Heralds Digest

“Thus says the LORD: “For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they have despised the law of the LORD, And have not kept His commandments. Their lies lead them astray, Lies which their fathers followed.” ‭‭Amos‬ ‭2:4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/amo.2.4.nkjv Our fast-paced world is designed with several alternatives for the lovers of the law of the LORD. Like the nation of Judah of old, the likes of Christianity for Dummies can offer a quick search of materials for everyday get-along relationships. The only problem is that bible commentaries, literatures and all online alternatives to the holy scriptures are not good as a stand-alone guide for serious Christians: they sometimes offer lies that can lead the gullible minds into the ditch. Needless to mention the aggressive calls to an outright disobedience of the commandments of the Lord in most suppossed holy assemblies. For Judah, the scriptures declare “they have despised the l...

“Thus says the LORD: “For three transgressions of the people of Ammon, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they ripped open the women with child in Gilead, That they might enlarge their territory.” ‭‭Amos‬ ‭1:13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/amo.1.13.nkjv Just like Ammon, Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, and Edom, the concept of promotion and prosperity through the decimation of others’ privileges was punished by the Originator of true enlargement. When the scriptures declare that promotion does not come from anywhere else, other than from above, it is apparent that human pursuit of enlargement outside the guidance of God can never be without an encroachment of God’s purpose and plan. For example, Ammon had to rip open women with child in Gilead in order to gain enlargement of his desired territory, without any consideration of the divine purpose for the possible enlargement of divine territories through the children from the women. While many are tempted to mourn sever...

“From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6:17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/gal.6.17.nkjv Marks of recognition on students from any institution bear the name of the institution and provide a useful projection of its legacy. Likewise, corporate organizations and states decorate a worthy staff and citizen for a necessary ambassadorial representation. These marks distinguish individuals for honour and respect among peers, almost making commands out of their opinions. However, the problem with the earthly marks of recognition or mastery is its corruption with time, change of state or institutional guards, obsolescence, etc. Whereas, the marks of distinction from the Lord Jesus Christ cannot be corrupted by the elements of this world - they are not awarded based on the opinions of men. While the mark of distinction in the world outrightly commands recognition and commendation of the awardee, the Master’s Mark carries the refer...

“But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6:14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/gal.6.14.nkjv In conclusion of the Apostle’s exhortation on the superiority of the love of the Lord over the legality of the law, a personal reflection on the import of true change is here presented. How true is the ease of driving a positive change in the behaviour of people in our lives with religious regiments and traditional decorum, when we also struggle with living out a consistently changed soul? Living daily by faith truly influences the practical alternative to the insincere life of hypocrisy and make-beliefs. Whereas, the secret of a sincere change is faith in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. By the confession of Apostle Paul, it was faith in this emblem of suffering and shame that brings true change from boasting the life of a persecutor of the disciples of Christ to bearing ...

“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6:10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/gal.6.10.nkjv Most times, the quantity of the goods in any relationship distracts the mind from the quality of the possible goodness. Whereas, the quantity of goods delivered in all relationships in the family, friendship and fellowship is immaterial, compared to the quality of the heart of goodness. The liquidity of goodness is more important than the loads of good. Sometimes, the needs in the life of people requires just the moments of time, which cannot be purchased with money. Unfortunately, many goods go round with the motive of attracting great compliments. Whereas, the transaction of goods without the needed communication of goodness attracts greater weariness. When Apostle Paul admonished believers in the Galatian Church that “let us do good to all”, he was very emphatic on “Therefore, as we have opportunity...”....

“And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:24-25‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/gal.5.24-25.nkjv The evidence that love covers multitude of sins is perfectly reflected in the passions and desires of two lovebirds after the altar. Old passions and desires become obsolete and irrelevant in the light of the new passions and desires for perfect oneness in the newly found life. While physical marriages struggle to demonstrate this expected oneness, believers’ spiritual marriage with Christ is not designed to struggle in order to breathe this blissful life of love. That was the basis of Apostle Paul’s emphatic declaration “And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires”. It is either we are Christ’s or not Christ’s. That is, being Christ’s automatically activates the crucifixion of the flesh and its lusts. Unfortunately, the passions and de...

“For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:13-14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/gal.5.13-14.nkjv The converse of “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” suggests the distinction between the concept of maturation and manipulation. The former works on self in order to provide love service to others; while the latter prefer to work on others in order to satisfy the love need of self. Whereas from Apostle Paul’s admonition, the liberty in love is not a licentious to lawlessness. Rather, it is call to the sacred love law and a fellowship of loving others (co-workers, co-students, co-tenants, and everyone within one’s sphere of influence) with the standard of a self-satisfying love service. Therefore, the subject of the love service is oneself, while the object of the love ...