Heralds Digest

  “And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭ 16:20 ‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.16.20.nkjv Letting go of the physical presence of Jesus was hard for the disciples. And all isolated testimonies about the resurrection and appearance of Jesus were not helpful, until He showed up with the gospel mandate and commission. “And they went out and preached everywhere...”. The cheering news here is the spiritual company of Jesus with everyone who went everywhere with the gospel message. It is the manifestation of His power and presence with accompanying signs, like for healing, protection from dangers, supernatural provision, destruction of all the works of the enemies, etc. Unfortunately, many often fear the risk of going out and preaching everywhere (online and offline workspaces, social gatherings, private circles, etc), like the loss of supposedly good company and productive par...

  “And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will. ”” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭ 14:36 ‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.14.36.nkjv Without excusing the outright rejection of wicked will, normal people are daily faced with the need to make choices between the embodiment of either worthwhile or worthless will. Unfortunately, it is the pursuit of worthless will in life that perfectly play along the human feelings and emotions. Whereas, even when mostly painful, worthwhile will is always concerned about the plan and purpose of God for human existence. There is no doubt that Jesus came purposefully to fulfill the will of God - and to give His life as the sacred Lamb for the redemption of man from the destruction of sin. But when the full price of the plan of redemption became ripened, the worthless will attempted to hijack the show of perfect submission to the worthwhile will. It is worthless to claim comfo...

  “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭8:36-37‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.8.36-37.nkjv Even when subtly ignored or denied, the idea that nothing is free in life is supreme. Something has to be swapped for something. Simple and smart. It is always okay to swap out our time, talent, and treasure for pleasure, convenience, position, and privileges; but Jesus is saying to all “ Not your soul...!” . Why? You can trade it for something, but you cannot trade something for it! How foolish are we then, when the summary of all our engagements in life is soul swapping for higher standard of temporary living on things of this world? When the disciples asked “ How can one satisfy these people with bread here in the wilderness? ” in line with the will of God, they were asked to swap seven loaves of bread for more abundant provisions from God. However, when Peter preferred extend...

  “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...