From The Herald Office . . .

By Rich Carmicheal

    This issue of Herald of His Coming deals with two major themes. First of all, the lead message "Lord, I Agree" (pp. 1-3) focuses on our relationship with the Lord as Richard Owen Roberts exhorts us to live our lives in full agreement with the Lord in all things. The Herald staff joins Brother Roberts in the belief that personal revival will come to any believer who takes this message to heart and aligns his/her life accordingly. We encourage you to work your way carefully and prayerfully through the twelve articles of agreement Brother Roberts addresses.

    This is an opportunity for you to make a commitment, or renew your commitment, to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind" (Matt. 22:37). As Jesus teaches, this is the greatest of all commandments, and He Himself provides us with the perfect example of such love as He lived His life on earth in full devotion, agreement and obedience to our Heavenly Father. His statement recorded by the writer of Hebrews reveals His determination to please His Father: "Behold, I have come to do Thy will" (Heb. 10:7, 9; cf. Psa. 40:7-8). And not only was He determined to fully do His Father’s will, He delighted in doing it – "I delight to do Thy will, O My God; Thy Law is within My heart" (Psa. 40:8). He willingly, therefore, put His own rights aside and lived in heartfelt obedience to His Father. Look to His example, and ask for His empowering as you too seek to live in perfect agreement with the Heavenly Father.

Forgiveness Is Essential

    The second major theme in this issue focuses on our relationship with others, and in particular the need to overcome any bitterness in our lives and to extend forgiveness to those who have in some way wronged us. Again, Jesus is the perfect example in this. During His ministry He was gracious to grant forgiveness to others (e.g., Matt. 9:2; Luke 7:48). Even while hanging on the cross, suffering the greatest injustice ever committed against a person, He displayed a heart full of forgiveness: "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing…" (Luke 23:34).

    Forgiveness is so important to the Lord, He was willing to shed His blood to make it possible, for "without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness" (Heb. 9:22). He teaches us that even as He is merciful and forgives us, so are we to be merciful and generous in forgiving others. He also warns us that if we do not forgive others when they sin against us, our Heavenly Father will not forgive us (Matt. 6:14-15; 18:21-35).

    If you have any unforgiveness or bitterness in your life toward others, we hope the articles on pages 4-7 are very encouraging and liberating for you. They not only provide some very good teaching, but some powerful examples of how the Lord makes forgiveness possible, even in the hardest of cases. Allow the Lord to search your heart as you read these, and ask Him to enable you to grant any forgiveness needed (or to seek forgiveness of anyone you may have wronged). The Lord wants our relationship with Him and our relationships with others to be without any unforgiveness or bitterness.