Heralds Digest

“Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭10:21-22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.10.21-22.nkjv The experience of the young rich Man after his lovely encounter with Jesus teaches all that the only one thing that the natural life lacks is the ability to freely think outside the needs of self. The quest for higher standard of living is natural, but the passion for lifting the lives of others is not common. Having been blessed with great riches and possessions in this life, it was commendable to Jesus that the young rich Man was concerned about extending the living pleasures to life after death. Although Jesus loved him for his life-after-death concern, the young rich Man lacks the ability to invest his earthly...

“Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭10:15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.10.15.nkjv Faith to receive without querying the potency of the source is one of the reasons why children can hardly suffer from high-blood pressure. For kids, a promise received is as good as a precious package deal, with little or no fear of disappointment or discouragement. Whereas, adults need consistent assurances from the throne of grace in order to stand firmly on the promises of God. With the myriads of promises upon the pages of the scriptures that await fulfillment, the major concern of heaven is always ‘Will Jesus find faith in the earth at His return?’ While human’ increase in knowledge would always demand the success rate of every prospective engagement before embarking on the mission, little children have little or no such concern before engagements. Obviously, Jesus’ promise of a mansion in heaven i...

“And Jesus answered and said to them, “Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. But from the beginning of the creation, God ‘made them male and female.’” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭10:5-6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.10.5-6.nkjv If only man can safely trust the desires of his own heart, the concept of liberalism will be the all-times perfect option in life. In that regards, there would have been no job for advocates of gay rights, abortion rights, divorce, including all forms of advocacy for freedom in the choice and shapes of ungodly relationships. However, in the response of Jesus Christ to question on the rights to obtain divorce bills from the Pharisees, hardness of the heart was categorized as the problem with the call for certain rights in life. The heart of man is proven as the seat of a strong influence for changing any status quo, previously laid down for orderliness, decorum, and the peace at home, workplaces, and the civil society. And with collective sup...

“Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.”” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭9:50‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.9.50.nkjv Parenting without principles, civil service without civility, and management without manners are some common examples of the burdens in social relationships at home, workplaces and the society. With reference to service offering as salts, Jesus acknowledges the pleasant gesture in service engagements, compared to the terrible option of disengagement. Obviously, disengagement of services in troubled relationships has never been an option, when wellness is under consideration. However, when does the gesture in services lose its flavour and become worthless? The scriptures provide the basic principle in the final admonition “Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another”. Simply, parenting can only be fruitful when parents’ motives, manners, and manifestation are governed by the sa...

““But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭9:42‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.9.42.nkjv Making sacrifices for better tomorrow is a necessity of life. However, there is need for proper evaluation of the prospects in every sacrifice, in order to avoid the unfortunate mixup in priority. While human needs are often driven by dispensable dainties, like comfort, affluence and position, there is always the risk of creating damnable offences against the indispensable dainty of eternal life for other members in the kingdom. Therefore, Jesus said it is better to embrace a drowning lifestyle with the dispensable dainties of life, rather than throwing caution to the wind. It implies that the most delicious dainty in life’s relationships must embrace the making of sacrifices in order to promote the grace, goodness and the glory of God. The pea...

“But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. For he who is not against us is on our side.” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭9:39-40‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.9.39-40.nkjv Faithfulness is here taught by Jesus Christ as not the same thing as an engagement in a filing parade or physical attendance in religious gatherings. Faithfulness is simply synonymous to fruitfulness. Those who religiously follow the Master in the public, whereas their private lives speak evil of the essence of the Way, the Truth, and the Life, constitutes the only worries of the Lord Jesus Christ. Likewise today, faithful followers are not known by their name tags, dressing styles, denominational affiliations, and religious attendances. The scriptures simply declare that faithful followers will be known by their fruits. Therefore, anyone who claims to love the Lord and that he has been saved from the world of sin and unrighteousness must simply show it b...

““Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.”” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭9:37‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.9.37.nkjv Finding greatness in savouring position and pleasure represents an easier concept, compared to finding greatness in seeking solution to problems. But in correcting the pleasure-prone concept in the disciples, Jesus used the illustration of enjoying the company of children. And good parents and those who are called into the children ministry know how to only find pleasure in problems created by the nuttiness in children. Similarly, whether at home, workplaces, or the large society of people and the nation, true greatness is found in a genuine thrust into the problems created by the people. Unfortunately, savouring the system that works has often rendered the potency of greatness in many a life useless and wasteful. Whereas, God makes no mistake in whatever and wherever He has called an...