King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: You Are Royalty
Date: Friday March 16, 2012
Today's Chapters: Judges 11-13

Hello My Friend,

Have you ever talked to someone you haven't seen in a long time after you decided to give up the worldly life and live through Jesus Christ? If that person lives in the world you can pretty much get the same response that I get, “Are you really happy?” My reply is always the same, “Yes I am”, but they just cannot understand how I can be so happy when I do not go out and party or hang out with a bunch of people that can care less about me. The truth is, those of us who choose God over the world are peculiar, we truly are, and let me tell you, I like being peculiar, because I know that I am God's and He is mine and He makes me happy. Praise God that I can go to sleep every night and feel good that I am royalty and so are you. “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy...For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:” - 1 Peter 2:9,10,15.

Now, we all come from different families, some poor, some rich, some good, some bad, but we were born into that family for a reason. God has a purpose and a place for everyone in every situation they were brought up in, whether it was something they were born into or created on their own. We all have a choice to let our past determine our future and if we trust God He will help us get through it and find the good in every situation. There was a man named Jephthah, he was a god fearing man, the problem that many people could not get past, he was the son of a harlot, a prostitute. They picked on him and cast him out of Gilead, but would come to realize that they needed his help.

“Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was the son of an harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah. And Gilead's wife bare him sons; and his wife's sons grew up, and they thrust out Jephthah, and said unto him, Thou shalt not inherit in our father's house; for thou art the son of a strange woman. Then Jephthah fled from his brethren, and dwelt in the land of Tob: and there were gathered vain men to Jephthah, and went out with him. And it came to pass in process of time, that the children of Ammon made war against Israel. And it was so, that when the children of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah out of the land of Tob: And they said unto Jephthah, Come, and be our captain, that we may fight with the children of Ammon.” - Judges 11:1-6.

Now, Jephthah could have refused to help Gilead, but he knew that it was God's will that he go and that it was the right thing to do. God had forgiven Israel, therefore, Jephthah knew it was fitting for him forgive them for the way they treated him. We cannot be blamed nor need not be ashamed of the parents that we are born into. God has a reason for why He chooses to bring us into the world the way He brings us and while we may not understand right now there will come a time when we do. Keep in mind, those who mock us will be seen as fools eventually, likewise if we mock others we will be seen as fools as well. When God chose which tribe in which Jesus would descend, He chose Judah, who slept with is own daughter-in-law, thinking she was a prostitute. Where we come from does not qualify us to serve God or even be a part of His family, who we believe qualifies us. “To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” - Galatians 4:5-7.

When people find out that God really has played a part in your life, you can expect some jealously from those who have not played a part in your life for quite some time. After Jephthah, now judge over Israel, lead Gilead to victory over the Ammonites here comes Ephriam once again arguing that they did not have a part in the war, just as they did with Gideon. This time there was no reasoning, they went to war with their own people. “And the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and went northward, and said unto Jephthah, Wherefore passedst thou over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didst not call us to go with thee? we will burn thine house upon thee with fire. And Jephthah said unto them, I and my people were at great strife with the children of Ammon; and when I called you, ye delivered me not out of their hands. And when I saw that ye delivered me not, I put my life in my hands, and passed over against the children of Ammon, and the LORD delivered them into my hand: wherefore then are ye come up unto me this day, to fight against me?” - Judges 12:1-3.

Ephriam's jealousy lead to the death of forty-two thousand of their men. Jealousy brings serious consequences, not only does the person who is jealous get hurt, but countless others who got dragged into the battle as well. As Christians, we are all members of one body and that is Jesus Christ, we are not to be fighting with and deceiving one another. I do not like the way some of my family and friends behave, but I do not judge them, that is God's job. We are to be setting the example and showing the world not only how important it is to receive Christ, but that life is a whole lot better with Him in it. “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” - 2 Timothy 2:24-26.

After Jephthah died Israel went through a few more judges, after the last judge, Abdon died, Israel went forty years under the hands of the Philistines. God decided to bring a judge to them that would be brought up fearing God from birth, he choose a God fearing couple named Zorah and Manoah to bring up as a Nazarite.

“And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son. Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing: For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines...Then Manoah intreated the LORD, and said, O my Lord, let the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born...And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Of all that I said unto the woman let her beware...And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God. But his wife said unto him, If the LORD were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands, neither would he have shewed us all these things, nor would as at this time have told us such things as these. And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him.” - Judges 13:3-5,8,13,22-24.

A Nazarite is a person who was bound by a vow of a peculiar kind to be set apart from others for the service of God. A Nazarite is like being a Christian, is not about going to church, giving tithes, or donations, of course, it is good to do these things, but this is all surface stuff. Being a Christian is about allowing Christ to live in and through you, when others look at you they should be able to see Christ in you. Now, we all grow at different stages, but the more we grow with Christ the more He reflects through us. People may get jealous, mock you, or even try to get you to fall, but remember, you are royalty, an heir of God's and God takes that seriously. Do not be ashamed to be a Christian, be strong, for Christ will give you the strength to endure and you will reap the benefits too. “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” - Romans 8:16,17.

Today's Psalm: 139:14 - “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.”

Today's Proverb: 29:13 - “The poor and the deceitful man meet together: the LORD lighteneth both their eyes.”

Today's Prayer: God, Thank You for making me royalty, I might not have a fancy car, mansion, or lots of things I desire, but I have You. You are worth more than anything money can buy and when people try to call me crazy for sticking by You I will never forget what You have done for me. I know people are going to show up or reappear that want to see me fall, but I know that with You by my side I can stand. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Enjoy the rest of your day/night.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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