Heralds Digest

“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭6:45‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/luk.6.45.nkjv While reflecting on the last Facebook posting of a friend, moments before boarding yesterday’s ill-fated Ethiopian Airplane: “If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me (Psalms 139:9-10 NKJV)”, it was noted that this good and heaven-bound posting could not have been motivated by evil and earth-centric heart. Here in Christ’s concluding remarks to His disciples, He ruled out the common excuse of many believers’ indulgence of unrighteous outbursts during provocation and the pressure of life. The message to godly hearts is clear: deal with the heart and do not major in drilling the mouth. Many and increasingly negative com...

And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye?” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭6:41‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/luk.6.41.nkjv For the sake of system compliance and performance, the use of human senses for the assessment of other people’s responsibilities is stronger than the responsibility for self assessment. Whereas, God expects the opposite. Jesus asked His disciples “why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye?”. Anyone would readily respond “because human eyes are created to see outward (look) better than inward (perception)”. It implies that diligent disciples would rather work more on their perception, while engaging their eyes on outward performances. Through the eyes of other people and characters, a man with sharper perception is better shaped for own greater productivity and responsibilities. Unfortunately, those who love the seat of judgement with their sharp eyes are not lik...

“And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭6:31-32‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/luk.6.31-32.nkjv Goodness influenced by the award of this world’s good is religiously celebrated, sometimes with a misconception of the power of grace. The direct implication of this misconception is that a loss of good can be mistaken as a loss of grace. However, Jesus teaches His disciples the incorruptible power of grace. God’s grace is powered by His selfless love. Unfortunately, many believers are easily ‘disgraced’ by a subtle withdrawal of their access to a self-acclaimed good. Whereas, heavenly inspired grace is expected to be neither influenced by a donation of the gilded toys nor irritated by a deduction of human goodwill. Only those whose supply of grace is rooted in human’s deeds of kindness can be disgraced by the withdrawal of the world’s ar...

“Woe to you who are full, For you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, For you shall mourn and weep.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭6:25‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://bible.com/114/luk.6.25.nkjv Against the tendency of poverty mentality, prosperity of Christ’s disciples is never promoted as against God’s perfect will. The Master merely teaches His disciples to put the pursuit of the kingdom of God and all its righteousness first. Unfortunately, given the opportunity, the human mind is tempted to pursue prosperity at the expense of purpose. Whereas, a purpose-driven life is not distracted by physical and material prosperities, especially when the silent call of divine duty is being sacredly pursued. Those who seek to laugh last do not desire to laugh first. Therefore, when Jesus said to the listening ears of His disciples “Woe to you who are full, For you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, For you shall mourn and weep”, it was merely a warning on the deceitfulness of riches or prosperity. An helpful status c...

“Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: “...Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man’s sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭6:20, 22-23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://bible.com/114/luk.6.20,22-23.nkjv It is absolutely misleading for anyone to aim at the true value of a precious Jewel by the dignity of its surface treatments. The process of treatments is often harsh, rugged, and rough; not because of the wrongdoing of the Jewel. The ill-treatment is often decided based on its preciousness. The Lord Jesus Christ apparently admonished the disciples to look away, “when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil”. In fact, men’s disvalued treatments imply “God loves you, and have a good thoughts towards you, And empowers you, and calls yo...

Blessed are you who hunger now, For you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, For you shall laugh. Luke 6:21 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/luk.6.21.NKJV The expression of the human body's dissatisfaction through hunger and weeping generally generates the passion for the pursuit of a change of condition. Unfortunately, not many people appreciate the blessedness of this human's innate ability to generate the necessary passion leading to a change from unfavorable conditions of life. Whereas, those who are committed to accepting this noble call as the disciples of change in their world know why the Master emphasized the blessedness in a temporary state of hunger and weeping. While many are deceived by the love of the world and its system of material exploitation, it is instructive to note that true satisfaction cannot be derived from material possessions and artificial inducement of gladness. A discontented disciple does not seek fulfilment and gladness through a brea...

“Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: “Blessed are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭6:20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://bible.com/114/luk.6.20.nkjv Drives for the gain of the good things of this world is naturally averse to the pursuit of godliness. While the former is motivated by self-will, the latter is driven by the will of God. The love of the good things of the world, like money, pleasure, position, high standard of living, etc, will always tow the path that encourages compromise, worldliness, and a lack of interest in the pursuit of the will of God, especially if the interest of the flesh must be laid down. Therefore, Jesus lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: “Blessed are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God”. To choose to follow the Lord is to choose to be deprived of the good things of the world (or the entire constitution of the kingdom of this world), if the pursuit of the perfect will of God must be compromised. In fact, i...