Heralds Digest

“Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law...Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭13:8, 10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/rom.13.8,10.nkjv   Life is generally regarded as good and sweet, if treated as a love lily to be received, especially without a careful reflection on who is paying. Everyone in a relationship, association, social platform, and life’s group will generally appreciate compliments, a consistent reception of a showy love lily, and get ready to raise a red flag for any inconsistency.   However, a commitment to life as a love loan is hard and generally regarded as unfair treatment.  Notwithstanding, the scriptures admonished “Owe no one anything except to love one another...”. It Implies that God expects the treatment of our life as the only allowable kind of a loan. Therefore, believers of God’s law of love are the lilies, made and decorate...

“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God...Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom  honour” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭13:1, 7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/rom.13.1,7.nkjv   When the subject of submission to authorities in life (i.e., at home, fellowship, institution,  business, municipal, state, national, professional, etc) are treated as a demand from fellow human being, many things are bound to get wrong with the call. Believers become restricted to finding God and His manifestations in spaces outside their everyday life and existence. But here, the scriptures open up the horizon: “...the authorities that exist are appointed by God”, i.e., every authority that exist is God’s authority or government. Therefore, anyone who resist God’s government automatically becomes an agent in anti-Go...

“Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭ 12:16 ‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/rom.12.16.nkjv   Watching out for our self-interest in relationships is easy, but it doesn’t always bring the desirable results. And although life teaches that respect is reciprocal, the easier path and the most attractive disposition in life is the path of self-centredness. Therefore, patience, perseverance and prayer to God are expedient in order to accommodate the opinions of the relevant others in the projects of life. However, Paul’s helpful advice was so discreet: “collaborate with the humble!”. So, the question is “where do we find the humble in the path of life?” And the answer remains “patience, perseverance and prayer”. Invariably, a careful watch out for the opinion of God and the pursuit of His interests (not our own interests) about others in life attract the best and ...

“For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/rom.12.3.nkjv   It is not strange that acceptance has become a common ingredient of a reasonable relationship with both man and God. Beyond the offering of things, God demands the presentation of our entire self (time and talents) as holy sacrifice. Unfortunately, a parallel and similar demand of self from fellow partners and principals in family and career life will often create a conflict of interest and conformity. But then, how can believers safely manage the call to conform to the ideas and interests of the system of this world, without sacrificing a reasonable relationship with God? The scriptures say “Let the measure of faith given by God be the sufficient guide always”. The relationship with numerous elements of this...

“And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭ 11:17-18 ‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/rom.11.17-18.nkjv   The analogy between the branches and the root is sufficiently instructive for those who understand the call to live daily by the fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord reserves the wisdom in the heart and the understanding of being nothing without the grace of God. And instead of assuming the status of a wayward wise, the understanding of a wise wild keeps the righteous ever fresh within the vine. After all, the root of a consistent righteous life is a consistent fellowship with the Lord through prayer and His Word. Therefore, a truly wise wild do no longer live by his own wisdom; but by the wealth...

“But what does the divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”...What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭11:4, 7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/rom.11.4,7.nkjv   In a world fully soaked with infectious diseases and pandemic, adopting the right response and strategy is key to staying safe and preventing a total collapse of the system. But when a system of people, nation and family is fully overwhelmed, it becomes difficult to find the correlation between acting straight and staying safe. Such were the state of Elijah the prophet before his encounter with the God of Israel. His frustration about the infection of God’s people with idolatry led him to the state of hopelessness and being suicidal. But God’s response was highly encouraging, “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal”. The batt...

“And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “ LORD, who has believed our report?”” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭ 10:15-16 ‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/rom.10.15-16.nkjv   The good news of salvation is evident by the life of salvation and complete freedom from sin. But the normal tidings of the good gospel is not sufficient for general acceptance of the message for deliverance. As discovered by a desired heart, the great gospel is borne by preachers with beautiful feet or inspired disposition. Although souls may appear to be won obviously on the field, everyone knows that genuine souls are borne in the closet. Therefore, it is only normal for anyone to trust in the efficacy of the gospel message; the atmosphere of grace is initiated by the feet of a great messenger. In spite of the sufficiency of grace ...