Heralds Digest

  ““Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭1:5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ One of the precious privileges of children of God is the opportunity to discover the purpose of God for life’s existence. It is always a refreshing experience when believers approach the throne of grace to know the will of God in all of life’s relationships, projects, and opportunities. Notwithstanding, everyone still struggle to align personal expectations with divine purpose, as we progress in the pursuit of life’s agenda. Unknown to prophet Jeremiah, he was created, cleansed, and commissioned to be a prophet to the nations even before his own personal understanding and acknowledgement. Although he struggled hard to pursue his own personal ambition or his understanding of the nation’s expectations from him, the divine purpose prevailed. Likewise, we or the parties within our life’s relationships often struggle against the purp...

  “Blessed is the man who does this, And the son of man who lays hold on it; Who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, And keeps his hand from doing any evil.”” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭56:2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ If integrity is, as popularly presumed, a game of cards, the rewards for righteousness will remain finalized in a popularity contest. The man who holds on to righteousness, uprightness, and integrity is always not qualified to feature in a game of cards of this world. He either decides to join the majority to defile the Sabbath or trust only in the blessedness of the Lord of the Sabbath. Unfortunately, waiting for the Lord of the Sabbath takes time; and most times, very frustrating. Anyone can claims integrity in a land where the practice of righteousness, uprightness, and professional ethics itself has integrity. But in climes where integrity is a game of cards, only the very few people who can hold on to infinite integrity are blessed by the Lord. Actually, when the Lord says “ Blessed is the man who…[...

  “Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭55:6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Praying according to God’s will or receiving answers to prayer is often the basis of believers’ frustration about the concerned nearness of God. And by further reflection on “ …while He may be found..and while He is near” , it is important to note that prayer is deeper and higher than just the believers’ call. The effectual prayer of believers is simply their responses to the Creator’s call. So, whenever an obedient believer is stirred by the Spirit to whisper a prayer, every positive response to this call is always the initiation of an answer to prayer. If we truly understand that our existence on earth and in every assignment with people, places, and project is strategically and purposefully orchestrated by God, then it would not be hard to learn how to always seek only for God’s attention and respond to His call in our prayers. And whenever it appears that our calls do not align per...

  ““There is no peace,” says the Lord, “for the wicked.”” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭48:22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ “ There is no peace…for the wicked” has different interpretations, depending on who originated the declaration. From the Lord’s perspective, it is a plea for reconciliation and an invitation to the path of peace. Unfortunately, whenever the heart of man is driven by wickedness, bitterness, and a vengeful spirit, he often quotes the same declaration out of context. Whereas, no one can possibly end wickedness with revenge and cruelty. And even those who seem to take the winner’s corner in every wicked venture do not have the luxury of enjoying the peace of mind. Every recovery by the takers of wicked vices sets the wicked heart on a new path of war. Therefore, the right perspective always is the peace path, says the Lord and our Redeemer from the wicked path. And anyone who truly desires peace of mind in life and relationships must learn how to sincerely follow peace with both God and man. Happy New ...

  “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43:25‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Songs of redemption are always sweet to the ears, especially when song in isolation of the sentences from reconstruction. Barring the activities of evil workers and wicked imagination, sentences from reconstruction naturally cause delay, diversion, and discomfort. Notwithstanding, people understand the long term benefits of such good restructuring, reconstruction, and renovation in life. Unfortunately, life is often surrounded by secret sentences, when redeemers are tempted to doubt the benefits of their redemption. For example, when Judah was made to “ …pass through the waters…the rivers…and walk through the fire ”, the recommended rendition was apparently ‘God is your super Saviour and Redeemer alone; and unconcerned by the gods of your secret sentences ’. Likewise, when believers are genuinely concerned about being surrounded by secret sentences, l...

  “And though the Lord gives you The bread of adversity and the water of affliction, Yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore, But your eyes shall see your teachers.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭30:20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ The TLC (tender loving care) myth on acceptable ways in life is not just about pleasure loving; the pleasure-seeking TLC is simply the embrace of the teachers louting class or the rejection of the presence of God in pursuit of life’s ambition. Whereas, good and balanced training in real life is always tough, tedious, and nothing but tender. TLC in God’s perspective is a teachers learning class, where students learn to be good teachers, children learn to be good parents, and servants learn to be good masters. Unfortunately, we now live in days where tedious training, bread of adversity, and the water of affliction are treated with utmost disdain. When painless gain is considered as the permissible Will of God. Little wonders why the world no longer has good role models for hon...

  “The way of the just is uprightness; O Most Upright, You weigh the path of the just. Yes, in the way of Your judgments, O Lord, we have waited for You; The desire of our soul is for Your name And for the remembrance of You.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭26:7-8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ By the scriptural dissociation of trusting in the Lord from human understanding, it shows that the path of uprightness in life is solely in the Most Upright. Human understanding has always and will always lead those who trust in it astray. Whereas, the upright undertaking of the just may temporarily appears foolish, failing, and falling out of the favour of the majority; but it is taken that the path of the just is often complicated with peace, purity, and patience. While the motives of human understanding are clearly covered by personal interests, safety, and promotion, the desire of those who pursue uprightness is solely in the glory of the Lord and the remembrance of His grace. Therefore, the paths laced with the upright undertak...