Heralds Digest

“Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” James‬ ‭5:7-8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Interactions with the elements of this world in our social and work life can come with great discouragement, disappointment, and dissatisfaction. This is because rules that govern cohabitation, coexistence, and collaboration are sometimes disgruntled and depressing. And in a jungle where FairPlay is a misnomer, believers need an extra grace to persevere in patience with life’s painful experiences. Actually, when the heart is established on the joy and sweet fellowship in the coming of the Lord, the coercion in life’s harsh interactions will become meaningless. Therefore, even in this world, this gracious and persevering patience brings the manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit, includin...

  “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” James‬ ‭4:17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ The major constraint in the concept of goodness is the difference between getting good and doing good. Everyone can do good, as long as it feels or gets good. It just implies that the acceptable form of goodness is simply getting good; and not rarely the sacrifice of personal good for the good of others. But the moment a self-centred man truly encounters the saving grace of Christ, he is expected to learn the basic concept and the uniqueness of gracious goodness. Starting with the understanding of being saved from sin to become an instrument for the salvation of others, he can no longer dream of goodness and the constraint to its service at the same time. Life simply becomes ‘If God will, He will make a way ’; rather than ‘If it feels good, I will make a way’ . Greedy goodness is not just about feeling good…it is mostly a disobedience to the Will of God; but gracious goodness is a...

  “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 Truly, the answer to the rhetorical question ‘For what is your life?’ is clearly provided. Although everyone acknowledges that his life is a valued vapour, not everyone is clear about who placed the value on life. When God is removed out of the equation, man and the people within his sphere of influence take the futile charge of placing the value on life, without consideration on its vanity. Unfortunately, this approach to life is always a recipe for a waste, purposeless, and an empty discharge of life here; and also a reward of disappointment in eternity. Whereas, God created every life for a purpose; and He is always looking forward to His engagement to design its relevance for every season and opportunity. While holding onto the fact that our lives are mere vapour, the most rewarding engagement of any man i...

  “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 When sinners and evildoers commit sin and unrighteousness, it appears nothing new to talk about. It is only newsflash when sinners show deeds of kindness and generosity, apparently for political gains. Whereas, it is difficult to control the outbursts when believers in righteousness are apparently caught with acts of wickedness and evil. Unfortunately, these outbursts often leave all parties guilty, lawless, and a judge in their own case. Therefore, the scriptures admonished all believers “ Do not speak evil of one another, brethren ”. Those who speak evil of other beneficiaries of grace are boastful and proud; not knowing that the greatest virtue of grace...

  “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 Just as remote as divine desires are from human desires, true satisfaction is obviously a strange vocabulary in almost all of life’s experiences. Even though the law of economics that ‘human desires are insatiable ’ is naturally true, it is universally wrong. The scriptures say it is only true because of human misplacement of desires. Unfortunately, the pursuit of divine desires starts with a radical denial of self interests, pleasures, and desires. But if we must proceed, we will find true satisfaction at the perfect intersection of divine and human desires. The difference in the two paths is simply the approach. When we pursue human desires, we stack up Human Resources at the expense of divine inspiration. Whereas, the pursuit of divi...

  “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 Emotional words are generated by the prevailing forces in the environment. If the environment blows with the wind of hatred, animosity, and unfair treatment, the outbursts are often undesirable and may lead any wayfarer unto undesirable destination. “ For we all stumble in many things ”…including parenting in God-fearing homes, project management in visionary institutions, and financial management among desirable partners. The ship has always aimed for a safe and desirable destination of peace, harmony, and accomplishment; but it is always clear that no one can withstand the power of a little member (or the tongue) without the wisdom of God. Against the forces of wickedness in our world, only God can grant the grace to overcome the wind w...

  “but the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.” ‭‭James‬ ‭1:10-11‬ ‭KJV‬‬ With the exclusion of pretence, the constant denominator in all of life’s experiences is the extinction of life in the absence of the grace of God. Truly, without the living breadth of God, man is truly a walking corpse with no purpose for living. During the phase of our flower flourishing, the heart of man will consciously identify the need for God’s favour and support for growth. But in the brightness of human glory, accomplishment, and exaltation, the heart of man is easily deceived to forget God and promote self sufficiency. And, it is the reality of the flower fading phase that awakens the heart from its state of forgetfulness. Therefore, a wise man wi...