Heralds Digest

  “ So He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life. ”” Luke 18 : 29 - 30 NKJV A subtle submission to materialism and the possession of wealth or properties have always promised complete satisfaction. But everyone, especially those who have been privileged to experience the transition from a developing economy to a developed economy, knows that a subtle submission to materialism is advanced slavery with its attendant risk of depression and complete dissatisfaction. And in response to Jesus’ call for solemn submission to God as a recipe against the condemnation of subtle submission to materialism, the audience asked “ Who then can be saved?” . Just like Peter was awakened to the danger of subtle submission to almost everything that calls for attention in life, the priority a...

  “ God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah ” Psalms 46 : 1 - 2 , 11 NKJV It is not news that refuge and trouble are words and opposite. Likewise, reliable refuge is authenticated by traumatized trouble. And when the psalmist painted the scenario when the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea, he probably envisaged the experience of Jonah when he was thrown into the troubled sea or possibly over-sighted the experience of the disciples when they cried “ Master, carest not that we perished? ” in the troubled sea. While the circumstances differ in both of these illustrations, the constant denominator is the manifestation of the presence of the Lord in times of trouble. Jonah was kept calm even in the belly of the whale, while the presence of Jesus calmed the t...

  “ The royal daughter is all glorious within the palace; Her clothing is woven with gold. She shall be brought to the King in robes of many colors; The virgins, her companions who follow her, shall be brought to You.” Psalms 45 : 13 - 14 NKJV Considering the misconception about royalty among the kings, politicians, and the rich folks in our world, it is important to always underscore that royalty is rather arrayed with righteousness instead of being expressed with rebellion. A lifestyle shrouded with licentiousness, disobedience to the divine counsels, and a disregard for the authority and sovereignty of the King of kings and the Lord of lords is nothing more a rebellious reign. By comparing the reign between the beggar Lazarus and the rich man in the story of Jesus about the concept of royalty, only the privilege of an hindsight can support the right concept of royalty explained by the scriptural revelation that “ So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to...

  ““ Whoever is simple, let him turn in here”; And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him, “Stolen water is sweet, And bread eaten in secret is pleasant. ”” Proverbs 9 : 16 - 17 NKJV The difference between sweat and sweet appears to be the replacement of pain with pace without hardworking. Unfortunately, the moment sweat is removed from sweet, the leftover is simple shrewdness. Further on Christ’s exhortation to the disciples on the subject of steadfastness and stewardship in Luke 16, he referenced the commendation of a shrewd steward for his use of deception and smartness to achieve a short-lived sweetness within the camp of darkness. Whereas, in the real sense and as the scriptural digest for the day put it more succinctly, shrewd stewardship is practiced by those who are simple and lack the basic understanding of the dignity in integrity and uprightness. Actually, stolen water and secret bread are really not sweet and pleasant; but a surrendered slavery and futil...

  “ Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You love righteousness and hate wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.” Psalms 45 : 6 - 7 NKJV The life and ministry of Jesus CHRIST on earth leave no doubt about the fact that righteousness is the realm of His kingdom. Reflecting on His parables of the lost sheep, lost silver, and lost son, believers are encouraged to also love righteousness and hate wickedness like the Master and our loving Shepherd. No sacrifice is too great for anyone who does believe that a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of God’s kingdom. So, when the psalmist exclaimed “ Your throne, O God, is forever and ever“ , he probably referenced the Old Testament demonstration of God’s principle of inclusion and exclusion in the royal realm. God’s fairness was demonstrated by His justice in the attribution of retribution to wickedness and ...

  “ Now when one of those who sat at the table with Him heard these things, he said to Him, “Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!”” Luke 14 : 15 NKJV Everyone knows that there is no such thing as an inconvenient invitation. Inconveniences are mere excuses used to discharge ‘inconsequential’ invitations. And like all excuses provided in Christ’s parables on the Master’s special invitation to the kingdom of God, people scorn and ignore the Lord’s invitation through life’s challenges, opportunities and relationships because these invitations or apparent discomforts are considered inconsequential, unintelligent, and somehow insulting. Unfortunately, life’s major purposes and destinies are ignored for the pursuits of mundane stuff because of their temporal offers of pleasures, recognition, and carnal satisfaction or rotten bread in the kingdom of this world. Little wonder Jesus is acknowledging all respondents to His ‘inconsequential’ invitation with “ Blessed i...

  “ Through You we will push down our enemies; Through Your name we will trample those who rise up against us. For I will not trust in my bow, Nor shall my sword save me. But You have saved us from our enemies, And have put to shame those who hated us. In God we boast all day long, And praise Your name forever. Selah” Psalms 44 : 5 - 8 NKJV The battle for control is a predominant optic of interest in almost all human relationships, including friendship, marriage, workmanship, and business partnerships. It is almost the overriding agenda of all movements, including feminism, human rights, animal rights, gender equality, political parties, etc, whereas in the end the superiority of one right oppresses or suppresses the right of the other. Notwithstanding, human beings often struggle to admit the reality of their shallow swags, in comparison with the sovereignty of God’s swag and purposes for their existence. In the confrontations of David with the shallow swags of king Saul and a...