Heralds Digest

  “ But one testified in a certain place, saying: “What is man that You are mindful of him, Or the son of man that You take care of him? You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And set him over the works of Your hands .” Hebrews 2 : 6 - 7 NKJV The working of grace towards the salvation of man from the dungeon of sin is an evident manifestation of our mindful maker. Jesus Christ became the author and finisher of every believer’s faith. Likewise, when we see only Jesus through the lens of our challenges and difficulties, we will be amazed by divine contemplation towards the greater glories. For example, beyond the amazing stories of transformation of Bible characters, I have seen lives and relationships change for better by the power of God and His mindful orchestration of strenuous events and awful circumstances. If God is always mindful of the glorious destination in His workings with man, we can as well reciprocate by our unw...

  “ For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren ” Hebrews‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Wretched and lost into sin, it was evident to God that no one can come up for mercy. So, the Saviour not only came down with mercy, He came for the sinners’ messes. The messes and sufferings were considered fitting for Him, “ for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory ”. No doubt, it is the coming down of the Saviour to get fitted with sinners that makes the experience of salvation so unique. As reported by Nicky Gumbel, the former televangelist, Jim Bakker, in his autobiography ‘ I Was Wrong ’, tells of his descent into ignominy, impoverishment and imprisonment for accounting fraud. He lost his fr...

  “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Hebrews‬ ‭2:14-15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Kids are not alone in their love of characters, like Spider-Man and Hulk Hogan; everyone loves the performance roles in life.  But the logic that these performers never suffer or die in action is not always real. Therefore, Jesus Christ chose the role of partaker, instead of being just a performer of miracles, signs, and wonders, to engage the power of death, the fear of death, and provide deliverance for all who are held by the bondage of sin and death. The partaker’s role was a bitter and agonizing cup, which He had the option of passing even as late as the garden of Gethsemane. Little wonder He is the only  Way, Truth, and Life; and no one can come to the Father, ...

  “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Hebrews‬ ‭2:14-15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Death is the penalty for sin. And although salvation from sin promises eternal life, it doesn’t vacate the statement of death in all humanity. Therefore, the power of death would have been invincible without the evidence of the power of resurrection. If the devil has been mindful of the power of resurrection, he would not have wade the power of death before the High Priest of our salvation. Whereas, the redeemed of the Lord are released from the fear of death because Jesus Christ shared in the sentence of death in order to demonstrate the hope of resurrection after death. There is therefore no longer intimidation or the fear of physical death (to say the least of ugly experien...

  “For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭2:10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Suffering is understandable as part of the responsibilities of servants. But suffering for a Saviour takes a new level of strange call. Anyone would argue why Jesus’ submission was made perfect through suffering, given that the inevitable death penalty can still be paid without the extreme subjection to suffering. Yet, the scriptures declares “ For it was fitting [appropriate] for Him....to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings ”. No doubt, the Captain of our salvation has taught clearly all His submissive servants that the perfect price for sensitivity in leadership is suffering. Suffering for wrong-doing and any form of unrighteousness is justice served; but suffering for righteousness or simply persecution is sensitivity served. And if insensitivIty...