Heralds Digest

  “ And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross. ”” Matthew 27 : 39 - 40 NKJV It is no longer news that the Passover story of the Israelites from Egypt presents the sacrifice of lambs, for “ when I see the blood, I will pass over you” . Just as the lamb without blemish must sacrifice its blood for the adopted household to escape the angel of destruction, Jesus Christ offered His blood on the cross of Calvary for the world who believes to escape eternal destruction. Unfortunately, on the day of the sacrifice, “ And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself!“ ”. Likewise today, sinners who passed by often blasphemed the Saviour, wagging their heads and bragging with their mouths saying, “ Save yourself! ”. Thankfully, Jesus didn’t respond...

  “ Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God. They have bowed down and fallen; But we have risen and stand upright. Save, Lord! May the King answer us when we call. ” Psalms 20 : 7 - 9   One of the horrible things about focussing on one’s personal capabilities in relationships is the subtle encouragement to commit evil without even acknowledging its feelings. Judas Iscariot was boosted by his capabilities to engage people, negotiate financial transactions, and book-keeping to engage the Pharisees and temple leaders on a conspiracy to exchange his kissing of Jesus with 30 pieces of silver. Before the feelings of the transaction was done on him, he committed suicide without repentance. Also here the psalmist remembered how Pharaoh boosted about his capabilities to organize the artillery of chariots and horses against the Israelites, even after the divine demonstration of about 10 devastating plagues to unveil the superiority...

  “ Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression .” Psalms 19 : 12 - 13   The primary responsibility of a secret service agent is the protection of his subject from insecurity and attacks from the enemy. And as errors and presumptuous sins in our intelligent world, social media, and physical institutions are increasing in astronomical proportion, we all need the daily secret service of the word of God to stay sane and alive. Even men of God, like Moses and Aaron who paid attention to ‘Thus says the Lord unto… ’, still struggle with the secret faults of disobedience and dishonesty, especially when they come face to face with their Pharaoh and his adamantly hardened heart, who would do anything to enforce unrighteousness and not righteousness. Like the psalmist, believers are faced with the dilemma of ...

  “ But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble. ” Proverbs 4 : 18 - 19 NKJV Everyone knows the metrics for a perfect day, but the path to this perfection is always the challenge. Perfect career, partner, and residency are more often a dream than reality. Like Moses, experience will usually support the fact that ‘nothing is perfect! ’. Before he accepted God’s will and way as the leader of the Israelites out of the land of Egypt as the perfect path, he struggled with the failure of his previous personal attempt to lead outside the will and way of God. And for those who struggled today with the concept of PERFECT path, it is important to note the path through the litmus of (1) peace - it brings peace and contentment into the heart, no matter the situation and circumstance; (2) experience - it offer the privilege of knowing God more intimately and...

  “ So He said, “I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain .”” Exodus 3 : 12 NKJV The experience of Moses in Midian has thought that growth can either be a product of greed or grace. Forty years earlier in Egypt, Moses attempted growth from second citizenship and servitude, for himself and the children of Israel respectively, with the passion of greed. He had to do the needful, by pulling down, killing out, and burying up a supposed enemy to advance liberation; but God’s grace provided an alternative way to growth in the wilderness of Midian. Why couldn’t Moses learn the import of the gracious growth in his prestigious Egypt from the professional experiences of the Egyptian midwives and the parental experience of the Hebrews in their hostile environments? Most times, grace is garnered only in the theatre of groan, and the absence of greed, Instead of bury...

  “ It is God who avenges me, And subdues the peoples under me; He delivers me from my enemies. You also lift me up above those who rise against me; You have delivered me from the violent man. Great deliverance He gives to His king, And shows mercy to His anointed, To David and his descendants forevermore .” Psalms 18 : 47 - 48 , 50 NKJV The summary of the deliverance story for David and Job shows that the narrative is more about God than deliverance. Oftentimes, believers want deliverance so badly because of their pain, forgetting or underestimating the importance and impacts of the glory of God and the acknowledgement of His greatness. Whereas, the mercy of our great God always invites His beloved and submissive servants into the altar of sacrifice for the extension of His glory and greatness. Everyone needs to know by clear experience that God is greater than the greatest, higher than the highest, and wiser than the wisest; and God is always in short supply of sacrifices to un...

  “ Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” Matthew 24 : 35 NKJV God’s promises and revelations are wrapped up in His words; but how wonderful are the words of God? Imaging the passing of day and night, times and seasons, life events and circumstances, and compared with unchanging words of God in His promises and revelations. Yet, the entire heaven and earth will pass away without a scratch on the revealed counsels of God. How resolute and undoubted can believers of the wonderful words be, if we can truly believe? Unfortunately, like Job was put on a spot by God with “ Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? He who rebukes God, let him answer it (Job 40 : 2 )”, life’s passing circumstances and challenges can twist every believer’s perception about the wonderful words of God. Therefore, let those who doubt the words of God pass away with the dynamic of heaven and earth. Whereas, true believers will daily hold unto God for the ...