Heralds Digest

  “For which is easier, to say, ‘ Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins” —then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭9:5-6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mat.9.5-6.nkjv Emerging from the rubble of despair, disappointment, and damages to life and property is a one-way line of thought. For the friends of the paralytic that was brought to Jesus, the expectation is a straightforward deliverance from his physical infirmities. Whereas, the spiritual infirmity represented a formidable barricade to divine assistance. Oftentimes, the true arise assist in our moments of great expectations is not the sudden disappearing of the challenges in our life. It is mostly the acknowledging of our mistakes and the finding of an indispensable healing process, even if the pain needs to endure for just a little moment of time. Although it is often more conv...

  ““Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭ 7:21 ‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mat.7.21.nkjv Being smart in the world requires effective management of the concept of divided loyalty. As long as a unitary loyalty at home, workplace and in the fellowship of people appears not normal, the saying of things will not always align with the doing of the same things. Likewise, because of the usual divergence between self-interest and divine interest, only self-interest is permitted to drive obedience to the will of God. Whereas, Jesus says self-will may accumulate the wealth, wisdom, and worth of this world; it does not have a place in the kingdom of heaven. Unfortunately, it is this type of will, filled with human pride and popularity syndrome, that create the public attention of reverence and responsibility in our social circles. But when it comes to the Master’s demands for self-sac...

  “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭ 6:34 ‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mat.6.34.nkjv Just as sorry brings yesterday’s garbage into today, worry brings tomorrow’s carnage into today. Whereas, the scriptures acknowledge that today’s baggage is a sufficient trouble on its own accord. Yet, yesterday’s gone and tomorrow may never be here. We need all the focus, resources, and skills that are accessible today to confront today’s troubles. Unfortunately, without the grace of God, it is almost impossible for anyone to let go yesterday’s garbage and tomorrow’s carnage to focus on today’s baggage. These distractions are strategically designed to ensure no focus on planning, no faith in praying, and no fun from playing. But those who would be serious about addressing today’s troubles must take Jesus’ instruction as a law of focus: ‘Therefore do not worry about tomorrow’. Yester...

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭ 6:21 ‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mat.6.21.nkjv There is no doubt that God’s plan for man to have dominion over all of His other creatures (animate and inanimate) got busted by the depravity of sin. Even after redemption, believers struggle with the control of his wealth, position and the privileges of life. As the saying goes, these treasures are good Servants, but bad Masters. Therefore, when Jesus say “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”, He affirms the possible misplacement of trust in God in pursuits of the treasures in this world. The moment the daily declaration of the nation’s forex exchange, internal politics in our organization, and the circumstances of life drive our daily passion, we know the heart has been derailed from the most trusted treasury - the living word of God and the promise of heaven. The promise held dear to heart is the most trusted treasury in life, irresp...

  ““For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭ 6:14-15 ‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mat.6.14-15.nkjv If self-interest can be wronged, divine interest gets more wronged because of the additional influence of the spirit of bitterness. And while it is easier for all to dot around in demand for the respect of personal interests, the will of God gets easily trampled to the background. Unfortunately, the same man is often trigger-happy to hold on to fellow man’s offence. Therefore, Jesus rounded up the teaching on the secret of prevailing prayer with a solemn lesson on forgiveness: “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses”. Clearly, self-interest is a major setback, against man’s life deman...

  “And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:7-8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mat.6.7-8.nkjv The most painful thing for believers to admit in all prayer sessions is that we often do not know what we really need in life. By approaching the throne of grace like the heathen do, believers are tempted to offer prayers as if to an unknown God, using vain repetitions in the words of Jesus Christ. Invariably, dishonest hearts do live for food, fame and fortune. Whereas, God knows that the greatest need of man in life is fellowship. Yes, fellowship with the One who truly know the basic needs of the body for food, fame and fortune. When Jesus says “Therefore, do not be like them”, He simply admonished every heart to be honest with the offering of an open door before approaching the thron...

  “But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:3-4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mat.6.3-4.nkjv If we consistently confront frustration and disappointment in our public services, there is likelihood that the secret service components are weak or they are non-existent. Since a focus on human reward system in the public and charitable services is self-centred, it is bound to attract jealousy, sycophancy and delinquency. And the service providers in this kind of system at home, workplace, fellowship and in the society have a frustrating diverse interest to satisfy. Therefore, when Jesus admonished that ‘do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing’ in all charitable deeds, He simply wants His disciples to always let their secret services drive the public services. In secret services (most...