Heralds Digest

  “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.” Hebrews‬ ‭13:4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Those who rule their world with corruption and covetousness are obviously not concerned about the curses attached to their games. Like it works with the temptation of coveting someone else’s properties and positions, pre-marital sex defiles the bed and the foundation of creativity in life. Otherwise, the matrimonial bed is presented as the sacred room or studio for creativity and the theatre for the pronouncement of divine blessings. Unfortunately, today’s parade of youthful exuberance, immoral relationships, and all acts of covetousness will rather play game with God’s pronounced source of dominion and productivity in life. Yet, godly marriages remain the oasis of love, contentment, peace and satisfaction; and especially, a relief from the theatre of war, unrest, and dissatisfaction. Therefore, those who respect the blest bed in their relationships; an...

  “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.” Hebrews‬ ‭11:3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Working and living in our real world reveal the limit of human intellectual capabilities. Real men understand that their achievements at home, workplace and in the society depend largely on the manipulation of physical principalities that provide the enabling environment. Little wonder why most real men are ignorant of the supernatural manifestation of the real God. While relationship with real men is limited to the computation of facts and figures, relationship with the real God demands faith in the invisible. It implies that while the real world is partly governed by the vincible intellect of men, faith in God enables believers to operate the real world with invincible intellect. While facts and figures constrained life’s achievements by the words and actions of men, faith defiles the concept of impossibili...

  “for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭7:19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ It is widely believed that those who cry foul of the imperfections of the legal system should try the weirdness of lawlessness. Without the law, the animalistic nature and the insanity of the fallen man made are clearly pronounced. Therefore, while acknowledging the imperfections in the law, the scriptures declare its largesse towards the path of godliness. No doubt, the fear of the Lord is the entrance of attraction to the law. Those who fear the law and not necessarily its enforcement are obviously positioned to access the benefits of the grace of God. Although the wreckage of lawlessness often brings some people before the door of mercy, the risk of eternal loss and destruction is high with carelessness. And while awaiting the hope of salvation by grace, it is always better to accept a call to draw near to God through th...

  “who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.” Hebrews‬ ‭5:7-8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ One of the hardest sacrifices in human relationships is submission, i.e., the sacrifice of self-will. Whereas, the oneness in the trinity is highly sacred, and incomparable with the desired submission in human relationships. Notwithstanding, Christ demonstrated the act of sublime submission to the Will of God, by sacrificing both the privilege of oneness in the trinity and the rights of a righteous man in prayer. It is no longer news to every submissive child of God that the Father’s Will may sometimes fall out of understanding. The major challenge comes mostly when nothing is even provided for possible understanding. Yet, by following the example of Jesus Christ, believers are calle...

  “For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4:2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ The promise ‘Come unto Me, and I will give you rest’ is just a promise to all those who come to the Saviour. The actual rest is found only by those who receive the promise with an open heart (faith). Besides those who outrightly reject the invitation to come, there are many comers who filter the word of God with their human intelligence and the abundance of statistical evidence. Even with the provision of abundant evidence, God’s promises cannot abide in hearts hardened by the spirit of disobedience. Whereas, the wholesome word of God is proclaimed with the complete revelation of His powerful personality. And it cannot remain profitable to anyone, after being perforated by human intelligence and statistical evidence. Therefore, it is not enough to just ‘Come unto Me’ , the promise ‘I will giv...

  “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Hebrews‬ ‭2:14-15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Death is the penalty for sin. And although salvation from sin promises eternal life, it doesn’t vacate the statement of death in all humanity. Therefore, the power of death would have been invincible without the evidence of the power of resurrection. If the devil has been mindful of the power of resurrection, he would not have wade the power of death before the High Priest of our salvation. Whereas, the redeemed of the Lord are released from the fear of death because Jesus Christ shared in the sentence of death in order to demonstrate the hope of resurrection after death. There is therefore no longer intimidation or the fear of physical death (to say the least of ugly experien...

  “For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭2:10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Suffering is understandable as part of the responsibilities of servants. But suffering for a Saviour takes a new level of strange call. Anyone would argue why Jesus’ submission was made perfect through suffering, given that the inevitable death penalty can still be paid without the extreme subjection to suffering. Yet, the scriptures declares “ For it was fitting [appropriate] for Him....to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings ”. No doubt, the Captain of our salvation has taught clearly all His submissive servants that the perfect price for sensitivity in leadership is suffering. Suffering for wrong-doing and any form of unrighteousness is justice served; but suffering for righteousness or simply persecution is sensitivity served. And if insensitivIty...