Heralds Digest

"Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?" (Romans 6:16 NKJV) The protection of individual's self esteem demands the pretentious projection of independence in the management of all affairs of life. Everyone outside self may swallow the camouflage, but self is certain about his loss of control to all forms of unrighteousness. Conversely, those who elect to surrender the control of their lives to God are slaves of righteousness, which guarantees eternal life and freedom from death. However, self demands respect, position, convenience, and wealth; but it lacks the character of patience and perseverance for safe possession. Anyone who is enslaved to service the appetite of self accepts the consequences of his unrighteous demands, which is death and eternal condemnation.

"And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation." (Romans 5:11 NKJV) The sweetness of the times of toiling is not in the eventual absence of hard work, but in the satisfaction of the work of redemption. Engagement or fall into the captivity of sin and unrighteousness is not at the instance of every man's fall into sin but at the general fall of man. Likewise, the joy of redemption does not end at the instance of the reconciliation of every man, but it extends to the continuous satisfaction of the work of atonement at the cross of Calvary. There is no other source of rest that can be compared to the stream of joy flowing through every glorious gaze at the complete work of redemption.

"Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:5 NKJV) Enrolment in the school of faith appears a submission to peace test. As expected, the abundance of the material things of this world does not guarantee peace in the heart. Peace comes with the development of a character of perseverance through tribulation and trials. There is no single hero of faith without the evidence of passing through the curriculum of this school of faith. It was thereafter, they all (from Abel to Zechariah) can testify that hope does not disappoint. Until our hearts are shifted from the love of material things to the love of God though faith, we may forever lose out on the experience of peace that passes all understanding.

"Who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.”" (Romans 4:18 NKJV) Hope based on feeling is a sign of hopelessness. The battle of faith is actually a confrontation against myriad of feelings of insecurity, sickness, death, loss, disappointment, etc. Abraham confronted his feeling of barrenness, even at the old age of over 100 years against all medical evidences. No one can stay strong on the promises of the Lord by watching the weather or gazing at the stars. The feedback from human senses would make nothing out of the spoken word, " So shall your descendants be ", if decisions must be based on examinations. We must fight against feeling only with God's word, in order to win the battle of faith.

"Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt." (Romans 4:4 NKJV) Pay Day service offers excellent loan assistance for emergency needs ahead of worker's pay day. However, the story readily goes gory when the accumulated loans exceed pay check. Our life's frustration would be manageable with commitment to a debt repayment plan; but success is certainly elusive without graceful compliment of personal efforts. Even as it is often quoted that motivational genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration, our diligence in business does not measure up without God's grace.

"Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law." (Romans 3:28 NKJV) Human sense and sensitivity to the responsibility of righteousness is often subjective; it depends on individual's background and development. Yet, the most morally behaved readily fall short of the law of God. Being just like filthy rags, our righteousness deeds bring condemnation from the Lord. Until man's desire to be free from sin is mixed with the acceptance of God's sacrifice to set him free, he will remain bound to the penalty of his unrighteousness. Faith deed simply believes in the sufficiency of Christ's deed on the cross of Calvary, apart from our righteous deeds.

"For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God." (Romans 2:28-29 NKJV) Political association is driven by fame and fortune, and members are proud to wear their badges for outward declaration of their allegiance. Up to the times of the early church, it was a thing of pride and a privilege to be a Jew and circumcised. Likewise, many would readily brag about the account of recognized affiliation with accomplished personalities, established institutions, successful denomination, etc. Unlike the decoration of outward regalia in association with men, circumcision, rather than underscoring the attainment of a political class, intends to draw the hearts of Jews with Jehovah through their acts of consecration. Only those who prefer the praise of God to the approval of men in all dev...