Heralds Digest

“Seek the LORD and live, Lest He break out like fire in the house of Joseph, And devour it, With no one to quench it in Bethel—Seek good and not evil, That you may live; So the LORD God of hosts will be with you, As you have spoken.” ‭‭Amos‬ ‭5:6, 14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/amo.5.6,14.nkjv There is no doubt that everything that God created is good and nothing evil. And as God’s Ambassadors, we are designed to reproduce the good creativity in God; and not necessarily produce another god in the created good. To the erring Israel, God said “Seek the LORD and live”. Today, we live in mansions, love by methods and learn with machines...and these dominate our thoughts and control our sense of purpose. Whereas, the good in the works of our hands is stamped out of the hall, when the pursuit of God is stamped out of our hearts. But for the returning believers in God’s mercy and grace, as we seek advanced innovation in all intelligent and intellectual designs, the pursuit of God as the...

““I overthrew some of you, As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, And you were like a firebrand plucked from the burning; Yet you have not returned to Me” Says the LORD. “Therefore thus will I do to you, O Israel; Because I will do this to you, Prepare to meet your God, O Israel!”” ‭‭Amos‬ ‭4:11-12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/amo.4.11-12.nkjv For a child who is observed to become obsessed with certain social or worldly attractions and entertainment, a time-out strategy appears to encourage a return to a good family relationship. Whereas, in some extreme circumstances like in the relationship between God and Israel in the days of prophet Amos, a time-out strategy did not work. There are something specially refreshing in a good firebrand fellowship with the Father - the burning closeness, affection, and communication - that gets withdrawn with every time-out strategy. However, when stubbornness and disobedience develop a coping strategy with the entertainment of this world turned rel...

““That in the day I punish Israel for their transgressions, I will also visit destruction on the altars of Bethel; And the horns of the altar shall be cut off And fall to the ground.” ‭‭Amos‬ ‭3:14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/amo.3.14.nkjv Every concerned parent, pastor, and principal of family, fellowship, and firm, where people are expected to be influenced by the charisma of leadership, understands the frustration in the stance against the negative impacts of today’s social world. And in the subtle sense of conceding defeat, it is easier to draw comfort in the fact that the flight to the heavenly city is a personal race. However, when God would punish the people of Israel for their transgressions, the scriptures declare the line of judgement as “I will also visit destruction on the altars of Bethel”. Whereas, in the days of Jacob and Elijah, the altar at Bethel and the altar at Carmel were known as the altars with powerful and life-changing influence. When revival was needed i...

“Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.” ‭‭Amos‬ ‭3:7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/amo.3.7.nkjv Physical relationships without a clear understanding of the modes of operation is no small challenge. Even in the present age of information technology, access to the cloud for either download or upload operations requires certain understanding of the agreed encryption code. Likewise, relationship of the privileged nations with the Lord in the days of prophet Amos was built on clear agreement. Unfortunately, the problem of man with unrestrained relationships has been from time immemorial. While the cloud is always loaded with benefits and opportunities, maintaining a clear cloud of human relationship with the Lord has always been the problem. Dark clouds are often powered by the invasion of the virus (sin and every form of unrighteousness) and prevent access to good information. But by the mercy of God, the righteous are promised und...

“Thus says the LORD: “For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they sell the righteous for silver, And the poor for a pair of sandals. They pant after the dust of the earth which is on the head of the poor, And pervert the way of the humble. A man and his father go in to the same girl, To defile My holy name.” ‭‭Amos‬ ‭2:6-7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/amo.2.6-7.nkjv The only hope for someone who is being deceived is that an encounter with the truth is somehow or someday possible, just as the current encounter with lies prevails. Whereas, it would be highly pathetic for anyone who struggle with self-deception. And self-deceived fellows like in the nation of Israel of old may easily pass as disillusioned dummies. Without a clear vision of the purpose for any man’s existence and occupancy of privileges in life, everyone will surely engage in the business of chasing shadows. Instead of engaging in the pursuit of God, Israel was c...

“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...