Heralds Digest

““If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, Then how can you contend with horses? And if in the land of peace, In which you trusted, they wearied you, Then how will you do in the floodplain of the Jordan?” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭12:5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.12.5.nkjv God’s response to Prophet Jeremiah’s query on “Why the wicked does prosper?” appears simple and straightforward. The winning way and the wicked way are always constructed in series; while the end of the latter is always the beginning of the former. And since the wicked way is considered the gym space for the winning way, every serious-minded athlete is expected to pay with appreciation for the services. Anyone who hate the gym for his experience of pain is not prepared for the race of life. Unfortunately, the weary walk on wicked way destroys the purpose of God in the life and ministry of God’s elects. Whereas, the scriptures admonish the righteous to always look away from the pain, if Jesus the auth...

“Righteous are You, O LORD, when I plead with You; Yet let me talk with You about Your judgments. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are those happy who deal so treacherously? But You, O LORD, know me; You have seen me, And You have tested my heart toward You. Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, And prepare them for the day of slaughter.” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭12:1, 3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.12.1,3.nkjv There is always no perfect answer to the question “why does wicked way prosper?”, especially from someone who is not involved in the act of wickedness. An atheist will readily justify his hard stance with queries like ”Where was God during the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre towers on September 11, 2001?” However, the experience of Prophet Jeremiah in the question room shows that sincere souls often have a fair idea of the fruitfulness in wickedness. Wickedness of men often promotes intimacy with God. Unfortunately, believers who are called to a lifestyl...

““Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the men of Anathoth who seek your life, saying, ‘Do not prophesy in the name of the LORD, lest you die by our hand’— therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Behold, I will punish them. The young men shall die by the sword, their sons and their daughters shall die by famine;” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭11:21-22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.11.21-22.nkjv The trials of life against every believer’s commitment to the will of God are expected evidences of consecration, especially when the source of persecution is external to the victim’s family, fellowship and friends. However, the thesis of trials from within is strange and reasonably unbearable to almost all people. When Jeremiah realized that the source of the threat to his life is from his kinsfolk, the men of Anathoth, he became dumbfounded....before apparently retorted to “let God decide the punishments”. But then, what are the motivations for Anathoth Antithesis in life, especially given that Ana...

“Then the LORD said to me, “Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying: ‘Hear the words of this covenant and do them. For I earnestly exhorted your fathers in the day I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, until this day, rising early and exhorting, saying, “Obey My voice.”” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭11:6-7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.11.6-7.nkjv The communication between prophet Jeremiah and God suggests that earnest exhortation from the Lord demands assiduous assimilation by the people. It takes early rising up to an intimate fellowship with God to prevent the spiritual hijack of all the benefits of His words by the business of the world. God’s words sink deep into the heart of man when it retains the priority sip of the morning. Otherwise, the weariness of daily duties takes the priority of exhorting the heart with the distraction of politics, preferences, power, and productivity. Unfortunately, the voice of these Ps is strong and irres...

“For the shepherds have become dull-hearted, And have not sought the LORD; Therefore they shall not prosper, And all their flocks shall be scattered...O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps. O LORD, correct me, but with justice; Not in Your anger, lest You bring me to nothing.” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭10:21, 23-24‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.10.21,23-24.nkjv A smitten shepherd is obviously better than a scattered shepherd. While the smitten shepherd is persecuted from without but blessed, the scattered shepherd is polluted from within and cursed. Although God is concerned about the scattered sheep of smitten shepherds, the evils of scattered shepherds on their innocent sheep are greater. “For (scattered) shepherds have become dull-hearted, And have not sought the LORD”. Unfortunately, dull-hearted-ness and inability to hear directly from God has great and grave consequences on the people within our sphere of influence, as prin...

“Silver is beaten into plates; It is brought from Tarshish, And gold from Uphaz, The work of the craftsman And of the hands of the metalsmith; Blue and purple are their clothing; They are all the work of skillful men. But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King. At His wrath the earth will tremble, And the nations will not be able to endure His indignation.” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭10:9-10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.10.9-10.nkjv There is no contention about the right of celebrity in human creativity and the exhibition of earthly inventions. Celebration of hard-work and a devotion to discipline and determination is always a source of inspiration for potentially lazy minds. However, human creativity is not designed to cancel God’s right of consecration. And in every work of human hands, the heart is created to worship God who provides inspiration for enhanced living standards among men. Unfortunately, the tiny heart of man cannot accommodate the combined c...

“Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the LORD.” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭9:23-24‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.9.23-24.nkjv The metrics of great achievements from almost all of life’s devotions are common to everyone, either in the society or within the sanctuary. Success is readily measured by the number digits in the bank account, the height of command in status and position, and the ability to command and influence either political or social authorities. Unfortunately, many men have used the glories of this world with the independent mindsets to the detriment of their souls, ending their lives with regrets and total submission to the vanities of wisdom, weight, and wealth. Therefore, the ...