pleased the Lord to bruise Jesus’, and it was done for your sake.

Not only He identifies with your pains and sicknesses, but He also identifies with your ‘death’ (or any ‘dead-end’ situation of yours), so that you can identify with His 'resurrection' and ‘life’! Do you see the divine exchange between Him and you at the cross?

In John chapter 11, Lazarus was already dead when Mary (the sister of Lazarus) fell down at Jesus’ feet and said, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died’ (John 11:32). When Jesus saw her weeping, He groaned and wept too. You see, Jesus loved this family very much, and He felt for them and identified with their pains. He then went to Lazarus’ tomb, and that’s when Martha (the other sister of Lazarus) said, “Lord, by this time there is (already) a stench, for he (Lazarus) has been dead four days.” But Jesus answered, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe, you would see the glory of God?” (John 11:39-40). He then cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” (John 11:43), and that's how Lazarus came back to life! Hallelujah!

People of God, He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Today, there’s nothing (or no situation of yours) that He cannot identify with, no matter how ‘dead’ you think it may be. The same Jesus who groaned and wept (i.e. identified) with Lazarus’ family is the same Him in you today. And just as He loved Lazarus’ family very much, He loves you (and your family) very much too! Hebrews 4:15 says, ‘for we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses…’ He is your High Priest who can identify with every situation of yours. And today, I want to tell you that you are so very blessed because you have Him in you!

He is also never too late for you either. Lazarus’ sisters thought He was way too late to do anything by then, but to Jesus, this wasn’t the case at all! Today, He is also never too late for you. He is always on time for you, a very present help in time of trouble (Psalm 46:1). So, take heart, my friend, because whatever situation you may be facing at the moment, know that Jesus can identify with you and turn your ‘dead’ situation into ‘life’ again, just as He did for Lazarus’ family. Believing this, you'll receive. He IS (present tense) your resurrection and life! (John 11:25)

Recently, I heard this assurance from the Lord, and I know this is for you too: “Better days are ahead of you. Just don’t let the devil or anyone cause you to think otherwise.” Receive these words by faith for yourself (and for your loved ones too). And rest assured it’s never too late yet, because He is very much 'alive' in you today (see also Colossians 1:27). Amen!

Receive God's wisdom!

2 Chronicles 1:10 (NKJV): “Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge (i.e. rule) this great people of Yours?”

The word ‘wisdom’ here is ‘chokmah’ (pronounced ‘khok-maw’) in Hebrew, which means ‘the ability to live life skillfully, or the ability to handle a matter skillfully’.

Therefore, ‘God’s wisdom given to you’ then means ‘His ability for you to live your life skillfully or His ability for you to handle a matter skillfully’.

One touch of His wisdom is all you need to confound the earthly wise, or even to ‘propel’ you in a particular area of your life! Recently, I heard these words loud and clear during prayer, “I am going to impart My divine wisdom to those who needed it!” And when He imparts and gives, someone is going to receive it, and that person has to be you! People of God, this is your time to receive, in whatever area you may need it at the moment. Ask, and it shall be given to you (Matthew 7:7).

When God has called you (or asked you) to do something, His wisdom will also come together with it. What you need to do is receive it by faith. And when He opens a ‘door’ for you, or leads you into a new phase/season in your life, He’ll also surely give you the wisdom to walk in it and through it! Yes, surely. What He has 'ordered', He will also surely 'back it up'! Make no mistake about it! So, take heart if you’ve been feeling a bit lost recently, or not knowing what to do anymore at the moment. Well, that’s what happened to Solomon too when he was anointed as king (i.e. as he entered a new phase in his life). Solomon knew that by himself, he was inadequate, not knowing exactly what to do, and that’s when he said, “… I do not know how to go out or come in.” (1 Kings 3:7).

When God appeared to him in a dream and said, “Ask! What shall I give you?” (1 Kings 3:5), Solomon then answered, “Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge (i.e. rule) Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” (1 Kings 3:9)

The word ‘understanding’ here means ‘knowing the deeper meaning of something, instead of just the façade’, and the word ‘discern’ here means ‘the ability to separate/distinguish what is the right thing to do and what is not’. God then said to him, “Behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart…” And not just that, God also said, “And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days.” You know what it means? When you receive His wisdom in your life, every other good thing in life will also follow suit!

No wonder Proverbs 4:7 says, “Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom, and in all your getting, get understanding.” The word ‘principal’ here in Hebrew is ‘re-shiyth’, which means ‘firstfruits, beginning, or chief’. So, wisdom should be the ‘firstfruits, beginning, or chief’ in all your ‘gettings’! And this wisdom will surely lead you to the promises in Proverbs 4:18, that says, ‘your path is as the shining sun, that shines brighter and brighter until the full light’.

Jesus is the Source of all wisdom! Colossians 2:3 says in Him is hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Proverbs 3:19 says, ‘The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens’. And as you fix your eyes on Him and look to Him, the Bible says you’ll be transformed from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18), and this includes you being ‘transformed’ to be wiser and wiser! Notice that 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, ‘Beholding Him as in a mirror…’ This ‘mirror’ speaks of ‘the Word of God’. Proverbs 4:20-22 confirms it by saying, ‘My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.’ In short, the more you behold Him, the wiser you’ll become! The Bible says you’ll be changed into the same image (i.e. to be more and more like Him), and yes, that includes in wisdom! Praise God!

The opposite, however, is also true, that losing sight of Him leads to losing sight of His wisdom in life! When Solomon looked away from God in his later years (i.e. when he was influenced by the foreign wives who worshiped other gods), he became literally less and less wiser! (see 1 Kings 11:1-13) Solomon needed to understand that all the wisdom he had was from God, not his own. Otherwise, he would not have asked of it in the first place! (2 Chronicles 1:10) Solomon’s downfall began when his focus was shifted away from God and His Word. Remember Peter ‘sank’ too when his eyes also looked away from Jesus? (Matthew 14:28-30)

People of God, no matter what happens around you at the moment, this is not the time to waver! Continue to keep your eyes fixed on Him (the Word) and keep your feet firm on the Rock (the Word) always. Continue to also receive the feeding from Him through the preaching of the Word, and continue to meditate on what He has spoken to you in the Word. And that’s how He can make a way for you, and that’s also how He can teach you in the way of His wisdom and lead you in His right paths (Proverbs 4:11-12). Let’s take Him at His Word! He is not a 'dead-end' God. His Word cannot fail, and His Word will not fail you either. Better days are ahead of you, and I pray this for you in Jesus’ name. Believing, you shall receive. Amen!