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Topic: Brevity of Life
[DCLM Daily Manna 1 March 2019 Daily Devotional by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi]
Text: Judges 12:7-15 (KJV)
Key Verse: “And Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then died Jephthah the Gileadite, and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead” (Judges 12:7).
MESSAGE:
For every man, life is short and uncertain. Only the near approach of death is ever so sure. It is therefore necessary that we place priority on living a life that counts for eternity.
The story of Jephthah shows that God can use anyone to accomplish His purpose. Through his boldness and faith in the God of Israel, he obtained great deliverance for Israel against the Ammonites.
Jephthah was firm in his decision and vow to God. His steadfastness is a lesson to contemporary believers. Although, he died after only six years of his victory over the Ammonities, that victory brought peace that lasted over 31 years to Israel. The three judges that ruled immediately after Jephthah had no wars to fight for their reign were peaceful.
However, after the death of Jephthah, Israel soon went back to their sinful lifestyle. The three succeeding judges passed away quickly after their respective short reigns that God might again visit Israel for their sin and backsliding. When iniquity abounds in the land, and righteous leaders become few, it is a sign that evil days are near.
The lessons in today’s passage are many. First, we must come to term with the brevity of life. No matter how long we live, our life is short in view of eternity. Second, it is unwise to bask endlessly in the joy of any earthly victory or success; we must not lose focus of eternity. Third, the peace we make or the row we cause today may have effects running on after us for some generations after. We must therefore endeavour to make peace with men at all times.
Thought For The Day: The righteous is taken away from the wrath to come.
The Bible In One Year: Leviticus 8-11
