Heralds Digest

  “I am weary with my groaning; All night I make my bed swim; I drench my couch with my tears.” Psalms‬ ‭6:6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ The greatness of an expression of grief is often described by an open devastation. Whereas, great grief is encouraged in a believer’s closet discussion with God. Like David, great men and honourable instruments in the hands of God must have their moments of groaning. Otherwise, the avoidable pride in the heart will make these promising vessels useless in the hands of God. When our grief is expressed in the open, we make the enemies rejoice and celebrate the creativity of their wickedness. But when the righteous leverages on the strength from the joy of the Lord, the camp of darkness is devastated and silenced. Notwithstanding, the expression of the Psalmist’s weariness with grief is always welcome only in the presence of our great God. Invariably, the expression of grief in the presence of our great God is simply great and good.

  “Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.” ‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭3:12-13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ One of the sources of consolation of a righteous relationship is the fairness of the end results, even if there appears to be discouraging mixups in the earlier days. Unfortunately, waiting for the Day that God has chosen to reward uprightness, sincerity, faithfulness, and believers’ integrity has proven to many ignorant believers to be boring and discomforting. When the best of human reward system has been compromised to appreciate unfair treatment and to recommend smart eye services, unwary believers are often tempted to also practice a varied level of dishonesty in their relationship with God. Whereas, the foundation of believers’ relationships with God is Jesus Christ and can never be comp...

  “Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭100:3-5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Before the fall of man, God said man is good; but the testimony changes immediately after the fall. Goodness is a unique attribute of God; and no man can attain unto it without the grace of God. The deceptive goodness of man is manipulative, and his mercy is temporary. When the deceiver launches his goodies of comfort and convenience in exchange of believers’ confidence in God, many are tempted to see the temporary goodness in the created things rather than the everlasting goodness in the true Creator. Whereas, as soon as the understanding of man is revived, his soul is lifted up with praise like the psalmist: “ Know that the ...

  “Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” Joshua‬ ‭1:7-8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Anyone can use the word of God occasionally; but a consistent usage, particularly against emotional disturbances and distraction, requires strength and courage. For Joshua, the guidance of Moses was all sufficient as the commandments of the Lord. But after the passing of Moses, strength was needed to commence the finding of all the written law of God; while courage was needed to continue the pursuit of the revealed will of God. Like with Joshua, life can sometimes be wired with the provision of pri...

  “Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.” ‭‭I John‬ ‭3:21-22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Confidence in relationship towards a man requires smartness and the ability to satisfy his desires. Everyone knows that this head game often trample on the red flags of God’s inner police - the conscience, especially when man’s desirable pleasure is at variance to God’s instructions. But for the beloved of God, the pursuit of clear conscience is given the highest premium in all relationships. Rather than seeking the uncontrollable confidence toward man, the righteous can simply rest on the pursuit of clear conscience with confidence towards God. Eventually, the pursuit of clear conscience often attract the desirable confidence towards both God and the men who are brought to appreciate the essentials of the keeping the commandments of the Lord and the doi...

  “And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” ‭‭I John‬ ‭2:2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ One major setback in the line of argument from the critics of the cross is how can someone undertake to pay the supreme price of death for ‘unknown’ people. While the ‘unknown’ narrative is a misunderstanding, the undertaking is truly unreserved. Truly, all was given for all. Unfortunately, even the redeemed from the unreserved undertaking of the Lord often struggle with this lifestyle of love. When the heart is pained or embittered, the mind becomes crowded with subtle recline from the fellowship of love. Yet, just as Christ gave Himself for all at the Cross, He is willing and waiting to give Himself freely through the redeemed at every situation and circumstance. Whereas, believers’ frequent reservations have become the ‘unknown’ clogs in the wheel of Christ’s unreserved undertaking.

  “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” ‭‭I John‬ ‭1:8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ While sincere fellowship with the natural man can reveal the sin of commission, revelation of the sin of omission is not possible without divine connection. Whereas, sincere fellowship with God through His word always reveals the corruption in the heart of man. Even after the assurance of salvation and the inner witness of the Spirit as the redeemed child of God, sincerity of heart and openness to the word of God retain the divine connection through a daily revelation of the truth. Unfortunately, if we say that we have no sin, we buy the deception of the natural man and disown the revelation of the truth through divine connection. Salvation from the sin of commission is obviously not a license to subscribe for the sin of omission. As long as the flesh wears the regalia of the old nature, the heart of man constantly needs the truth in God’s word to retain the divine connectio...