WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
OCTOBER 6, 2021
TOPIC: FULFIL YOUR DIVINE ASSIGNMENT
BY T. O. BANSO
âAnd say to Archippus, âTake heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill itââ (Colossians 4:17 New King James Version).
The book of Judges focuses on the people God called to judge the nation of Israel but what is emphasized about some of them makes one wonder if their tenures were eventful at all. Rather than providing details about how they judged the people of Israel, the Bible gives us details about what was not related to their assignment as judges. I don’t know what is responsible for this.
In Judges 10, the Bible tells us about Jair, a Gileadite, who judged Israel for twenty-two years. The Bible does not say anything about how he judged the people. I was curious to know what the man did for twenty years but I found no record in the Bible.
The Bible only says, âAfter him [Tola] arose Jair, a Gileadite; and he judged Israel twenty-two years. Now he had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys; they also had thirty towns, which are called ‘Havoth Jair’ to this day, which are in the land of Gilead. And Jair died and was buried in Camonâ (Judges 10:3-5 New King James Version). Did you see that?
The only information about this judge is that he had thirty sons, who rode around thirty donkeys and owned thirty towns! Could it be that the only significant achievement of this judge was that he had thirty sons, who flaunted their fatherâs wealth, driving what would be luxury cars in our contemporary world? Yet, he was in power for twenty-two years.
Did he spend his thirty-two years as a judge just having children? We donât know how many children he had before he became a judge.
Jair was not the only one. Ibzan was also a judge in Israel. However, the only record about him in the Bible is that he had 60 children â 30 males and 30 females. He sent his 30 daughters abroad and married 30 wives for his 30 sons. Again, the Bible says nothing about the assignment God gave him as a judge in Israel.
Judges 12:8-10 says, âAfter him [Jephthah], Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel. He had thirty sons. And he gave away thirty daughters in marriage, and brought in thirty daughters from elsewhere for his sons. He judged Israel seven years. Then Ibzan died and was buried at Bethlehemâ (New King James Version).
What did he do as a judge? The Bible says nothing about it. Could it be that his tenure was not eventful? Were the seven years of his tenure wasted years or impactful? The Bible does not tell us how many of these children Ibzan had when he became a judge.
However, with sixty children, I donât know how much impact he would have been able to make in the divine assignment given him to judge Israel! I would have loved to read how he was able to cope with sixty children and judging Israel! But the Bible is silent on his activities as a judge.
Elon was also a judge in Israel. Nothing is said about him, either good or bad, except that he led Israel for ten years. In fact, only two sentences are devoted to this man who judged Israel for ten years.
Judges 12:11-12 says, âAfter him [Ibzan], Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel. He judged Israel ten years. And Elon the Zebulunite died and was buried at Aijalon in the country of Zebulunâ (New King James Version). I donât know what type of life he lived that the Bible didnât say anything significant about him. The Bible gives his tenure a total blackout!
Abdon, an Ephraimite, judged Israel for eight years. Nothing is also said concerning the assignment God gave him. The Bible only talks about what his 40 sons and 30 grandsons did. Abdonâs 40 sons and 30 grandsons rode on seventy donkeys â the luxury cars of their day. It was good he got expensive cars (donkeys) for his sons and grandsons, but what about Godâs assignment for him?
Judges 12:13-15 says, âAfter him [Elon], Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel. He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy young donkeys. He judged Israel eight years. Then Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the mountains of the Amalekitesâ (New King James Version).
We donât know how many of these children Abdon had before he became a judge. Children, material possessions, etc. become vanity when destiny is not discovered, pursued, and fulfilled. A life full of things but devoid of the pursuit and fulfilment of purpose is vanity.
What is the value or worth of your life? Your valuables donât determine your true value. Is the worth of your life in terms of material acquisition and worldly attainment? Your life is worth more than things. Paul said, âBut my life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus â the work of telling others the Good News about God’s wonderful kindness and loveâ (Acts 20:24 New Living Translation).
Your life is worth nothing unless you live it to fulfil the purpose for which God created you. It does not mean that you must become a pastor (though God expects everyone to be born again and win souls). There is Godâs purpose for individuals and it varies from one person to the other. Therefore, discover your own and devote your entire life to fulfill it.
Youâre not here on earth just to procreate. You must discover and fulfil the purpose of God for your life. Whatever purpose God has called you to fulfil, make full proof of it – complete it. Do not be slack; do not lose your focus. Having children is exciting. If you are still looking up to God for your own children, I pray that the Lord will answer your prayer this season. You will soon become a joyful parent.
However, every parent must go beyond having children; each parent must subdue and have dominion (Genesis 1:28). Do not live only to give birth to children; live to fulfil your divine purpose. That does not mean you should neglect your family.
There is more to you than being a husband or a wife, or a father or a mother. Your children will leave you one day to go and start their own families. I pray that you will not fail your family. I also pray youâll live a meaningful and impactful life. You will live a life of significance in Jesusâ name.
Jesus said to his disciples, âLet us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forthâ (Mark 1:38 New King James Version). Take note of that phrase: for this purpose, I have come forth. He knew the purpose for which He came to earth and would not allow any distraction or delay.
Itâs important for you to know your purpose and commit yourself to fulfil it. This is not limited to the gospel ministry. God is the Source and Originator of the destiny of everyone. Therefore, if you havenât discovered your purpose in life, pray, and enquire from God.
Prayerfully discover what God has called you to do and fulfill it. Paul told Timothy: âBut you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministryâ (2 Timothy 4:5 New King James Version).
In Colossians 4:17, Paul gave a similar counsel to Archippus, his fellow soldier (Philemon 2), who held an official position in the church at Colosse:Â âAnd say to Archippus, âTake heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill itââ (Colossians 4:17 New King James Version). Fulfil your divine assignment.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life â your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and resurrected the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Holy Spirit, help me to discover, pursue, and fulfil my divine assignment. I shall not lose focus in life; I shall not abandon Your purpose for my life.
(For over 600 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President, Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
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