Heralds Digest

  “But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us— see that you abound in this grace also. I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.” ‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭8:7-8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/2co.8.7-8.nkjv Hypocrites and sycophants have similar characteristic; they are selective in either their appearances or their performances. Unfortunately, everyone tends to display this type of sincerity in almost all service offerings at home, workplace and the society. The selective concept is borne out of the prospects of returns from services to people in our family, work, and society life. When little or no prospect is envisaged, people rarely develop interest in delivering quality services. Although it is natural to drive sincerity with motivations, selective sincerity clearly shows the absence of grace in the lives of service workers. Therefore, while commending the ...

  “For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” ‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭6:2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/2co.6.2.nkjv In human economy, the indices of affordability, acceptability, and availability govern the law of demand and supply. Even when man is fully disposed to provide help, these indices must be favourably satisfied before the release button can be activated. Unfortunately, the human heart relates with the God of heaven with the same mindset of constraints. Truly, we are often burdened with our records of denial, deceit, and delay; we are mostly unwilling to realize that the constraints of affordability, acceptability, and availability are only begging for human attention. Whereas, in God’s economy, only the believers’ faith to receive is the sufficient requirement for the supply of heaven’s riches. When God says “ now is the accepted time; beho...

  “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,” ‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭ 4:17 ‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/2co.4.17.nkjv In the preparation phase of every pearl, the pearly-mind may not just be concerned about the painful process. Most times, the preparation phase of all precious pearls is apparently endless. Likewise, painful moments in any purpose-driven life are often viewed as the perpetual presentation phase and not just a temporal preparatory phase. Whereas, the Spirit reminds believers that a far more exceeding purpose and an eternal weight of glory demand an ingredient of light affliction and a temporary moment of pain. Unfortunately, because the eternal value of most good and godly purposes is mostly hidden, people often despise the promised presentation of glory in precious pearl. However, as long as the heart is fixed on the preciousness of God who promised (and not necessarily on the painful ...

  “Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand.” ‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭ 1:24 ‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/2co.1.24.nkjv If building a personality of faith is difficult in our world of facts,  building a family and fellowship of people on like-precious faith is more difficult. Even when a progressive pursuits are surrounded with clear evidences and facts, it takes great efforts and forward-looking personality for anyone to court the support and trust of family members and friends.  Needless to commend the efforts of celebrities, successful politicians, and accomplished administrators towards building their circle of fans in our world today. But unlike the art of living by facts, faith do not work on the metrics of physical evidences and numerical accomplishments. Therefore, building faith fans require the collection of people who can agree to lift up holy hands to heaven, even when empirical evidence do not pro...

  “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.” ‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭ 16:13-14 ‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/1co.16.13-14.nkjv While the power of love in all relationships cannot be underestimated, the knowledge of evil and the sundry fellowship with the adversaries create a corrosive tastebud in every charitable expression. When a good and honest man is confronted with wicked attacks, the natural response is a retaliatory withdrawal of his good intentions and commitment to righteousness. Unfortunately, although not yet overcome to join the band of wickedness in this withdrawal, the good man is robbed of his virtue of goodness, righteousness and the power of love. For instance, against the activities of adversaries to the good works in Achaia, the scriptures admonished a consistent engagement of the wise weapon - love. Unlike the natural instinct always suggest, the weapon against wickedness is not the withdrawal from goodness in a...

  “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” ‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭ 13:13 ‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/1co.13.13.nkjv The rate of divorce or disrespect in family relationships and disappointment in business relationships, especially in the household of faith is leading the confusion in the game of trust. For those who do not know God, as expressed in the search for perfect love in The One by John Marrs, the invitation to chaos in relationships that are dictated by science is understandable. Being the Creator of all souls, God is the only Source of soulmates. Unfortunately, misplacement in the hierarchy amidst faith, hope, and love has left little or no gain for those who seek divine guidance in relationships. When the scriptures say love is the greatest gift amidst this mystery mix, it emphasizes why love never fails. While both faith and hope expect something in return of their faithfulness in relationships, only love seeks nothing in re...

  “In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”” ‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭ 11:25 ‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/1co.11.25.nkjv Even in the most solemn observance of the Holy Communion Service, self serving option is the undisputed order. And while the Church readily learn from the Apostle’s rebuke of the reported disorderliness in some Corinthians, it is often difficult for many to observe the scriptural distinction between the self serving and the self service admonition. It is important to note that in ‘ This do, as often as you drink it’ , ‘ This do ’ is self service; while ‘ as often as you drink it ’ is self serving. While the ordinance of the Holy Communion service holds in favour of the self serving order, it is the sacrificing of self in self service that we are admonished not to leave out in remembrance of the sacred Lamb of God. And in all of human presentat...