Heralds Digest

““Behold, I am against you, O inhabitant of the valley, And rock of the plain,” says the LORD, “Who say, ‘Who shall come down against us? Or who shall enter our dwellings?’” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭21:13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.21.13.nkjv The preference for spiritual distinctiveness and moral uprightness can be misinterpreted as a call for social isolation. Whereas, the scripture teaches that believers are the light of the world. And if a light gives no distinctive luminosity, it becomes irrelevant as a useful guide for any community. Within the doomed land of Jerusalem was situated an isolated enclave of the city of David, socially disconnected from the precarious Jerusalem. And while the inhabitant of the valley appears removed from the wickedness of Jerusalem by leaving on the rock of the plain, God's wrath abides with them because of their preference for irrelevant isolation. The grace of God that bring salvation appeared to all men; and it is only relevant for believers' ...

“And it happened on the next day that Pashhur brought Jeremiah out of the stocks. Then Jeremiah said to him, “The LORD has not called your name Pashhur, but Magor-Missabib. For thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I will make you a terror to yourself and to all your friends; and they shall fall by the sword of their enemies, and your eyes shall see it. I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall carry them captive to Babylon and slay them with the sword.” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭20:3-4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.20.3-4.nkjv Incarceration is a proven tool for political victimization, especially when dealing with stubborn opposition. After the method of honourable enticement through the bread of influence appears unproductive, the dictatorship spirit in man is often left to unleash the option of adopting the method of dishonourable persecution through the bread of affliction. And when the conflict involves personal interest and carnal struggle, it is easy to understand...

“And the houses of Jerusalem and the houses of the kings of Judah shall be defiled like the place of Tophet, because of all the houses on whose roofs they have burned incense to all the host of heaven, and poured out drink offerings to other gods.” ’ ”” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭19:13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.19.13.nkjv Most players detest the idea of being placed on the reserved bench; and yet, the bench is not necessarily reserved for the less skillful. And instead of waiting patiently for the honour of playing for the King of kings and the Lord of lords, the impatient princes often seek transfer into every invited engagement with the host of heaven and other gods. Like the houses of Jerusalem and the kings of Judah, believers are obviously reserved for special service to the Lord. Unfortunately, the enticement of the opportunity to harvest praise and prosperity is always stronger than the possible contentment in waiting. And the painful consequence is the preference for defilement on...

“Give heed to me, O LORD, And listen to the voice of those who contend with me!” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭18:19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.18.19.nkjv When the words and actions of the righteous are attacked by the unrighteous, the experience could be nothing more than a mere display of the lack of privilege to access the presence of the Lord. Only the righteous children of God are privileged to know the mind of God; and they are called to reveal the mind of God to the yet wicked and unrighteous generation. Unfortunately, the messenger's struggle for attention always downplays the good intention of the message. When everyone who has been privileged to find the presence of the Lord expects the compliance of all to " Give heed to me... ", how then would aliens to the throne of grace be able to acknowledge and embrace the original counsel " Give heed to God ". The damages resulting from taking the righteous' persecution personal is probably not lesser than the cons...

“And they said, “That is hopeless! So we will walk according to our own plans, and we will every one obey the dictates of his evil heart.”” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭18:12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.18.12.nkjv Real people understand and will not pretend not to grouse the sincerity of God's plan. Plans are meant to be plain and readable to everyone concerned. But most often than not, only God knows His plan: ' For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord... '. Believers do not probably intend to doubt the faithfulness of God; but when His plan consistently appears not to fit many promising efforts, hopelessness sets in. ' That is hopeless! ', declares the frustrated people of God. Unfortunately, the evil in following a plan without the approval of God is not in the chosen plan; the problem is the evil heart of unbelief. We do not follow God's plan because it makes sense; the Potter's plan is followed because it makes saints.

““O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?” says the LORD. “Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭18:6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.18.6.nkjv Concocted as a putty-like clay modelling compound, play-doh is pliable, non-toxic, reusable, and a non-staining object of creativity for kids. Every kid loves the idea of getting whatever is imaginable at will out of play-doh, without the slightest reservation. And God being the potter, while the house of Israel is liked as the play-doh, God appeared to suggest to prophet Jeremiah "I love having fun with the work of my hands". Unfortunately, believers struggle to resist God's interest in having fun with their made-up plans for developments and progressions in life. But as soon as they submit to remain in His hands (a play-doh is a useless compound mould when outside the reach of kid's play), God remains committed to making something beautiful out...

“As for me, I have not hurried away from being a shepherd who follows You, Nor have I desired the woeful day; You know what came out of my lips; It was right there before You.” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭17:16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.17.16.nkjv Impulse followers may not readily set out to be unreliable; they are probably forced by circumstances of life to seek refreshment in hollow cisterns with no sustaining waters. When the health life of a minister like prophet Jeremiah became shaken and tried, it took a strong faith to defend the faithfulness of the Lord to His promises. As a faithful shepherd, prophet Jeremiah endured his woeful day without blasphemy the name of the Lord. A Shepherd who has not been proved to retain commitment to following the Lord, in spite of the challenges of life, is not qualified to be followed or taken seriously. Faith in the Lord believes in the statement of God's mercies more than the status of His manifestation. And when delay suffers denial, the faith...