DCLM Daily Manna 6 March 2021 Devotional By Pastor W. F Kumuyi – Weigh Your Promises

TOPIC: Weigh Your Promises

TEXT: Judges 11:29-40 (KJV)

29 Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto the children of Ammon.

30 And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands,

31 Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD’S, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.

32 So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight against them; and the LORD delivered them into his hands.

33 And he smote them from Aroer, even till thou come to Minnith, even twenty cities, and unto the plain of the vineyards, with a very great slaughter. Thus the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel.

34 And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.

35 And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me: for I have opened my mouth unto the LORD, and I cannot go back.

36 And she said unto him, My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the LORD, do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth; forasmuch as the LORD hath taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies, even of the children of Ammon.

37 And she said unto her father, Let this thing be done for me: let me alone two months, that I may go up and down upon the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my fellows.

38 And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she went with her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains.

39 And it came to pass at the end of two months, that she returned unto her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed: and she knew no man. And it was a custom in Israel,

40 That the daughters of Israel went yearly to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year.

KEY VERSE: “And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me: for I have opened my mouth unto the LORD, and I cannot go back” (Judges 11:35).

MESSAGE:

During a turbulent debate and a series of controversial statements by a president of the US, a lawyer and senior editor who worked with a journal in Washington was asked to give historical perspectives on the development. Without hesitating, he said: “Every president overpromises and underdelivers”. He had closely studied the presidents of his day and those before them, and arrived at the conclusion that these leaders were quick at making pledges but slow in implementing them.

Contrast these leaders with another personality in Scripture who recognised that there must not be a disconnect between making a vow and honouring it. Jephthah had just been commissioned by Israel to lead a campaign against the Ammonites, who wanted to seize their territory. He promised God that on his return after defeating Ammon, he would appreciate Him with a sacrifice of whatever welcomed him home. He had a triumphant outing. But alas, it was his daughter, his only child, who received him. Jephthah did not renege; he honoured his vow to the Lord.

A key lesson in the story of Jephthah and his vow is that the believer must not make rash vows with respect to giving to God or in our relationships with fellow men. We must weigh our words and remember that God does not joke with them before we commit to promising Him. There are consequences for promises we make, either before God or man.

Centuries later when Jephthah showed up again, this time in the New Testament, he is counted among the heroes of faith. This shows that heavenly rewards await those who stand firm by their decision to follow the Lord even in the face of unexpected challenges.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: God honours those who honour their word.

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Leviticus 25-27

DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.

DCLM Daily Manna 4 March 2021 Devotional By Pastor W. F Kumuyi – Set Apart For God

TOPIC: Set Apart For God

TEXT: Psalm 4:1-8 (KJV)

1 (To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David.) Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.

3 But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.

4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.

6 There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.

7 Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.

8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

KEY VERSE: “But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.” – (Psalm 4:3)

MESSAGE:

The godly is a cherished and priceless possession of the Lord. He searches the earth for such a soul; and when discovered, is set apart for His service and fellowship. A Christian writer noted that “knowing and loving God is our greatest privilege and being known and loved is God’s greatest pleasure”. Indeed, God wants unbroken fellowship with His chosen children, like Adam and Eve, whom He set apart in the Garden of Eden for constant communion.

The godly must maintain a perpetual attitude of fellowship with God for this is the heartbeat of the Almighty and His greatest expectation. We must develop the attitude of constant conversation with our heavenly Father. This we do by praying “without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). We must worship Him with pure heart and motive; honour Him and meditate upon His word regularly as a means of obedience and submission to do His will.

God shares His secrets with the godly. He revealed His redemptive plan for Israel to Abraham who committed himself to passing his faith down to his posterity (Genesis 18:19). Indeed, “The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant” (Psalm 25:14).

Believers should cultivate the enviable attitude of constant conversation with God through prayer. With an acceptable life, he or she is sure to receive manifold portions from Him and an assurance of a place in His kingdom.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Friendship with God is reserved for those who reverence Him.

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Leviticus 18-20

DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.