Heralds Digest

  “Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭ 18:15-16 ‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/luk.18.15-16.nkjv Although seriousness is synonymous to sincerity, the latter is easily measured and tracked in human metrics. Seriousness is measured by the level of the people’s maturity, comportment, sophistication, organization, and orderliness. And where serious matters are being discussed, it is natural for anyone to ignore the participation or contributions of infants and children. But why did Jesus say “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God”? “...for of such” implies the fact of His preference for sincerity instead of seriousness. In all of life’s devotion and engagements, sincerity would embrace righteousness and j...

  “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭18:1‬ ‭KJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/1/luk.18.1.kjv Sustainable prayer life is not defined by the content of the asking; but on the consistency of the running. Unfortunately, whenever prayer is treated as a monologue session, it is bound to wear out its relevance with time. And in order to avoid fainting, callers must be interesting in deriving joy or fun in the privilege of running for fellowship, friendship, and faith. Even the unringhteous Judge in Jesus’ parsable could not withstand the widow’s continual running for her confidence in the Judge’s undeniable ability to respond to her plight. Her commendable action differentiated the attitude of healthy Hope from the altitude of unhealthy Hope. Faith in God makes the difference in life always. Even when it seems nothing is substantiated, faith keeps hope alive by its continual running, consistent planning, constant strategizin...

  “And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭ 17:20-21 ‬ ‭KJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/1/luk.17.20-21.kjv Men-pleasing and eye-service represents two inseparable ingredients for productivity in any human system. Even with sincere services, these elements are equally essential for adequate recommendation and remuneration. Unfortunately, hypocrites have a near-perfect system for producing fruitless services with the most laudable attractions from unsuspecting assessors. Whereas, God is not mocked at all by the most highly-rated sterile service. When the Pharisees demanded the timing for the kingdom of God from Jesus, the motive was clearly divergent from righteousness, peace, and reconciliation with God. They are probably looking for any information that can assist the en...

  “Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭17:3-4‬ ‭KJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/1/luk.17.3-4.kjv Keeping the records of the past is the major functions of the brain; and it is highly resourceful when productively utilized. Unfortunately, when it gets friendly with offences, it begins to work in retrogression. Therefore, Jesus invites all his disciples to the progress portal by saying “ Take heed to yourselves.. .”. In His illustration of offences between the offender and the offendee, it is important to note that the offendee was admonished to anticipate and approach the portal with his willingness to forgive; apparently satisfied with the attendance record of the offender. Obviously, the progress portal in life is designed for letting go of all offences that are capab...

  ““What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭15:4-5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/luk.15.4-5.nkjv Even when the passion for souls is driven as a number game, everyone agrees that the business of soul-winning is better measured as a need-based activity. The needs of every soul are personal and unique; and the shepherd’s efforts are appreciated when these needs are treated with unique identity and preciously isolated. While our passion in the relationships within our circle are often subjected to complicated interests, it is noteworthy that the love of the Lord for all His children is precious and not complicated. He knows our name, and the challenges attached to our engagements in life uniquely. Even if any of us is the only lost soul in the world, the Lord would have still ga...

  “And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭ 12:15 ‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/luk.12.15.nkjv Apparently, good life literally revolves around the possession of all the appealing material things and generally the addition of other’s seemingly good fortunes into the cart. While the world says life is good with the possession of these stuffs, Christ is saying life is actually loose with this lifestyle. Conversely, life is more meaningful with dispossession rather than possession, love rather than lust, and giving rather than getting. To be covetous (or loose) is to want what someone else have; but to love is to give what someone else do not have. Unfortunately, loose life is never satisfied with the possession and the getting of stuffs, either lawfully or unlawfully. Whereas, the true and sincere life is wrapped up and fulfilled in genuine love, where the essence of livin...

  “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭12:7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/luk.12.7.nkjv Although the new release ‘ Pieces of a Woman ’ revealed the typical challenges of a woman in relationships with her idol at home, it is a perfect catalogue of the emptiness in all of human interchange with his world (career, family, relationships, ministry, etc). With the current world’s unprecedented times and the new normal, there are greater cause for alarm and fear against the prospects for the New Year. Notwithstanding, the declaration of the Lord remains valid for all who put their trust in Him. He said, in spite of the uncertainty in the world, “ But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows ”. Unfortunately, if all this world and human efforts can offer (career, family, relationships, ministry, etc) determines our worth, it is u...