Heralds Digest

"Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby." (1 Peter 2:1-2 NKJV) Real people struggle daily with offenses. However, not many contemplate on the appropriate treatment for offenses. Irrespective of the state of mind, offenses feed on nothing but the variants of malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and evil speaking. Fortunately, the scripture says there is always an alternative diet in the word of God - the undiluted and gracious pacifier . After all, only the nutrients in the pure milk of God's word guarantee growth. Therefore, preference of the counsel of God over the sympathy in man's unrighteous expressions represents the ultimate desire for growing in grace.

"Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart." (1 Peter 1:22 NKJV) The struggle in the heart of man with the saving truth will not be exposed, until the can of offences within is busted. Otherwise, peace among family members at home, brethren in any system, and people in the general society, is threatened with graceless truth. Therefore, it behooves the truth bearer to always search within for freedom from offense slavery, before embarking on a rescue mission. The grace of God will buy a sincere love in order to sell a saving truth.

"Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart." (1 Peter 1:22 NKJV) The power of purity in the truth is not in its declaration; truth works purity with obedience. The declaration of the truth, without the willingness to obey, can be thorny and controversial. However, the garbage of unrighteousness falls off fast from the mind with every commitment to the truth. A graceless truth can boast of its understanding, it does no good to neither others nor the bearer. Unlike graceless truth, saving truth boasts only in the grace of God and a commitment to brethren' love.

"..but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”" (1 Peter 1:15-16 NKJV) The basis of the call to holiness is not the devotion of the redeemed, but the dedication of the Redeemer. Focusing on the former has often created a sense of standards for either self gratification or self disqualification. If Christ, who was tempted up to the point of a defiled altar, was holy unto God; and yet offered an incorruptible blood for our atonement, we can be holy. Therefore, the highway of holiness is a finished work of grace, fully paid by the blameless atonement. Then it will be taken as a blessing, “ Be holy, for I am holy. ”

"..to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (1 Peter 1:4-5 NKJV) Unlike the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, permanent residents of the system of this world are passionately attached to earthly inheritance. Although these inheritances may provide temporary comfort and dignity, and irrespective of their source, they are transient and corruptible. Conversely, the source of heavenly inheritance is the power of God through faith. Even with denial of earthly privileges, a pilgrim's soul is filled with great joy of an undefiled attachment to heavenly inheritance.

"Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins." (James 5.19-20 NKJV) The truth is readily complicated in the atmosphere of great needs. Besides the pressure to supply the basic needs of life, truth is mostly expected to travel along the material prosperity lane. Consequently, error sells faster, when packaged with the provision of human's earthly needs. Sincerely, nothing would have been wrong with the provision of earthly needs, if the way of salvation from sin is not compromised. The scripture says " what shall it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and loses his soul ?". Therefore, heavenly needs of redemption are satisfied by those who value the gain of a soul over the prosperity of the body.

"Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain." (James 5:7 NKJV) Agitation for equity is popular in the world, not necessarily because of its profit; but because of its politics. The wise would readily agree that a resistance to evil, which has the tendency of consuming the agitator does not worth a fight. Rather, the scriptures admonished profitable patience, with confidence in the judgment of the Lord. Afterall, two wrongs does not only lose the right, they actually share the wrong. However, patience in the Lord's promises represents a precious price for peaceful prosperity.