Heralds Digest

  “ Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You. ” Psalms 143 : 8   NKJV When Peter plunged into the wide ocean as a walkway, it was certain he wasn’t using his brain. And when he suddenly does on transit, it was too late for him to trace his steps backward; and he was left with no other option but to cry out apparently like the psalmist “ Help me…for I lift up my soul ONLY to You ”. With sensible consideration of the economy, security, and empirical facts, a wise walkway is constructed simply on the basis of consultation with people, principals, and principalities in the society, system, and institutional setups. And always by the conflict of interests of these setups against the divine counsels, the recommended wise walkways in our world are often open to disobedience to the winsome walkway. Obviously, the winsome walkway is not usually the popular walkway, but it ...

  “ But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.” And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. ” Revelation 5 : 5 - 6 NKJV The revelation of Jesus Christ as both the Lion and the Lamb presents the fundamental principle of peacemaking to believers. As rightly submitted in Nicky Gumbel’s devotional on Revelation 5, “ doing hard things requires us to be lion-like - i.e., bold, steely and courageous. Doing things the right way means being like a lamb - i.e., gentle, meek and submissive ”. Christ was bold, steely and courageous by His confrontations with sin and sinners; and He was gentle, meek and submissive to the consequences of these confrontatio...

  ““You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”” Revelation 4 : 11 NKJV The major reason why the redemption story is remarkable is that the Lord Jesus Christ is the only One source of the world’s all-time salvation. All other lords may only boast of their power to steal by their schemes, kill for their kingdoms, and destroy towards eternal damnation; but they lack the power to reverse the destinies marked for darkness and destruction into the marvellous light of life. For example, only the power of God could switch the story of Mordecai and the perishing Jews in Shushan from death to glory and promotion overnight; while the enemy Haman got the gallows he had prepared for the execution of Mordecai. Therefore, whenever believers are ever enraptured by the power of God’s remarkable redemption, they get the singspiration to declare “ You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and pow...

  “ Let the righteous strike me; It shall be a kindness. And let him rebuke me; It shall be as excellent oil; Let my head not refuse it. For still my prayer is against the deeds of the wicked. ” Psalms 141 : 5 NKJV Ordinarily, no one embraces rebukes at the expense of wages, despite the package with the colouration of wickedness. For example, Mordecai’s rebuke of Esther’s coldness at the palace would have gone down the drain, but for the later consideration of the divine purpose in times of the challenges of life. And unlike Haman embraced the wicked wages through promotion and privileges for wrath, righteous rebukes always advance sober reflection, divine inspiration, and scriptural revelations. For “ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness ( II Timothy 3 : 16 )”, and only those who embrace the strikes and rebukes in their quiet times get the kindness of the Lord. Unfortunately,...

  ““ And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. ” Revelation 3 : 1 - 2 NKJV Knowing and living are two complimentary components making the essence of life. We die the moment we stop knowing. Funny enough, in the wake of advances in knowledge and artificial intelligence, the challenge with knowing is getting more and more interesting by the days. Unfortunately, the more we are able to grab with our human mind and brain, the less it seems we are actually living. There are so many coverups of the real emptiness within the best of human knowledge, affluence, and accumulation. Then comes the revelation from He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “ I know your works, that you have a n...

  “ Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him .” Proverbs 30 : 5 NKJV From the seven churches in the Revelation of Jesus Christ, “ He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches (Revelation 2 : 7 )” is definitely an admonition of trust in the purity of God’s words. Unfortunately, in our extremely sophisticated world, digital age, and uncensored social media contents, actions of anyone who wine and dine on the Bible are hardly weighed by scriptural revelations. The ‘not enough’ mindsets beg for public opinions, administrative appeals, social censorship, and political endorsement before an expressed declaration of the words of God can be supported and executed. Whereas, “ Every word of God is pure ” implies that God expects all believers to tenaciously live for ensuring their world comply with the express revelation, no matter the pressure and persecution. And like the Spirit says to the Church at Ephesus, anyone who clai...

  “ Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.” Revelation 1 : 3 NKJV Normally, and without unnecessary ambiguity, the King’s keeper suggests a reliable relationship with and revelation from the King; and the use of the keeper’s King will be equally appropriate. Unfortunately, in our world of changing styles, culture, and standards, there are many kings in the purview of most keepers or sycophants. Obviously, if John the beloved had not been considered the King’s keeper, he would not have earned the privilege of being preserved for the revelation of Jesus Christ at the island of Patmos. In life’s daily activities, engagement and consideration, the King’s keeper is equipped with the ability to read, hear, and keep the words of Christ’s prophecy. Those who read for argument cannot hear; and those who hear for attraction cannot keep. Whereas, the King’s keeper will prayerfully read the s...