Heralds Digest

  “They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do.” Galatians‬ ‭2:10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Friendliness in fellowship promotes productivity, especially when there is no segregation on the basis of class or status. But diversity in class or status is a reality that cannot be overruled in life. Even in the early church, God ordained Paul and his team to focus on the gentile class; while Peter and the rest of the Apostles focussed on the Jews. Notwithstanding, the limitations of focussing on friendliness were illustrated by the display of hypocrisy in a combined fellowship among brethren in Galatia. Whereas, a focus on fruitfulness will emphasize just the preaching of the gospel of truth and the demonstrating of the love and virtues of Christ, like the meeting the needs of the under-privileged in the community. Whereas, friendliness focuses on proving a point and maintaining status, fruitfulness is always satisfied with meeting the needs and adding ...

  “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood,” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭1:15-16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Without a contextual interpretation of the scriptures, anyone can readily treat Paul’s conversion and commissioning as preferential predestination. Like it is up to God to decide who goes to hell or heaven. Whereas, by ‘I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood’ , it shows that it was Paul’s decision to respond to the call against the forces of flesh and blood . Flesh and blood constitute the coverups for the spiritual violence against the kingdom of God; and the influence of self-will, human reasoning, and the deceitfulness of worldly attractions. Apparently, believers at the early church had held on to the keys in their closets to engage these forces, pulling down strongholds and every imagination against the Will of Christ...

  “For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭1:10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Truth be told, a man of the people is made by the people; but a man of God can only be made by God…there is no middle ground. But just like the prevailing challenge in life, even the undoubted conviction of being made by God could not erase the dilemma of persuasion in the ministry of Apostle Paul. “ For do I now persuade men, or God? ” is still a valid concern of every believer, who is called primarily to please God daily in all relationships with people in his life. Unfortunately, the call to please God will always bring every man into a headlong collision with people, especially the valuable people in his life. Paul understood the benefits of pleasing people to stay relevant and reserve status and position; but at this point, the consequences were more clearer to him: the sacrifice of being a bondservant of Christ. We ...

  “Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭1:3-4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Right from the beginning of age, the entanglement into sin started with the appreciation of its appearance, followed by its appeal to human appetite, and sealed by the signature of doom. It took grace through sacrifice from God and our Lord Jesus Christ (for those who believe and accept the gracious provision) to break the signature of sin. And if Apostle Paul noted the appeal of evil in the prevailing age with the churches in Galatia during the early church, little wonder what faithful believers in this present age should be seeing. Unfortunately, the sin signature is becoming a notable force in the reorientation of our family tradition, service offerings during believers’ fellowship, and cultural changes in the society. When we make light or fail to se...

  “But “he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.” For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.” ‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭10:17-18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ In the pursuit of excellence and distinction in life, there is always a place for the promotion of self respect, commendation, and confidence. Either stylishly or overtly, people say ‘if you don’t know how to blow your trumpet, no one will blow it for you’ . But the scriptures say ‘he who glories, let him glory in the Lord ’. The question is ‘what is the limit of self glory, with reference to God’s commendation?’ . Apostle Paul apparently had the same challenge, in defence of his authority before those who treated him with disrespect. The bottom line is our carefulness to ensure we only aim at referencing what God has done through us. We should keep silence with everything outside this frame of reference. Invariably, the gracious glory is the believers’ reference only to the Lord’s manifestations in their lives and affair...

  “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.” II Corinthians‬ ‭9:7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Philanthropy as an act of distributing gifts to fellow human is a classical example of human generosity. But most times, the motivation for this show of human generosity is driven by the protection of status, class, political interests, and business proposition. When Apostle Paul encouraged the brethren at Corinth to engage in a gracious generosity instead, he meant the act of giving on the basis of godly conviction about God’s graciousness and obedience to His commandments. When we give out gifts that we acquired, the act may be constrained by grudges or necessity. Whereas, when we give out what is acknowledged to be kept in our custody by God, it is done with cheerfulness and gratitude for being privileged. After all, God gives everything to believers in His grace, who need to be a blessing to people in their lives as well. Those who ...

  “But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also. I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.” II Corinthians‬ ‭8:7-8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Common generosity represents the distribution of riches and wealth from the well-endowed to the less privileged. Philanthropists often need no faith to enjoy the dividends of sowing and reaping. Just like the law of gravity, reapers don’t lack the required seeds to abound in continuous sowing. Notwithstanding, there is a deeper level of generosity that is powered by the grace of God. It starts with the absolute submission of the hearts of the sowers to God. Thereafter, gracious generosity do not need the accumulation of material riches and the mundane wealth of this world to impact the lives of people. God is the Giver and the ultimate Provider of all the resources that the world needs; and He is able ...