Heralds Digest

  “I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians‬ ‭4:12-13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Accepting the Lord’s command ‘Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me’ is one of the greatest privileges of discipleship. If the Master is gentle and lowly in heart, His obedient disciple must learn how to find perfect rest in lowly living. The concept of learning a lowly lifestyle is a deliberate surrendering of the heart to the prevailing condition at the centre of God’s will, even when the opt-out option is not far-fetched. Unfortunately, many disciples in today’s quest for lively living have perfected a subtle revolt system to the Lord’s command. The yoke rendered in a relationship with the Lord is not just any unpleasant yoke; it is the Lord’s special yoke for effective service delivery. Therefore, lowly living is all about le...

  “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Philippians‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Truth remains the solid foundation upon which good relationships and services in life can be built. But the search for the true report often requires rigorous investigations, mostly leading to unpleasant findings, unstable discoveries, and unsustainable revelation. It is always true that a true report alone can lead to broken relationships, distressing hearts, and emotional breakdowns, if not handled with the grace of God. Therefore, an acceptable or right report must first be true, and then noble, just, pure, lovely, good, virtuous, and praiseworthy. Unfortunately, no news channels, intelligence gathering, or expert diagnosis in our world can guarantee this type of report; and bel...

  “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” Philippians‬ ‭4:4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Since the light in life is seasonal, it is always better to focus on the Source of the light rather than the illumination from the light. Otherwise, there will be no escape from gloom in seasons with darkness. And in the wordings of the present admonition or real rejoicing, “ Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! ”. Why? The rejoice is in the Lord; and not just from the Lord. Only in the Lord comes the true rejoice, i.e. - righteousness, enterprise, justification, opportunities, inspiration, confidence, and excellence , with its attendant peace of mind. These offers in and from God are neither seasonal nor temporal; they abide permanently with all believers, whose hope is in the Lord. As long as Jesus remains the Lord of our lives, His righteousness, enterprise, justification, opportunities, inspiration, confidence, and excellence keep us rejoicing throughout the seasons of life....

  “ I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. ” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:12-13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Life’s experiences, especially in our moments of pain and difficulty, are no doubt the best teacher. Successful men have risen to fame and great accomplishments by relishing on the accounts of their difficulties and challenges of life. For example, the development of intellectual property, building of a business empire, and the establishment of successful institutions for human governance are just a few out of the countless stories of life’s experiences. Unfortunately, success to many is accomplished with a misunderstanding of the true source of their strength. While it is true that success mostly follows dogged and creative utilization of the life’s experiences with determination, life is miserably doomed without the acknowledg...

  “ Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Philippians‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Barring the diversity in degree, medical science claimed that everyone struggles with insanity. Perhaps, some may choose to measure wellness with the human ability to respond appreciably to emotional disturbances in relationships. For example, any object of pain , provocation , and poverty represents a balanced source of emotional disturbances in every supposed healthy relationship. And everyone can relate with his different level of insanity and struggles with these emotional disturbances at home, society and workplace. Whereas, after Paul admonished rejoicing always in pain , consistent gentleness with provocation , and absence of anxiety in handling poverty , he finally provid...

  “ Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice !” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/php.4.4.nkjv Happiness is not a thing in the atmosphere of true rejoicing. While happiness is derived from the outcomes of life’s engagements and circumstances, true joy comes from every man’s relationship and status with the Lord. When a man accepts the invitation to come to the Lord, he finds rest from worries, anxiety, and receives the grace to fellowship with the Lord. Therefore, true joy is graciously sustainable and pleasantly renewable. Little wonder why the incarcerated Paul admonished the suffering believers resoundingly to ‘Rejoice in the Lord always’.   Sincerely, whenever the oil of rejoicing appears fading in life, it can only be replenished with a renewed fellowship with the Lord; and never with a refreshed twist in circumstances.