Heralds Digest

  “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood,” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭ 1:15-16 ‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/gal.1.15-16.nkjv The conflicts arising from an increase in knowledge have always confronted the household of faith. Even Abraham, the world-acclaimed father of faith, was confronted with this crisis in relationship with the affairs and matters in his life. The more life is exposed to facts and figures about any issue of interest, like health, social welfare, rate of employment, etc, the less it becomes for anyone to act by faith. Having acted and ruled by strong conviction about social and religious lifestyles of his days, Paul had little or no basis to shift ground until his encounter with Jesus. Unfortunately, many people are being called by the Lord out of an established convictions based on facts and fi...

  “For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭ 1:10 ‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/gal.1.10.nkjv Disloyalty is a serious bane to effective functioning of any relationship, either personal or corporate. Without an ardent and united pursuit of the value of a family, corporate and societal system, it will soon be evident why the parties involved can no longer work or live together. Unfortunately, the divided interests of stakeholders in most relationships have often make the pursuit of loyalty a nightmare for all faithful freaks. In handling the apparent influence of divided interests in the ministry, Paul presented the concept of persuasive pleasing, without yielding to the temptation to embrace a call for perverted pleasing. There is no way any man can pursue loyalty to men with an express disobedience to the Will and commandments of God; and still remain acceptable to God. “ ...

  “But “he who glories, let him glory in the LORD.” For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.” ‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭ 10:17-18 ‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/2co.10.17-18.nkjv Managing disapproval and disappointment with a self-discovery of areas begging for improvement in personal, social and work life is easy. In fact, assessment and reward systems are designed to promote excellence through an honest dispense of the season of disapproval and disappointment. Unfortunately, it is always difficult for many to cope with acclaimed dishonesty in the world’s reward system when the mind is set to provide self-commendation. After Apostle Paul had humbly and successfully presented his resume in support of his authority and against the report of disapproval from some brethren, he ended his exhortation with “ But “he who glories, let him glory in the LORD ””. It implies that, even after all said have been excellently executed, the righteous are called to comm...

  “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.” ‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭9:7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/2co.9.7.nkjv Cheerful giving is often encouraged on the basis of its dividend on beneficiaries. After all, there will be less needs, and more resources to go around. Whereas, the cheerfulness in the giving is always the dividend of the giver, and not the taker, of gifts. When the scriptures says ‘ So let each one give as he purposes in his heart ’, it suggests that the field of true contest is the heart of the giver. Whether the heart is completely free from the manipulation of grudge, hatred, retaliation, animosity, wickedness, and unhealthy competition is not reflected in the physical volume of gift. Only God knows and judges the status of every heart behind the different sizes of gift in the hands. Therefore, a cheerful giver is a gracious giver. Actually, he receives more than he gives...because his gift ...

  “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 ...