DCLM Daily Manna 5 March 2022 Devotional By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Seize The Moment!
TOPIC: Seize The Moment!
TEXT: Judges 8:4-21 (KJV)
4 And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them.
5 And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.
6 And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army?
7 And Gideon said, Therefore when the Lord hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.
8 And he went up thence to Penuel, and spake unto them likewise: and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him.
9 And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.
10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the hosts of the children of the east: for there fell an hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword.
11 And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host; for the host was secure.
12 And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the host.
13 And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun was up,
14 And caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and enquired of him: and he described unto him the princes of Succoth, and the elders thereof, even threescore and seventeen men.
15 And he came unto the men of Succoth, and said, Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom ye did upbraid me, saying, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thy men that are weary?
16 And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth.
17 And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city.
18 Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor? And they answered, As thou art, so were they; each one resembled the children of a king.
19 And he said, They were my brethren, even the sons of my mother: as the Lord liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you.
20 And he said unto Jether his firstborn, Up, and slay them. But the youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was yet a youth.
21 Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise thou, and fall upon us: for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that were on their camels’ necks.
KEY VERSE: “And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them.” – (Judges 8:4)
MESSAGE:
“Make hay while the sun shines” is an old English proverb that counsels that one should make the most of his opportunities while he has the chance. John Heywood first recorded it in a poem in 1546. In old English, he wrote, “Whan the sunne shinth make hay. Which is to say, Take time whan time cometh, lest time steale away.”
The leaders of Succoth and Penuel who encountered Gideon as he and his army fought the Lord’s war were too short-sighted to take heed to this advice of seizing upon the moment to gain the glories of the future. They had the opportunity of associating with the success awaiting Gideon when he requested much needed provisions for his war-weary troops. They declined, arguing that since he had not yet won the war, why should he and his soldiers be helped?
But Gideon’s victory had been guaranteed. Despite the fact that his forces were weak, they kept pursuing God’s enemies. They paid a heavy price for refusing to assist Gideon. God’s promise to help His people in times of crisis will never fail even if the entire world deserts them.
As we serve the Lord in the midst of adversity, trials and rejection, we must remember that the battle is the Lord’s and not ours. He will do the fighting. All He requires is retention of our consecration like Gideon and his brethren. We must be ready also to support God’s people as they execute His programmes. Never be discouraged because the Lord will back us up as we wage war with the gospel against ungodliness and vices in our society.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Put in your support for the Lord’s battle.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Jeremiah 3-4
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
