Heralds Digest

  “As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭103:12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/psa.103.12.nkjv If the character Mr. Pliable in John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress had focussed on the miracle of forgiveness, he would have probably obtained the determination of the good Christian in pursuit of the favour at the throne of grace. The Psalmist truly captured this favour as the priest’s progress and not just the pilgrim’s progress. It is the amazing grace of God that removes sin from the soul of a sinner and removes the redeemed soul from sin. As far as the east [in God’s view; and not within the finite man’s perspective] is from the west, the righteous is transformed by the work of grace and not by the acts of morality or religion. Therefore, the souls who are brought before the Cross for the conviction of the sins are ultimately blessed with forgiveness by the grace of God.

  “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭100:4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/psa.100.4.nkjv “God is good, all the time”, says the people. But what if eyes cannot see the good? And how can the heart faithfully declares the same narrative? The Psalmist has the clue...just make sure you enter God’s gates and courts with thanksgiving. You are free to let down your burden thereafter. Unfortunately, that’s the hardest to do, though the easiest thing to say..acknowledging the fact that God’s gates and courts are representation of a praise portal. Praise enables the heart to see the mighty actions of God in the midst of our overwhelming situation and circumstances. It promotes the sovereignty of the Creator of heaven and earth over the strange manipulation of the wicked in our lives. Rather than celebrating the activities of wickedness by our complaints and despondency, the heart of thanksgiving ent...

  “It is good to give thanks to the LORD, And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, And Your faithfulness every night,” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭92:1-2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/psa.92.1-2.nkjv Praise is comely, especially when expectations meet realization. Although expectations and realization hardly converge naturally in life, human expectation changes with experiences, environment and exposure. Therefore, it is good to give thanks to the LORD for who He is - O Most High; rather than the expression of realization-inspired gratitude. That is why the Psalmist admonished the praise of the Lord, based on God’s loving-kindness or faithfulness and not his improved living standards or fruitfulness. Mostly, gratitude based on facts is common and devoid of an absolute faith in God and the fulfillment of His promises. Whereas, great gratitude show little or no delight in material possession or positional prosperity; but rather in the revelati...

  “So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭90:12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/psa.90.12.nkjv Those who indulge in living for the appeal of the fun in this life, rather than the admission of its frailties, are mostly insincere. Whereas, even for the sake of entertainment, real life stories, memoirs, and the documentary of stress, misfortunes, and a series of disappointment or discouragement provide the most useful lessons for all sincere people. And if fortunes are made out of misfortune and divine appointments are usually promoted by disappointment, sincere pilgrims are likewise expected to embrace the teaching trail with the true meaning of the Psalmist’s prayer “So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom”. Unfortunately, on life’s teaching trail, many prefer the embrace of a heart of wine to the endurance in a heart of wisdom.

  “Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; They will still be praising You. Selah...O LORD of hosts, Blessed is the man who trusts in You!” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭84:4, 12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/psa.84.4,12.nkjv The disaffection of being raised with humble background is the loss of the taste of civilization and the colour of silver spoon. Whereas, those who trust in the taste and colour of affluence, wealth, and privileges that the world can afford are often willing to make sacrifices. While Satan’s enticement abides with the ground rule of the impossibility of serving two masters, deceived believers have always prefer to explore the taste of civilization and colour of silver spoon, at the expense of trusting God. Unfortunately, the desired refuge in riches, fame, fortunes in life has brought to many, nothing more than an endless pain, extreme disappointment, and eternal separation from God. Therefore, the Psalmist says “Blessed are those who dwell in Your house...”. Even though...

  “For He established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers, That they should make them known to their children;” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭78:5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/psa.78.5.nkjv If the responsibility of training our children in the way of the Lord is limited to the exposition of moral knowledge at home and in schools, there is no doubt that Israel should had the best standard and would have passed the test. There has always been a problem with the human efforts of adopting the divine establishment of good and godly testimony from one generation to the next generation. When God established His testimony in Jacob, He worked on Jacob and walked him into a personal and intimate experience, above the knowledge of the letters of His words. Similar experiences were noted in the life and ministry of all of bible characters. Unfortunately, when a believer refutes in styles a practical working experience with God, he cannot be qualified as a tru...

  “I will remember the works of the LORD; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will also meditate on all Your work, And talk of Your deeds.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭77:11-12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/psa.77.11-12.nkjv If someone’s classification of the spectrum of madness as bad, mad, sad, and glad is acceptable, it implies that everyone is mad; and only the degree of madness matters. The circumstances of life and the emotional reflection to life’s experiences constitute the major mess in human memory. Therefore, some people of influence in our family, society and work life are easily emboldened to create emotional instability in system that is not immune to this mess. And like the Psalmist’s experiences, many questions with little or no answers are commonplace in life. However, the secret of stable and focussed mindset, in spite of the challenges of life, is here revealed: 1. Remember the works of the LORD and NOT the wickedness of lords; 2. Remember God’s wonders of old and ...