Heralds Digest

"Look among the nations and watch— Be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days Which you would not believe, though it were told you". (Habakkuk 1:5 NKJV) Only a sincere seeker can share the experience of frustration in prophet Habakkuk's prayer. Apart from the common failure or denial of a selfish and ungodly prayer, delay is equally possible while bringing down God's promises and purpose; not on the account of God's impotence but on the account of man's impatience. Even while man is in apparent waiting mode, God is always working towards the fulfillment of His promises. His invincible works within the seeker are often overlooked, when we look around for comparison rather than for confirmation.

"For the Lord will restore the excellence of Jacob Like the excellence of Israel, For the emptiers have emptied them out And ruined their vine branches". (Nahum 2:2 NKJV) Irrespective of background and the circumstances surrounding the place of birth, every creature of God represents dominion and excellence. However, the enemy is the emptier of God's purpose in life, subject to man's approval. In spite of the emptier's destructive agenda and like unto Israel or Jacob, God's purpose for man's excellence remains the same. As soon as we are prepared to restore confidence in God's promises, the implementation of heaven's agenda becomes reactivated. Consistent collaboration of human confidence is equal to God's manifestation.

"The Lord is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him". (Nahum 1:7 NKJV) Unintentionally, the dignity conferred on the challenges of life often threaten the devotion offered to God. Although financial stress, among other types of stresses, can disorganize man's state of mind, repositioning confidence in every alternative source of financial wealth is not a profitable substitute to God's promises. Even when divine assistance appear significantly delayed, our trust in God can be sufficiently sustained. Sincerely, the righteous' burden is not the capacity of his problem, but the retention of the knowledge of God's capability.

"And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!". (2 Timothy 4:18 NKJV) The summary of the previous verse is the acknowledgment of the presence of God throughout the challenges that confronted Paul in the ministry. The Lord delivered him from the mouth of dream terminator. However, his trust in future deliverance from every evil work, especially for someone who has been sentenced to death, appears to acknowledge the fact that the battle against the wicked continues within, even after physical combat is over. Saints who retains the glory due to God, even at the point of sacrificing their lives for the cause of the gospel, surely operate under a special anointing as consistent glory giver.

"Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing". (2 Timothy 4:8 NKJV) No matter how spirited the devotion to a race, there cannot be any reward until the finishing line is crossed. It is always desirable and equally a privilege to finish the race with a glorious smell like the one on Apostle Paul's face. Unlike many, like Demas and Alexander, he refused to be distracted from loving the appearance of the man who once confronted him on his way to Damascus. Only the excitement of seeing the face of Jesus Christ can sustain the consistent willingness to be poured out as a drink offering. Obviously, the last leap is the glorious departure from this sinful and humiliating world.

"And they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry". (2 Timothy 4:4-5 NKJV) The major challenge in ministries today is compromise, or the sensitivity of the body system to comfort and conveniences. Where performance index is determined by physical prosperity, all variables with no promising determinant for material wealth are reasonably compromised. Unlike a jellyfish with high sensitivity to trials and afflictions, Paul's body system was powered by inner sensitivity to the truth of God's word. Evidently, no ministry can conveniently design a tracking system for the treasure of this world and the truth of God's word without losing its focus on heaven.

"Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution". (2 Timothy 3:12 NKJV) Anyone with good sense of modesty knows that godly appearances are both appealing and desirable. As long as it represents an acceptable social norm, anyone would naturally exhibit the desire to look godly. Unfortunately, looking godly is not the same thing as living godly. Living godly implies the eagerness to embrace ridicule in place of respect, without resentment or bitterness. To Apostle Paul, persecution represents the ordinary lifestyle of all saints of God. It is not enough to appreciate the form of godliness, true godliness possesses an irresistible desire for godly living.