Heralds Digest

  “ Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat .” Mark 6 : 30 - 31   Life’s performance metrics often appear to go by the quantity of mental or physical activities. The apostles had returned from the field with their proud accounts of “all things, both what they had done and what they had taught”, expecting the normal commendation. And while the commendation on life’s excellent performance, great administrative capabilities, and great resource management skills is really not out of place, Jesus’ emphasis on quiet time as life’s victorious virtue is more profound. And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while”. By always doing otherwise is tantamount to running life completely with a show of mechanical skills, h...

  “ So they went out and preached that people should repent. And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.” Mark 6 : 12 - 13 NKJV Life is full of planning practices and ceremonies. Essentially, orderliness and organization are divine traits, especially leading up to godliness. Even in the Old Testament, “ And you shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them ” takes some significant planning practices and ceaseless ceremonies “ that they may minister to Me as priests ( Exodus 30 : 30 )”. Notwithstanding, the same primary practice is emphasized by Jesus Christ’s engagement of the disciples during His earthly ministry. And if “ So they went out and preached that people should repent“ , Christ’s disciples today are primarily meant to go out…on the streets…to the workplaces…and within the neighborhood and preach that people can repent. Unfortunately, for the want of obedience and misplacement of priorities, the unsafe people in ever...

  “ Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the Lord, And righteousness from the God of his salvation. ” Psalms 24 : 3 - 5 NKJV Like the dedication of Aaron and his sons for the priesthood involves the wearing of holy garments, including the ephod, breastplate and the coat of mail with the engraving ‘Holiness unto the Lord’ , ascending into the hill of the Lord has always been the reserving of cleans hands and a pure heart. It is simply reserving the physical hands for contract signing and report writing in the offices, work and waste distribution in workplaces without hypocrisy, and social engagement with cordial enlightenment, etc, with holiness and righteousness. Unfortunately, many people would not readily see the motivation to ascend into the hills of the Lord, especially when the hearts can assess th...

  “ The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. ” Psalms 23 : 1 NKJV Believer’s roam, ruin, and rumbling in the world show the need of making more than a rhyme out of Psalms 23. The enemy knows that we often believe in the wantonness of wanting than in the sufficiency of our Shepherd. Gripped by the fear of the wantonness of wanting, believers would readily carry their birthright on righteousness, truth, and confidence in God to pawn shops. Whereas, even demons and familiar spirits will see Jesus approaching and cry out with loud voices “ What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me ( Mark 5 : 7 NKJV )”. Therefore, why do we always agree to be tormented by the wantonness of wanting, given the sufficiency of our Shepherd? Actually, the Lord is every believer’s shepherd…and not just the psalmist’s shepherd; and those whose confidence is rested in this divine revelation shall not want protection, provisions, and prese...

  “ A posterity shall serve Him. It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation, They will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born, That He has done this. ” Psalms 22 : 30 - 31   There is no doubt that the essence of all human relationships in life is fruitfulness and productivity. People readily sever unproductive and unfruitful relationships as detestable. Unfortunately, human judgement on almost all relationships, including partnerships, marriages, and collaborations, are always wrong with transient potency as fame fizzles, favour falls, and fashion fades. Needless to say that relationships built on falsehood do not always stand the test of time. But the story with every believer’s relationship with the words of God is different. Using the illustration in the parable of the sower, relationships built on the interaction of the word of God with open, sincere, and hungry hearts is always fruitful with ever abounding bounties. Whereas, wrong re...

  “ And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him. Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach ” Mark 3 : 13 - 14 NKJV These are the days when follower-ship of social media influencers are the reigning vibes. People now readily follow YouTubers, podcasters, music creators for hypes with high hypocrisy, makeup standards, and fake lifestyles. Unfortunately, these are the tales of fake followers who are nowadays called to man leadership positions in our homes, workplaces, institutions, and the large society, without the requisite dignity and character to arrest the twist and turns in our challenging world. Even in the ministry of the world’s best Leader Jesus Christ, Judas Iscariot still fell into the ranks of these fake followers. Notwithstanding, the characteristics of faithful followers include (1) faithfulness to Christ’s call to follower-ship; (2) fondness in Christ’s camp for f...

  “ They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots. But You, O Lord, do not be far from Me; O My Strength, hasten to help Me! Deliver Me from the sword, My precious life from the power of the dog .” Psalms 22 : 18 - 20   Although this prophetic proclamation of the psalmist expresses the neater nearness of God surrounding the suffering, crucifixion and death of Christ, it establishes the priority of believer’s focus on the nearness of God at all times. The normal nearness in life is bound to bring the mixture of anxiety, excitement, disorientation, and disorderliness. And those who want to specialize in creating orderliness out of the chaotic disposition of men with diverse interests have so much to wrestle with. Whereas, Jesus Christ demonstrated the secret of sanity in our chaotic world by starting each day in the presence of the Lord. Therefore, the orderliness of Heaven comes down with God to human’s disorderliness, when God is invited to come down...