Heralds Digest

"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen." (2 Peter 3:18 NKJV) Glorying in grace is a subtle spiritual disease that rob any believer of his continual exploits in the service of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Consequently, when heaven is ready for new assignment, the flesh is busy celebrating old consignment. However, those who acknowledge the irrelevance of glorying in grace are readily available before the throne of grace for fresh anointing. When glory is consistently and completely ascribed to the Lord, believer get satisfied with growing in grace rather than glorying in grace.

"Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells." (2 Peter 3:13 NKJV) Although social, work and family engagements are mundane things, the quality of human engagement with these works of life determines the expectation in eternity. Therefore, the difference between earthly-minded and heavenly-minded person is centered on the quality of their varied interests during engagement with the mundane things of life. Even when the outcome from all engagements on earth appear different from the bargain, heavenly-minded person looks for righteous riches in the relationship. Eventually, all righteous relationships invoke relevant riches from irrelevant engagements.

"That you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior". (2 Peter 3:2 NKJV) Slackness in the pace of performance as regards fulfillment of promises brings nothing but discouragement to the soul. Even pure minds need daily assurance of God's faithfulness to promises in order to avoid settling for alternatives. Besides the promise of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, the expectation of the minds to the realization of hope to challenges in family, economic, social, and health affairs represents sensitive sources of distraction. Pure minds are not necessarily mindful of God's promises while waiting, unless the minds become mindless of man's timing.

"While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage." (2 Peter 2:19 NKJV) When the scripture says " Resist the devil " but " Flee youthful lust ", false teachers readily raise red flag on believers' liberty. Whereas in actual sense, it is the loss of liberty that constrained an individual from walking the members of his body away from the point of enticement. Many mighty giants have fallen into immorality due to abuse of liberty right and disuse of useful boundaries. Unlike liberty lust, true liberty do not permit the violation of the law of the Spirit in order to satisfy the lust of the flesh.

"They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness". (2 Peter 2:15 NKJV) Since the game of love is played in the heart of man, it is common sense for players to ascertain, before game start, the willingness of parties to proceed in the same direction. However, many players are mischievous in their interpretation of smartness. Like Balaam the son of Beor, many prefer to desire a long-term love relationship with God with a short-term affection for unrighteousness in pursuit of riches, position, immorality, etc. Unfortunately, no one can engage the devil in the game of unrighteousness, and expect to die the death of a righteous man.

"...and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries." (2 Peter 2:10 NKJV) Personal lifestyle, based independent principles, are easy to manage within a system that run strictly by lay down procedures. But in real life, where conflicts between personal principles and system procedures are normal, special grace is required in order to prevent complication. Fortunately, God's sovereign will accommodates the world's system procedures, without damages to its righteous demands. However, a self-willed person will be insensitive to the leading of the Spirit. It implies that, only a comprehensive coverage under the leading of the Spirit encourages an uncomplicated lifestyle.

"And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain." (2 Peter 1:18 NKJV) If the same voice that the disciples heard speaks honour and glory about the Lord Jesus Christ on the account of its procession from heaven, every opportunity with the word of God, given to any mortal, is meant to be sacred. On the other hand, the multitude of other voices in every man's daily activities breed nothing less than fear, confusion, and insecurity. Although the privilege of being with the Lord on the holy mountain was limited, the moment makes a difference throughout the rest of the life and ministry of Apostle Peter. Therefore, the only antidote against a scary day is a sacred voice from the Lord, ahead of the day's activities.