Heralds Digest

  “For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men —the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.” He said to them, “ All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭7:8-9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.7.8-9.nkjv Forbearing the lifestyle of some deviant elements, the general compliance of people to the state COVID-19 protocol and the observance of social distancing have shown that the rate of community spread of defilement can be controlled. And in the days of Jesus among the Pharisees and public elders, personal hygiene was a revered tradition of men and an acceptable public protocol. When the disciples of Jesus were found by these elders violating this protocol, they became offended and queried Jesus’ sense of compliance to the protocol against defilement. Whereas, Jesus’ response challenged the Pharisees against their deliberate promotion of deadly defilement, while enforcing proto...

  “...and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭ 4:19 ‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.4.19.nkjv Despite the clear commandment of the Lord to seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness as the treasurable thing in this world, the pursuits of other things remain the fanciful option for glamour, greatness, and gains. Why does the heavenly-considered treasurable thing often appears fade in fruitfulness, compared to the earthly-fanciful other things? Jesus says the problem lies in the cares and desires of believers, leading to the situation where treasurable thing becomes unfruitful in their hearts. Unconverted hearts cannot care and desire for righteousness above riches. So, when the heart consistently struggles with the word, will, and way of righteousness as the most treasurable thing, it is the heart that needs conversion and not necessarily the care and ...

  “And He said to them, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭4:9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.4.9.nkjv There is no doubt that the context of seekers here relates to the daily search for truth and the will of God. Sinners and the unrepentant followers are not even considered; for they belongs to the categories of those who do not have ears to hear. Notwithstanding in the assembly of God’s people, and where efforts are made to approach the throne of grace for instructions and counsels, the Lord’s admonition suggests that there are possibilities for seekers to have ears but not to hear. “... let him hear ” and not “... let God speak! ”. It takes sincerity of heart for those who seek the Lord for divine guidance to listen, especially when God speaks in parables of our day to day activities, relationships at home, work places, and the fellowship of God’s people. Sometimes, God speaks through the challenges in our lives or through the lives of those close to us. U...

  “Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭ 1:35 ‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.1.35.nkjv Without a clearly-defined key performance indicator (KPI) on every activity in human daily schedule, a desirable level of productivity cannot be attained in all of life’s projects. And just by mere devotion of daily resources into all activities in active engagements, life becomes loaded with daylight distractions rather than desirable deliverables. In His modelling of a quiet-time escape strategy, Jesus engaged a long while before daylight with a period of fellowship with God. Most times, people hardly wake up from bed before day-dreaming on daylight engagements; and buying into the devil’s strategy of distractions. Unknowingly, unwary pilgrims are often deceived into pursuing the day’s activities without understanding the purpose in the heart of the Creator of every day’s opportunitie...

  “ But many who are first will be last, and the last first .” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭ 19:30 ‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mat.19.30.nkjv The closing remark of Jesus Christ must provoke a sober reflection within the camp of His disciples. While Peter had earlier expressed his concern about the plights of the disciples to the expressed challenge of getting into the kingdom of heaven, Jesus assured the disciples that the impossibility is only with man. Everyone who left all to follow Him cannot be left out. But...” many who are first will be last, and the last first ”. That implies that many who started by leaving all others to follow Jesus are still in danger of distraction. Obviously, it is not the starting that matters...it is the finishing. Following Jesus requires holding on on Him as the Anchor and Finisher of our faith, even when all else in this world appear to be providing a useful anchor. Money, comfort, accomplishments, companionships, pleasure, promotion, etc, does provide a u...

  “At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18:1-4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mat.18.1-4.nkjv One of the major mistakes in the pursuit of lowliness is its misconception for mediocrity, laziness, or idleness. Whereas, the pursuit of greatness in life, career, and ministry is not a sin. The only caution here is the motive for this desire in the heart. When the disciples asked Jesus “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”, the wrong motive was clear: “If not me, who then can be?”. Becoming greater to serve greatly is always better than the desire to be served greater. Therefore, Jesus illustrat...

  “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭ 16:25 ‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mat.16.25.nkjv Life is apparently meaningless without the pursuit of things relating to self, like wealth, fame, comfort, recognition, etc. The protection these self-centred lift of interests is mostly the major consideration in all decision-making processes. Even when the disciples of Jesus had the privilege of providing counsel to Jesus on His planned submission to the Cross, they opted for the conservative interest on the basis of their continued companionship with the Saviour. ‘What is in this for me (or my loved ones)?’ is often the finality of all considerations in life, compared to ‘What is in this for God’?. Therefore, Jesus responded with a superior consideration: ‘whoever loses his life for My(selfless) sake will find it’. In pursuit of an absolute will of God or a selfless sake, there must be the willingness to...