Heralds Digest

  “ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. ” ‭‭John‬ ‭13:34‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ The simple difference between the recommended love in the new commandment by Jesus Christ is the love…’ as I (Jesus) have loved you ’. Compared to the familiar love as we loved ourselves, this is love with a life tag. But when Peter responded to the challenge by saying “ I will lay down my life for your sake ”, Jesus countered his sincere submission with an undesirable reality. Peter would have to later deny knowing the suffering Jesus, because his self-centred love at the moment only appealed to a Super Jesus. Even today, nobody can commit a life love to someone else without a real encounter with the Cross. In life love, love as we loved ourselves does not exist because self, its passion, and pride are crucified on the Cross. It is love with a sacrifice of life on the altar of service to God and the pursuits of His Will, as we relate with p...

  “ Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end .” ‭‭John‬ ‭13:1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ The evidence of sweet fellowship and affection among good partners is often expressed with the depth of pain at the time of parting or departure. The Bible says ‘when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father’ , He expressed His affection to the disciples with a special service of washing the disciples’ feet. Even within the sound and bounds of His betrayal and the pain of Crucifixion, it was an expression of boundless love…” having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end ”. Likewise, partners’ love, consecration, and fellowship in all relationships are challenged by the reality of disappointment and disagreements. There would always be reasonable excuses for partners in struggling relationsh...

  “ If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor. ” ‭‭John‬ ‭12:26‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Undoubtedly, the yardstick of services include loyalty, love, and dedication. But in a fast-paced world with motivation for multitasking, it is sometimes difficult for anyone to judge the metrics of loyalty, love, and dedication by their covers. For example, Judah Iscariot’s services to Jesus would pass the carnal yardstick by these metrics; but the Lord knew well ahead of the outward manifestation of his true character that he was a thief and had been secretly following the devil. Likewise, the Jews would boast of their loyalty, love, and dedication to the laws of the Lord; but they couldn’t respect the opinions of followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. They were prepared to kill Lazarus to checkmate the growing conversion of people from Judaism to follow the leading of the Spirit. Therefore, Jesus said to those who were c...

  “ “ When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”” ‭‭John‬ ‭11:4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Most times, a believer's faith can only handle a change in bad situations and circumstances to good. Particularly, when God’s promises are generally conceived as “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it“, the waiting time are mostly too long before the change for good is celebrated. And when bad situations begin to turn worse, and worse circumstances begin to go gory, like it happened to Lazarus, everyone can relate to the reason why people are tempted to seal up all hopes for survival.  Notwithstanding, whenever Jesus says “This sickness is not unto death”, we all need grace to always focus on God’s glory, rather than on our own glories and expectations. Do we often bother to find out ‘what is actually God’s glory for our family, work situat...

  “ And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. ” John‬ ‭10:28-29‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Those who abuse the Most High’s promise of a secret place as a license haven for their unrighteous practices do not understand the intent of God’s eternal enclave. It is a promise of eternal life, sufficiency, and satisfaction within the enclave and not outside the enclave. While the promise focuses on the futile imports of the enemies on the abiding people of God, it is assumed that the righteous people of God will focus on not leaving the enclave at anytime and for whatever reason. Let the enemy continue to knock and scratch the outside of the enclave, Jesus says he cannot snatch away the secured soul of the righteous within the enclave. The interaction call here is strictly between the enclave and the enemy. Unfortunately, some...

  “ And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “ Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him . ” ‭‭John‬ ‭9:2-3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ One of the devastating strategies of the enemies in believer’s moments of blindness is the promotion of focus on blame game. For the example of the man born blind, the blame game could readily cast the fault of the raw ruin on the list of self, parents, and society. Even God may not be spared when the game really picks up steam. But Jesus answered, and will always answer everyone who brings his concern before the throne of grace, that the raw ruin is actually meant for a raw reign. Whenever the heart is made to release all others from picking responsibility for its ruin, it begins to have faith to receive the raw reign of God’s works and His manifestation. Therefore, the best game in believer’s moments of blindness is always a focus on ...

  “ Jesus said to them, “ Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM .”” John‬ ‭8:58‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ If only all talks can be walked, Christians will only act and live like Christ; no matter the dictates of crisis in the commonwealth. This concern formed the discourse between Jesus and the Pharisees during His earthly ministry. They were proud about being the descendants of Abraham - the friend of God; but they passionately acted as the enemy of the Son of God. Without downplaying the ignorance in their disposition, it is evident that these religious leaders were not influenced by the similitudes of Abraham. To Abraham, I AM means so much that the scriptures declared that he obeyed God and move, even when he has no clue where God’s instruction was leading him. Unfortunately, today, the pronouncements of mortals in the regalia of medical practitioners, political leaders, financial experts, and religious bigots often lead believers to doubt the revelation of the words of the Lor...