Heralds Digest

  “And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭ 22:19 ‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/luk.22.19.nkjv While the institution of the Lord’s Supper is simply understood as the symbolic representation of body breaking with bread breaking, many often diver on the interpretation of the process of preparation for both the body and the bread. Notwithstanding, it is important to note that Jesus broke the bread in fellowship with His disciples and broke His body in fellowship with the world. And if we must do this in remembrance of Jesus always, we must understand how to carefully pick our roles in both the bread breaking and body breaking sessions (no one can outrightly sit on the fence!). While Jesus instructed Peter and John to join the preparation for the bread breaking session, Satan inspired Judas Iscariot to join the presentation for the body breaking session. Even today...

  ““But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭21:34-36‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/luk.21.34-36.nkjv In retrospect of the ongoing COVID-19 invasion last year, someone humorously say ‘ 2019 is invaded, let’s abort and reboot! ’. Well, 2021 is here and the world is gradually coping with the new normal. Truthfully, life is full of surprising invasions into all plans for progress in family, career, and ministry. Staying focused always require more than fighting to develop anti-invasion strategies and their manifestations. The prediction of the last day events has declared the inevitability of indiscriminate invasions into the pl...

  “So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭ 18:22-23 ‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/luk.18.22-23.nkjv If good deeds are enhanced by the possession of treasures, we are bound to do extremely well with the accumulation of earthly treasures. Unfortunately, the more our passion is attracted by the treasure in things, the more the heart of man is distracted from the most treasurable thing. Little wonder the sadness in the heart who was rich in earthly treasure, but poor in the things of the spirit, especially when asked to liquidate these fake treasures. The pursuit of earthly treasures, position, and achievements is good, when pursued within the fear of God and in absolute submission to His counsels. But as soon as the purpose of these pursuits violates t...

  “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...