Heralds Digest

  “And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye?” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭ 6:41 ‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/luk.6.41.nkjv Every examiner knows the importance of a comprehensive marking scheme or guide to an accurate assessment exercise. Notwithstanding, the development of a reliable correction guide is often ignored or does appear boring. Likewise in mentoring, parenting, and in the general tutoring/development services, the perfect correction copy is expected to be the instructor. However, when a leader fails to follow the rules, he actually must learn to be guided by the followers - because they can now see more clearly the errors in the supposed correction guide. Therefore, Jesus asked rhetorically “ And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye? ”. Although a plank is much bigger than a speck, the magnifying lens of an hypocritical life instructor or coach is only outwardly...

  ““But woe to you who are rich, For you have received your consolation.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭ 6:24 ‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/luk.6.24.nkjv The price of prosperity in every pursuit in life is diligence, discipline and determination; but the prize is only worthwhile if its tenure endures. When Jesus said “ but woe to you who are rich ”, He was concerned about the prize for the pursuit of material or temporal prosperity at the expense of eternal prosperity. While everyone and his relationship in life are created for a divine purpose, the pursuit of something else in every relationship at home, workplace and societal fellowship is often more attractive. Therefore, a diligent man may end up rich in wealth, position, and career accomplishments; but if this rich is the only consolation for his life’s pursuit, he is actually a loser. Unlike the canal consolation, the discovery of divine purpose for human existence or all attained privileges, and the pursuit of this purpose in life are the ...

  “And their scribes and the Pharisees complained against His disciples, saying, “Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭5:30-32‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/luk.5.30-32.nkjv Without a daily supply of God’s grace, it is always difficult for anyone to distinguish between the practice of religion and the pursuit of righteousness. And by doing the same thing along the line of godliness over and over again, it is almost possible for prayer to gradually wear the monologue setting; and for the teaching of scriptures to eventually proceed from head knowledge. While the scribes and Pharisees complained against the socialization of Jesus Christ and His disciples with the tax collectors and sinners, they became completely non-conscious of their nakedness and oblivious of the need for G...

  “So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭ 5:11 ‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/luk.5.11.nkjv Following Jesus without letting go of the most passionate affections (career, people, place of residence, wealth, fun, preferences, etc) is easy. However, the crisis of faith starts with the demand to let go, before the willingness to follow the Master can be commendable. Peter and his colleagues have had an earlier encounter with Jesus, where conflicts of interest were not involved. Without this second encounter at their workplaces, the unfaithfulness of Peter to the Master’s call wouldn’t have been exposed. Likewise, the depth of the Saviour’s call for believers to follow Him remains remote and unclear, until the heart is fully drawn to lay down every affection on the altar. Unfortunately, many supposed followers are too attached to their divided affections in life that even a simple call to deeper fellowship with the Master is coun...

  “Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭ 4:13 ‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/luk.4.13.nkjv A diligent heart will probably ask how one can schedule the period of temptation against surprises in his work, social, and family life, if possible. After all, proper planning enables adequate preparation. Unfortunately, temptation always comes knocking on doors without invitation. It is a universal and non-racial currency that gets expended without the need for any prior consent. If Jesus the Author of our salvation and Satan the architect of all temptation are engaged in an unending schedule of temptation, no one can truly be free from temptation until the architect gets arrested. As we can learn from the experience of Jesus, everything brings temptation in life (needs, affluence, ambition, position, indolence, spirituality, etc). However, the failure to schedule the temptation time in life is not a problem. When we loo...

  “When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭ 3:21-22 ‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/luk.3.21-22.nkjv People pleasing in life is pretty good, if it doesn’t violate God pleasing. This was the interpretation of the simple gospel message from John the Baptist to the people. Unfortunately, the dilemma in most circumstances is that people pleasing does often violate God pleasing in our real life. And “ When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized” ...to show the model of perfect pleasing. In the most perfect humility, Jesus submitted Himself to Baptism in obedience to the will of the Father. The Holy Spirit descended and the Father responded “ You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased” . Even...

  “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...