Heralds Digest

"That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love". (Ephesians 3:17 NKJV) Being perfectly demonstrated by the Father's perfect gift of His only begotten Son, love is clearly evident in the giving, and not in the receiving. And unless we all, like Apostle Paul, are fully-drawn to be able to count our blessings on the basis of the privileges of service, rather than on the prospects of servings, genuine love will be unattainable. Even when facts of probable evidences are deficient, faith in the promises of God represents a sufficient offering from every heart with genuine love.

"To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ". (Ephesians 3:8 NKJV) The saving grace is all that sinners need to get started with God. However, the saving grace seem not to scratch the surface of the riches of Christ. Being privileged to become a saint, Apostle Paul was able to step up the search for Christ's riches through a deeper measure of grace. Unfortunately, the revelation of the mystery of God is possible only through un-alloyed fellowship with suffering and pain for righteousness' sake. God's glorious grace will never gloom while groaning to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ.

"That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints". (Ephesians 1:17-18 NKJV) The parade of the riches of this world is obviously a compelling and consistent strategy of the enemy to distract the righteous from the incomparable glory of heavenly riches. If the Lord Jesus Christ was not exempted from this temptation, no one can win the battle without the recommended spiritual weapon of prayer. Apostle Paul's foresight of the danger of spiritual complacency among saints in Ephesus imposes the burden of intercession, for the revelation of the inexplicable riches. The secrets about the riches of saints' inheritance are hidden from those who cannot find solace in sacred romance with the Lord.

"But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world". (Galatians 6:14 NKJV) The hustle for appreciation in the standard of living, accumulation of wealth and promotion from any position in life is always a personal bustle whenever self-glory is at stake. Rather than getting involved in personal struggle for recognition, Apostle Paul would glory in the readiness of self to gladly bear the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Could anything be more appropriate for any mortal to be counted to suffer for the course of righteousness? God is glorified when His likeness is appreciated within us.

"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart". (Galatians 6:9 NKJV) Fair compensation discourages bad services farther than encourages good services. Anyone who has been converted into good services needs little motivation from humans. Good reward comes from the God of heaven, who makes nothing other than good. The search of reward from elsewhere naturally discourages commitment to good services. For those who cannot be distracted, good reward has a unique season for maximum compensation.

"If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another." (Galatians 5:25-26 NKJV) Living in the Spirit does not necessarily mean being dead to fleshly demands. Only a comatose body is free from any demand for self gratification. Without a consistent spiritual exercise, as admonished by Apostle Paul, even a spirit-filled individual will protest the denial of deserved dignity and respect. We would fare well with living in the Spirit, when we operate within our comfort zone. A daily walk through hostility requires extra sensitivity to Spirit-leading for sustenance of every godly virtue.

"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love". (Galatians 5:6 NKJV) Being delivered from the rule of dos and dons , everyone in Christ Jesus is expected to therefrom operate under the frame of trust and love. A completely different mental picture of obedience is captured by those who walk in love, compared to those who are governed by the law. Obedience through a sincere love relationship between the Saviour and His saints is powered by faith; whereas, obedience through the law is powered by moral force that cannot be consistently sustained. Sincerely, we start living when faith comes alive.