Passage of the Day:
Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jephthah. He crossed Gilead and Manasseh, passed through Mizpah of Gilead, and from there he advanced against the Ammonites. 30 And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord: “If you give the Ammonites into my hands, 31 whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the Lord’s, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.” 32 Then Jephthah went over to fight the Ammonites, and the Lord gave them into his hands. 33 He devastated twenty towns from Aroer to the vicinity of Minnith, as far as Abel Keramim. Thus Israel subdued Ammon. 34 When Jephthah returned to his home in Mizpah, who should come out to meet him but his daughter, dancing to the sound of timbrels! She was an only child. Except for her he had neither son nor daughter. 35 When he saw her, he tore his clothes and cried, “Oh no, my daughter! You have brought me down and I am devastated. I have made a vow to the Lord that I cannot break,” Judges 11:29-35.
Reflection:
When I was a young boy, I became cocky and overconfident. Perhaps, trying to teach me a valuable life lesson, my father bet me a dollar that the football team I was cheering for would lose. This was before I knew that my dad was a star linebacker in high school, receiving a full ride to play in college. Every time I bet my father; I lost each one. It didn’t take long to help me realize that betting was not for me. Despite being filled with the Holy Spirit, Jephthah made a foolish decision without thinking about the consequences. This dumb bet cost his own daughter her life.
Prayerful Action:
When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. 5 It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it, Ecclesiastes 5:4-5.
Setting Clear Boundaries to Live By:
King Solomon suggests that sometimes vows are confused with making a confident bet. Based upon a recent study, there are more than 57 million active gamblers in the United States today. While there are some who are effective, most end up losing more than they win. As Jephthah left a victorious battlefield, he felt like he could do anything. Rather than think about the best way to honor God, Jephthah made a vow when he was caught up in the adrenaline of the moment. This is what fuels gamblers, believing in their minds that they can’t lose. Subsequently, once hard-working Americans end up betting their lives away.
Song of the Day:
The first time I visited Atlantic City, New Jersey after casinos were built, I noticed several homeless individuals hanging out along the side streets. During one encounter, I heard the sad story of a man who lost his life savings, financially strapped. May the lyrics of today’s speak to your heart and compel you to reach family, friends or neighbors betting their lives away.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 