Heralds Digest

  “ And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, “His name is John.” So they all marveled. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God. ” Luke 1 : 63 - 64   The past nine months of pregnancy for John the Baptist had been a demonstration of the blessedness of tamed tongues. Although the heavenly-assisted experience had punished Zechariah for his unbelief against the plan and purpose of God, it was a blessing in disguise to prevent him from escalating his unbelief to rebellion. After all, “ 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 ( James 3 : 2 )”. More likewise today, life’s experiences and relationships often draw the heart of man into a subtle state of unbelief and rebellion against the counsels of God. Even when we seem to be getting along at homes with the challenges with family members, delayed or unanswered prayers, and failed expectatio...

  “ Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing. ” Psalms 34 : 8 - 10 NKJV The difference between “ Oh, taste and see that the Lord has good ” and “ Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good “ is simply happiness versus joy. Those whose lives are regulated by the pursuit of good gifts are readily deceived by material prosperity, momentary advances, and monumental positions. And if the young lions, with all their endowment as the king of the jungles and physical strength, can lack and suffer hunger, it shows that good gifts with their transient mode of happiness are not always  sustainable. Whereas, to truly experience the goodness of God is far higher and richer than the entertainment of good gifts; it is the actual experience of the presence of God in all circumstances o...

  “ Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy, For our heart shall rejoice in Him, Because we have trusted in His hol y name. Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, Just as we hope in You.” Psalms 33 : 18 , 21 - 22 NKJV One of the greatest of all giants in life is fear - especially the fear of the possibilities of men. Needless to mention that this negative fear is exactly synonymous to our lack of faith in the possibilities of God. Likewise, faith in the possibilities of God is the desirable fear of God. For example, this fear made Mary agree with the Angel and she said “ Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word ( Luke 1 : 38 )”, despite the absolute zero record of such possibilities in human existence. Unfortunately, hope in the mercy of men draws the heart of man into the prison of negative fear, breeding disobedience, unrighteousness, and slavery to sin. Whereas, the only fruitful fear comes from every...

  “.. and if you despise My statutes, or if your soul abhors My judgments, so that you do not perform all My commandments, but break My covenant, I also will do this to you: I will even appoint terror over you, wasting disease and fever which shall consume the eyes and cause sorrow of heart. And you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. I will set My face against you, and you shall be defeated by your enemies. Those who hate you shall reign over you, and you shall flee when no one pursues you. ” Leviticus 26 : 15 - 17 NKJV The difference in a rat or right race is either the abeyance or preservation of the abiding rules. In rat races, rules are violated with a free-fall mentality to regulations, ethics, and code of conduct. As long as personal goals and ambitions are achieved, even at the expense of the common good of the nation and society, the rat races are concerned about who gets to the top first. But the right race is mostly concerned about the means in...

  “ The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations.” Psalms 33 : 10 - 11 NKJV There is no doubt the commanding influence of the ongoing Trump’s trade war on the economy of nations and the stock markets. This is merely an example of the powers of position and people in authorities over the quality of lives of the governed, the corporate decisions of investors, and the general welfare of the people. For the psalmist, the commanding influence of king Saul and his collaborators made him spend an ample years in the wilderness, away from families and friends. Notwithstanding, at the end, it is instructive to note that ultimately “ The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect” . Actually, the collective counsels of king Saul, Absaloam, and Ahitophel against the counsel of the Lord’s anointing o...

  “ Do not be like the horse or like the mule, Which have no understanding, Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, Else they will not come near you. Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; But he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart! ”  Psalms 32 : 9 - 11 NKJV   “ Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered (Psalms 32 : 1 )” teaches a deeper and richer blessedness of the Lord than the instant forgiveness, i.e., the manifold mercy of the Lord. The manifold mercy of the Lord is the abiding prosperity that follows the righteous everywhere they go and whatever they do. Unfortunately, those who refuse to confess their accidental mistakes, sins and trespasses, especially after an historical claim to the joy of salvation, do readily undermine the manifold mercy of the Lord through the deceitfulness of eternal security. Whereas, the enduring secur...

  “ And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He answered nothing. Then Pilate asked Him again, saying, “Do You answer nothing? See how many things they testify against You!” But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled. ” Mark 15 : 3 - 5 NKJV Pilate marvelled at the mystery behind Christ’s silence to the chief priests’ many accusations because he was oblivious of the sacred submission of Christ to the will of God at Gethsemane. Until the heart of man solemnly submit to the authority of the King of kings and the Lord of lords, many other altars of authority with dividing interests will hold sway with their arrogant manipulations. For example, disunity among partners in the family and the lack of submission to the ultimate counsel of God do break family projects and destroy the divine purpose for parenting of children. Without sacred submission to the authority of Christ, even children eagerly aspire to mark their 18th birthday celebration to rebel agains...