Heralds Digest

"Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?" (Galatians 3:3 NKJV) Without a taste of grace and glory by the Spirit of the Lord, it would be hard to accept the foolishness of fainting on the way. When we walk with the Lord in the light of His words, a journey of faith that sees something out of nothing is begun. The journey of faith may be unattractive and void of candy distributions, a daily satisfaction of the soul by the Spirit actually leaves no appetite for candies. The trading of our eternal joy and fellowship with the Lord with the transient goodies of this world is undoubtedly a foolish exchange. A holy walk with the Lord to heaven takes nothing but faith without fainting.

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me". (Galatians 2:20 NKJV) Those who have experienced the privilege of inter-cultural or intercontinental relationships understand the challenges with maintaining a single lifestyle. Without sparing the danger in Apostle Peter's hypocritical disposition, Paul underscores the secret of winning the war against pressure to belong - divine influence. If Christ takes the centre stage of influencing our actions and inaction, we would be able to dampen the pressure to fall for the majority. Even when we move about, our conviction shouldn't roam around, with divine influence as the only anchor for the soul.

"But from those who seemed to be something—whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God shows personal favoritism to no man—for those who seemed to be something added nothing to me". (Galatians 2:6 NKJV) Almost all of heaven resources would remain elusive to most of the current kingdom people, if access is based on personality. Unlike access to good standard of living, access to freedom from sin is based on grace that disregard human perspective of his position, place, and possession. Recognition of human status is expedient in all of man-man relationships; but no man of God is called to promote the flag of favoritism in any of man-God relationships. An wholesome package from the presence of God represents a divine favour, accessed only by God's grace.

"But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ". (Galatians 1:11-12 NKJV) Today's gospel message is heavily shrouded in the dynamic personalities of the messengers. Depending on the diverse emphasis of different denominations, the revelation of Jesus Christ is often threatened by the diversity in personality preferences. Like today's christian circles, the Galatian Church was blessed with personalities whose taste and style command special interpretation of the testaments. Only the revelation of Jesus Christ in every gospel message can deliver the heart of man from personality preferences.

"Your injury has no healing, Your wound is severe. All who hear news of you Will clap their hands over you, For upon whom has not your wickedness passed continually?" (Nahum 3:19 NKJV) The #BringBackOurGirls campaign may appear to bring the awareness of the spate of terrorism in the region of Africa to the global scene; it is actually the demonstration of the benefit of collective agreement on what represent the threshold of wickedness. There is an unshakable power from the throne of grace against evil when the people (be it in a family setting, society or nation) join hands together in agreement, especially in seeking the face of God, through prayer, on anything that threatens the purpose of their corporate existence. The aggression of Nineveh over Judah would never have attracted the attention of God, if anyone of Israel had continue to treat wickedness with kid's gloves. Unity of purpose in life clearly decimates the threshold of wickedness.

"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) Victims of destruction would not hesitate to respond to the offer to appease the gods, as long as it is believed that they are the emptiers of precious treasures. Although Jacob's gates and the shields of its valiant men are no match to the slightest threat of Nineveh, thousand of sacrifices to any god of Nineveh would not guarantee the desired restoration of peace in Israel. The only sacrifice that matter must seek peace with the Emptier of emptiers - the Almighty God. The restoration power of the Emptier of emptiers is not limited to the prospect to recover whatever the emptiers have emptied, but it extends to the potency of His re-creation. The Emptier of emptiers deserves our unreserved adoration.

"Behold, on the mountains The feet of him who brings good tidings, Who proclaims peace! O Judah, keep your appointed feasts, Perform your vows. For the wicked one shall no more pass through you; He is utterly cut off". (Nahum 1:15 NKJV) Bearing of good tidings and the proclamation of the message of peace is easy in times of affluence and relative wellness. Unfortunately, the path of peace in times of trouble and great aggression is thin; only an uncommon trust in the God of peace can stay the heart on His promises. Although Judah appeared to have undergone great affliction in the hand of Nineveh, they are encouraged to stay their trust in the message of peace and not in the memory of persecution. The frustration of the wicked is more fierce with an unperturbed fellowship of the righteous and his God, even in the height of great wickedness.