Heralds Digest

"Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith." (1 Timothy 1:5 NKJV) Although the making of an Apostle Paul from a little Timothy appears to be subject to an absolute adherence to the commandments of God, the willingness to surrender the heart to the working of the Spirit is the prerogative of the man. It implies that mutual co-operation between the man of a polluted heart and the holy word of God is required in order to achieve the divine purpose. Only a surrendered specimen is open to the tool of God's two-edge sword through the school of holiness, righteousness and faith.

"Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread." (2 Thessalonians 3:12 NKJV) Apart from being an essential fallout of the fall of man, work represents a divine order for responsible engagements. The reception of any free service offer makes sense as long as it does not be-cloud the anticipated responsibility behind the promotional offer. Unfortunately, the desire for free services often remove the dignity embedded in the divine work order. Whereas, nothing in life is absolutely free. Payment for services can only be postponed; it cannot be overwritten. The faster the standard of everyone's personal lifestyle balances his private work engagement, the quicker someone explores the divine blessings behind a responsible work ethics. Every orientation towards an idle free service from man represents a disoriented orderliness.

"Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ." (2 Thessalonians 3:5 NKJV) Hope built on the proven track record of human characters may appears reliable, until the reality of diverse self interests begin to pull the string within the heart out of order. It is always safer to acknowledge the fact that sustainable hope is possible, only if built on faith in the completeness of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and on the comfort of His presence in times of pain. Without a daily check on the status of the heart as regard this gracious alignment, the resultant misalignment of the heart can put the soul and spirit of man in jeopardy. Only a daily realigned heart is guaranteed a consistent fellowship of divine freshness.

"...that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Thessalonians 1:12 NKJV) Heavenly glory besides, all earthly aspirations are intended to be rewarded with different coloration of glories, including material wealth, job promotion, professional accomplishment, business breakthrough, etc. With only self in mind for first service, even legitimate aspirations attract ugly consideration of the ultimate plan of God. Being satisfied with the consideration of God's glory, the Thessalonians explored the virtue of patience and faith in their persecutions and trials. Respect for the ingredient of time in all of God's appointments in life is not a misplacement of service. And our glories are best and securely served in God's first service.

"In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV) Within or without self, the human gesture that does not seem to directly promote the relevance of, or the respect for, self appears irrelevant. It is natural for anyone to only show appreciation when his expressions of need (to either God or man) are welcomed. Unexpectedly, man is called to always be grateful for the combination of the relevance and the irrelevance toward his life. Even while the relevance of human contribution is dispensed, the heart of gratitude represents an indispensable virtue of life.

"But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation." (1 Thessalonians 5:8 NKJV) Without recourse to divine intervention, natural defense mechanism against invasion and hostility involves the deployment of all attacking arsenals in the direction of the enemy's encroachment. Whatever material/physical and emotional losses are suffered in every attack, it is instructive to know that the enemy is not after anything other than believer's joy and peace in the Lord. But whenever the heart can believe that its joy and peace are not reserved in whatever is susceptible to earthly invasion, the most reliable defense is deployed. Faith, love, and hope represent the state of the heart that rest always in the Lord for defense against invasion.

"Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord." (1 Thessalonians 4:17 NKJV) The thrust of Apostle Paul's exhortation is that rapture is reserved for those who reserve the love of Christ in their hearts until the day of His appearing in the sky. It is a presentation of the priority of the pursuit of holiness over the prosecution of hostility. Honestly, it is impossible to share the love of Christ and the love for justice in this world within the same heart. But the unceasing desire for the final flight to the presence of the Lord represents a holy content that the riches of the expected fairness in this world cannot replace.