Heralds Digest

  “ My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: My heart shall not reproach me so long as I live. Let mine enemy be as the wicked, And he that riseth up against me as the unrighteous .” Job 27 : 6 - 7 KJV Believers ought to know that every engagement in life offers an opportunity to meet with God, irrespective of the facial appearance and the intended agenda for the meeting. For example, Job’s encounter with evil enables several encounters and engagements including the miserable counselling from his best friends, the manipulated confrontation from his beautiful wife, and the massive calamity against the best fortune in his family. For different intents and purposes, believers’ response to Christ’s call in all of life’s engagements can either be bided, beaten or broken. Those who are bided are usually indifferent, even when physically present in response to the call. Religious people usually fall into the categories of bided believers. They follow all the rules and perf...

  “ My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: Keep sound wisdom and discretion: So shall they be life unto thy soul, And grace to thy neck. Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, And thy foot shall not stumble. ” Proverbs 3 : 21 - 23 KJV The scriptural presentation of the concept of sound wisdom and discretion clearly suggests the prospect of falling for our weak wisdom and diplomacy. The latter is our use of the popular wisdom of the world; and many people will ply the roadmap presented by this path of human intelligence. Obviously, in this age of advances in knowledge, unlimited access to information, and social networking, there is almost no allowance to trust God for anything. Notwithstanding, wise walk remains the path of absolute trust in God or ‘faith’, especially when His call doesn’t make any sense. Invariably, FAITH or ‘Forsaking All, I Trust Him’ is the sacrifice of others’ considerations for progress and prosperity to submit to God’s commandments. Little wonder, w...

  “ I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: So shall I be saved from mine enemies. In my distress I called upon the LORD, And cried unto my God: He heard my voice out of his temple, And my cry came before him, even into his ears. ” Psalm 18 : 3 , 6 KJV The triumphant entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem teaches more than the praise of the King of kings and the Lord of lords. It actually admonishes integrity, intimacy and influence as the only trust of a lasting triumph in life, as demonstrated by the voluntary release of the tied colt of an ass and the worship outburst of babes. Unfortunately, life’s challenges often lead us mostly to the adoption of a temporary and triumphant truce instead of this rewarding and triumphant trust. Whereas, a truce is obtainable by either iniquity, ignorance or intelligence. A sinner and wicked person will advance truce for coverup, like when David committed adultery with Bathsheba and would offer Uriah the husband a break from his ...

  “ Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, And all my members are as a shadow. Upright men shall be astonied at this, And the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite. The righteous also shall hold on his way, And he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger .” Job 17 : 7 - 9 KJV While it is true that Christ promised those who respond to His call rest, it is important to underscore that the righteous’ rest is intrinsically woven in the unrighteous’ restiveness. By alluding to Job’s reference to his friends’ unrighteous rebukes and the general restiveness in the hearts of those who passionately pursue the acts of wickedness, it is highly inspiring to get the tonic in the righteous’ rest or waiting on God. “ And the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite. The righteous also shall hold on his way, And he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger ”. Little wonder the scriptures say that the renewing of strength is inspired by waitin...

  “ If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, And let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles. For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; Yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear: Because thou shalt forget thy misery, And remember it as waters that pass away: ” Job 11 : 14 - 16 KJV In human parlance, a fearless face connotes boldness and confidence. Business connections and marketing strategies are clearly and easily promoted by those who can readily make their presentations with appealing eye contact. It is believed that those who cannot express themselves with stern eye contact are suspicious and cannot be trusted. Unfortunately, wicked people have mastered the skills for presentation with excellent eye contact. It just goes to show that carnal interactions with fearless faces are now very deceptive. Only God can rightly access fearless faces among those who approach the throne of grace. As done with Job and against Zophar’s misdirected allegations, God sees...

  “ Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, And the man that getteth understanding. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace. The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; By understanding hath he established the heavens. By his knowledge the depths are broken up, And the clouds drop down the dew .” Proverbs 3 : 13 , 17 , 19 - 20 KJV “ Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: And with all thy getting get understanding (Proverbs 4 : 7 )” has been sometimes lightly interpreted as “ Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get M.Sc degree: And with all thy getting get Ph.D degree” . However, human intelligence, wisdom and understanding has been proven to be laced with unpleasant manipulations at home, workplaces and in all spheres of human governance. National and international diplomacy, foreign affair policies, and institutional memorandum of understanding are mostly drafted with unpleasant coverups inspired by human depravity coupled with obsession f...

  “ Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer. Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not .” Psalm 17 : 4 - 5 KJV The experiences of Job’s friends with him during the days of his affliction teach clearly the difference between profitable plans and progressive paths. Their intentions were comfort-promising through correction, but their interactions ended up as miserable, misleading and misfiring. Therefore, the psalmist’s prayer simply shows every believer’s desperate needs for the hands of God, holding and leading the paths of life as though he is a complete blind man. “ Concerning the works of men ”…their responses in all relationships, reactions to all actions and inaction of associates, contributions against all compelling requests, etc, only the inspiration of the Most High, coupled with His divine intelligence, can deliver anyone from the issue of perishing donations. And just as the counsels from Job...