Heralds Digest

"Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father." (1 John 2:24 NKJV) Truth is truly true when its residency is maintained in the environment of lies. The truth about God' righteousness at Christ's expense is its ability to stand straight in the torrent of errors. God's grace is sufficient to keep any soul from sin, if the wholesome package of grace is allowed to control the heart of man. Unfortunately, many redeemed souls often abuse grace by sharing the residency of their hearts between righteousness and unrighteousness. Whereas, God's grace can only keep truth in the heart at man's approval of its residency permit.

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (1 John 2:15 NKJV) Since the subject of love is the matter of the heart, the heart of man remains the battleground between God and Satan. However, it difficult to understand the state of the heart unless what influences the heart is acknowledged. The scripture says " if anyone love the world, the love of the Father is not in him ". Obviously, the love of the Father and the love of the world lead the heart in different directions. Unfortunately, the overbearing influence of the world, which bother on self interests, often leaves a deficit of desire for the will of God. It is absolutely impossible to protect the interest of self and God simultaneously, without tearing the heart apart.

"But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes." (1 John 2:11 NKJV) Walking daily along the path free of offense is obviously impossible in this sinful world. Rather than engaging in wishful thinking, the best strategy provides a way of accommodating offenses without getting off the track of righteousness. While darkness or unrighteousness is a common lifestyle of sinners and unbelievers, hatred among the children of light is not a reflection of the power of grace. Irrespective of its seeming legitimacy, hatred clouds the pathway of the righteous from uprightness. Therefore, it is better to accommodate possible character fraud, and walk in a clear pathway; rather than to entertain hatred, and cruise along the cloudy pathway.

"But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin." (1 John 1:7 NKJV) Holy living is commonly alien to the system of this world. Most claims of perfection are found hypocritical or outrightly dishonest. Since righteousness comes through the grace of God, true fellowship is necessary for anyone who wishes to reflect the light of the gospel. The light may not necessarily attract the beauty of the world and its system, it rebukes the bitterness in every relationship. Unlike the sanctimonious pretence of holy living, honest living attains perfection through a daily illumination from the fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

"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.