Heralds Digest

  “ But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way .” Romans 14 : 10 , 12 - 13 NKJV While there is no doubt in the fact that justices with zero conflict of interest are just, such justices are reserved for the judgment seat of Christ. Notwithstanding, for the will of God to be done on earth, in our homes, and throughout our relationships, as it is in heaven, believers must resolve to devote life to judging self instead of others. “ Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way” . If we can live to judge whether we have sufficiently done well to pass the stand before the judgment seat of Christ, in ...

  “ For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. ” Romans 13 : 3 - 4 NKJV In human governance, citizenship comes with rights and responsibilities; while most citizens would like to play up their rights and play down their responsibilities. Whereas, since God is the Judge in divine governance, citizenship is mainly concerned about responsibilities. For God is a righteous Rewarder of every believer’s rights, as long as he does what is right always. Little wonder why believers are not called into the practices of human rights activism, freedom fighting, civil rights advocacy, etc? It is because they believe and uphold the scriptural injunction that the responsibility of good gover...

  “ Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen. ” Romans 11 : 33 , 36 NKJV There is no doubt about the fact that advances and innovation rule our world; and these advances in knowledge phenomenon is the will of God. Unfortunately, great discovery of men often leads men away from the deep discovery, i.e., the knowledge of God. How come advances in knowledge readily lead men into cultism, secret cults, sorcery, and the possession of familiar spirits? Little wonder that the sacrifices required for our deep discovery of the wisdom and knowledge of God are our lively lifestyles, humble holiness, and notable newness before the Lord. For example, the discovery of space shuttle has enabled extraterrestrial transportation, but it hasn’t delivered the hearts of men from their depression and disappointment; and the d...

  “ And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested .” I Chronicles 4 : 10 NKJV Reflecting on why Jabez passionately requested the helping hands of God, it was observed that he could no longer cope with both his hurtful existence and the hurt from the supposed helping hands of his mother and brethren. No doubt, the painful experiences from Jabez life existence made the mother christened him ‘sorrow’ , apparently to warn many of his few associates and save them from preventable damages. Thankfully, Jabez never took these ugly reactions from family and friends personal…because he knew the source of the true helping hands. Many times, when we mourn only over the pains caused on us by our associates and acquaintances, we are totally oblivious of the pains from our existence and the embarra...

  “And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” ” Romans 10 : 15 - 16 NKJV It is no longer news that the good news is not limited to the speaking of great words, but rather includes the spreading of good feet. The preaching of the gospel of peace is enshrined in the practicing of the lifestyle of peace in the neighborhood, workplaces, and in the society. It is natural for sinful men and rebellious sinners to scorn the evangelist’s great words. But those who truly carry good gifts are not deterred by the people’s opposition to great words; because good feet are recognized by their commitment to the preaching of peace, even in troublous circumstances. And since the good gift is all about the presentation of the Prince of peace, the revelation of the beautiful ...

  “ Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before Your face. Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance.” Psalms 89 : 14 - 15 NKJV One of the best ways of sustaining the memory of a relationship is the establishment of a foundation. Even with memory screwed by unfruitfulness and injustice, people nowadays have developed the penchant for deception by violating the scriptural injunction “ If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do?” ( Psalms 11 : 3 ). Notwithstanding, the foundation that is truly free from deception and manipulation has a self-sustaining legacy. It is the one favoured by the Almighty God for righteousness and justice. When the heart of man is blessed by God’s righteousness at Christ’s expense, it becomes a pleasant source of goodness, mercy, and truth to people within its sphere of influence. Unfortunately, besides Christ the solid Rock, there is n...

  “ So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. ” Romans 9 : 16 , 18 NKJV The subject of predestination appears to be a thorny scriptural revelation because of human preference on the divine offer of mercy. When the scriptures say “ He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy ( Proverbs 28 : 13 ), it implies that mercy is everyone’s preferred predestination. Since the choice to confess and forsake our sins and all forms of unrighteousness is an irrevocable gift of creation, God’s mercy becomes subject first to human preference and then to God’s predestination. Notwithstanding, it is natural for the flesh to boast of its ability to will and the agility to run, by exploring the divine gift as a free moral agent. But the mercy of God is only accessible by those who choose to lay down their will on the altar of God’s pu...