Heralds Digest

““Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭2:29-30‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://bible.com/114/luk.2.29-30.nkjv The absence of true peace in any personal relationship or institutional system brings myriads of nightmare, disorganization, discouragement and unnecessary disappointment. And in a world battered with wickedness, the activities of peace makers are precious. While many will readily testify to the difficulty in searching for peace makers among religious people of our days, Simeon was not a disappointment in the days prior to the birth of Jesus Christ. The scriptures declared him just, righteous and even filled with the Holy Ghost. However, he was privileged to experience a taste of God’s kind of peace before his departure from the struggle of this world. While the scriptures described peace-makers as the blessed children of God, it is difficult for anyone to bring true peace into his world without a tr...

> “So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭2:6-7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://bible.com/114/luk.2.6-7.nkjv Unlike in the days of Joseph and Mary, travelling advisory based on the accurate knowledge of Mary’s delivery date could have prevented the strenuous trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem. However, a recommendation of a safe flight date and transfer of medical record would still safe the due date and destination. The fact is that, irrespective of the change in time, standard of living, and the advances in technology, the due date and the appropriate destination for the birth of Mary’s firstborn Son is beyond human manipulation. Therefore, the responsibilities of every man in life are simply limited to making efforts to accommodate the divine counsel of God. Definitely, some tasks are du...

“To grant us that we, Being delivered from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭1:74-75‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/luk.1.74-75.nkjv Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Zachariah extended his deliverance from the hand of the salient motives behind most of man’s reasonable preoccupation and services to humanity. While occupied in the temple service with utmost dedication until his old age, it was difficult for anyone to uncover the venom of the deep-seated loneliness and fear. Apparently lost in mere sense of religious obligations, Zachariah could not experience the total freedom of serving God without fear of what the future holds for faithful workers. Likewise, many believers can be readily busy with religious, secular, and social obligations to God and people in their lives; and yet without the true freedom from fear of what the future holds. The truth is, it is easier fo...

“And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭1:47-49‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://bible.com/114/luk.1.47-49.nkjv The pursuit of a positive change in the lowly or humble state of any man often requires some sacrifices that latter troubles the soul. Besides the sacrifice of physical hard work, discipline and dedication, the road to some kind of blessedness in life is often laid with spiritual restlessness. Therefore, when Mary claimed “And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior”, it speaks of a special transformation from her ‘lowly state’ to a ‘celebrated state’ without any sacrifice of a blessed peace of mind. When a man’s breakthrough and promotion in life, career, and ministry are attached to the manipulation or maneuvering of another man, a vacuum of indebtedness is perpetually opened with a...

“Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭1:45‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://bible.com/114/luk.1.45.nkjv One of the amazing takeaway of most high school science students is the introduction of the Newton’s law of sound. The classical interaction of simple sound with its travelling medium, i.e., gas (air), liquid or solid, somehow introduced a sense of distinction on the minds of most proud students in the science class. Meanwhile, the interactions of sound on the minds of people have a more lasting impact on their lifestyle. The mixture of sounds at home and society often foment troubles, depression, and sometimes suicide tendencies, especially when the perception of fellow human intentions are mismanaged. Even when facts are transmitted in sounds, faith in God is the only guaranteed shield from irrational decisions in life. For Mary, the scriptures has it that she believed God even when facts in sound do not hold...

“it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭1:3-4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/luk.1.3-4.nkjv If there is any field of ministry work that is mostly intimidated by a change in the status of human lifestyle, it is the field of evangelism and follow-up. Whereas, the Master consistently pray for passion and the focus of labourers on the ripened harvest on the field. Luke could have been intimidated by the status of his convert - the most excellent Theophilus; the perceived understanding of the faithfulness of other disciples; and the fear of “unnecessary” emphasis on “those things in which you(Theophilus) were instructed”. Nevertheless, he followed up the convert that he may know the certainty of his belief. It implies that, until the heart of a convert is completely handed over...

“Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.” ‭‭Titus‬ ‭3:10-11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/tit.3.10-11.nkjv Fruitfulness and productivity in public service require a great deal of public administrative skills and strategies. Most times, the level of diplomacy involves can be so difficult for heavenly minded saints to defend. Little wonder, conservative disposition advises believers to stare clear of the scene of dirty politics and every environment where standing right is abominable. However, how does saints handle the challenge of divisiveness in the assembly of believers? Apostle Paul admonished young Bishop Titus to “Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition”. Wisdom and a great sensitivity on the path of leadership are vital for effective church administration and Christian disciplines. Meanwhile, many disciples may rightly query the apparent use of diplomacy in le...