DCLM Daily Manna 14 February 2025 Devotional By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — The Secret To Greatness
TOPIC: The Secret To Greatness (DCLM Daily Manna 14 February 2025)
KEY VERSE: “So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the LORD his God” (2 Chronicles 27:6).
TEXT: 2 Chronicles 27:1-9 (KJV)
1 Jotham was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Jerushah, the daughter of Zadok.
2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Uzziah did: howbeit he entered not into the temple of the Lord. And the people did yet corruptly.
3 He built the high gate of the house of the Lord, and on the wall of Ophel he built much.
4 Moreover he built cities in the mountains of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers.
5 He fought also with the king of the Ammonites, and prevailed against them. And the children of Ammon gave him the same year an hundred talents of silver, and ten thousand measures of wheat, and ten thousand of barley. So much did the children of Ammon pay unto him, both the second year, and the third.
6 So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the Lord his God.
7 Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars, and his ways, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.
8 He was five and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.
9 And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.
MESSAGE:
In the biography, “Scalia: Rise to Greatness, 1936–1986”, acclaimed American journalist and bestselling historian, James Rosen, provides the first comprehensive account of the life of Antonin Scalia’s rise to greatness. His singular career in government—including three decades on the Supreme Court—shaped American law and society in the twenty-first century. His achievements were, among others, attributed to his faith in God. Justice Scalia himself admitted later, in an interview, that the commandment, “Thou Shalt Not Lie”, was pivotal in his work.
Today’s text outlines the rise to power of Jotham, the eleventh king of Judah, and son of Uzziah. He was 25 years old when he began his 16-year reign. He governed well “for he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD”, and excelled in infrastructural development and military conquests. His projects began with the gate of the house of the Lord, which he repaired, beautified, and raised. He then fortified the wall of Ophel and built cities in the mountains of Judah. In his military conquests, he waged a successful war against the Ammonites, resulting in their paying him tribute for three years. All these made him increase in wealth, power, and influence over neighbouring nations, “…because he prepared his ways before the LORD his God” He particularly emulated his father in all the areas he did wisely, but avoided the examples where he failed, particularly in the presumptuous sin of entering into the temple to burn incense, a duty exclusively reserved for priests.
Today, many people seek greatness, but in the wrong way, without recourse to God. They are self-centred and self-conceited. They permit no limits in their quest to achieve their selfish goal and recklessly quieten their conscience. They may achieve success, riches, and wealth but they will miss true greatness, as “wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase” (Proverbs 13:11).
Like Jotham, you can rise to greatness by heeding Christ’s admonition to seek “…first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). This entails repentance, pleading for cleansing and pardon, and a commitment to submit totally to Him for the rest of your life. Therein lies the secret of true greatness!
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
The road to real greatness passes through Calvary.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Mark 11-13
Deeper Life 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.
