Heralds Digest

  “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” ‭‭I Peter‬ ‭2:9-10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Praises for physical and material prosperity, financial breakthrough, family and business enlargement, and career progression or promotion are comely. Unfortunately, these give-and-take praises embrace the needs of the body at the expense of the needs of the soul. But when the scriptures presents a different type of praise from peculiar people, it becomes obvious that these self-promoted praises are not peculiar. Peculiar praise singles out God alone for His redemption plan and the deliverance of His own special people from darkness into the marvellous light. Even when we cannot see a personal reason for praise in our moment of pain, persecution, and p...

  “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” ‭‭I Peter‬ ‭2:2-3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Godliness is no doubt a great work of grace, particularly starting with the experience of the second birth. Notwithstanding, the experience of man in our complex and challenging world has sharpened the concept of great gain, irrespective of the status of any man’s relationship with God. The reason why the mixed milk of the word (a sensible blend of God’s word, Will, and way with the opinion of relevant principalities) is the delight of everyone today is not far-fetched: the concept of spiritual growth, without a measurable dimension of physical and material growth, no longer makes sense. Until the understanding of great gain is situated at the centre of great grace, the desire for the mixed milk remains inevitable. The scriptural revelation is presented here as “ if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious”. The ...

  “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” James‬ ‭4:17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ God is not only good, everything and everyone He create is good. The bad and ugly come from the imposter and the deceiver of mankind. Even after our redemption from the depravity of sin, the redeemed still often struggles with the required consistency in doing good. The struggle is borne out of every attempt at fellowshipping with anything and anyone in this world beside God. Knowing God automatically creates the sense of good in man, but not the power to constantly do good. Doing good and getting good delivered at all of man’s engagements in life requires the unalloyed fellowship with God. Therefore, we must consistently remove the attachment of our emotions from the inevitable fellowship with the elements of this world in order to constantly fellowship with God; and thereafter courageously do good at all times.

  “whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” ‭‭James‬ ‭4:14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ The metrics of someone’s influence in other people’s lives can easily be measured when he sneezed, and the people catch cold. We all have people whose will apparently determine our command. Unfortunately, quite a lot of people often failed to underscore the prevailing human perspective and interest as wishful Will, particularly in comparison with the weighty Will of the almighty God. There is no harm in the pursuit of this wishful Will for self and others with passion and determination. The danger only become apparent when the heart becomes oblivious of the sovereign Will of God over all wishful wills. And in certain circumstances when there is a conflict of Will, ignorant people are exposed to fruitless fighting and struggles against promising relationships and a warm system of operations. Even though the we...

  “Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?” ‭‭James‬ ‭4:11-12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ The difference between constructive criticism and destructive criticism is clearly not in the noun ‘criticism’, but in its qualifier. Although both qualifiers - constructive and destructive - use the law, the divergent motives always make the difference in the application of the same law. While constructive criticism clearly applies the law with the motive of love, destructive criticism applies the same law with the motive of justice. Unfortunately, no one can love and judge at the same time. In order to actively correct evil doing in the fellowship at home and in relationships among associate, love provides a stronger and more reliable law leveller than j...

  “You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” James‬ ‭4:2-3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Whenever willingness to release matches willingness to receive, asking and receiving will be simple as ABC. Unfortunately, the increasing trend of insecurity, corruption, societal problems and instabilities in family, among friends and between fellowship is an evidence of misplacement between the asking and receiving lines. Unpleasant desires, inordinate ambitions, and self-centred disposition have always created an atmosphere of war, infighting, mistrust, and under-development. The unfortunate part of all aggressive quest and processions in life for selfish consumption is the lack of satisfaction, peace and pleasantries. Whereas, little is always much, when obtained with God and in obedience to His revealed will. Therefore, when receivin...

  “For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.” ‭‭James‬ ‭3:2-3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Besides other numerous and attractive achievements, one of the pride of advances in knowledge, status and position in life is the right to accuracy. But when the scriptures say “ For we all stumble in many things ”, even though the truth of the matter is that the statement may not settle well with many, it provides the secret of a consistent trust in the Lord and the treasure of the heart relying always on the revelation on bended knees. No matter how convincing the statements of facts from human inquisition, wise men and anyone with a sense of self-control will always be cautious to take position without giving it a prayer. For to stumble in word is to fumble in prayer. And a man’s eagerness to always speak out to fellow men is almost an...