DCLM Daily Manna Friday 5 May 2023
TOPIC: Unrepentant Heart
TEXT: 2 Chronicles 21:12-20 (KJV)
KEY VERSE
“And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus saith the LORD… thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah, But hast walked in… the whoredoms of the house of Ahab…”
(2 Chronicles 21:12,13)
DCLM Daily Manna Friday 5 May 2023 MESSAGE
A righteous man died, leaving three sons and a daughter behind. His first son, now heir to most of his properties, decided to undo most of the things his father had done. He took back a property donated by his father to a local church and barred every member of the assembly from coming close to it. Twos years after, he was struck with a disease and spent much of his money on the sickness. Worse still, he refused to seek repentance and divine help until he died.
This story captures the life of Jehoram, the son of a righteous father, Jehoshaphat. He abandoned the ways of his father and Asa, two God-fearing kings of Judah before him, but preferred the idolatrous lifestyles of Ahab and other foolish kings of Israel. He killed his half-brothers which was abominable before the Almighty.
God, therefore, sent Elijah to pronounce judgment on him. His family would be struck with a great plague; he would also be smitten with an incurable bowel sickness, and the Philistines and other strange countries would plunder Judah. After hearing this prophecy, the young man hardened his heart and refused to repent until all these came upon him.
There are many people in our society who refuse to change their ways after God’s pronounced judgment. Because the sentence against their evil work is delayed, they refuse to repent and ask for His forgiveness. They wait and watch until God’s judgment comes to pass.
Like Jehoram, the end of such people is often terrible and their eternal destiny is hell. However, God is not willing that your life should end like that. Things can turn around when you repent and reconcile with God.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: One sure way to be stranded is to take God’s warning and entreaties for granted.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Judges 8-10
