Seize the Moment – Day 959
You have a Choice to Make!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Tuesday, November 1.
I will never forget an interview where two sons of an alcoholic testified to each of their stations in life – “I am the way I am today because of my father.” One son was in and out of prison with a lifelong struggle with addiction, while the other son was a successful businessman living a clean life.
Arguably, Jehoshaphat’s greatest mistake as the king of Judah was to form an alliance with Israel through an arranged marriage between his eldest son Jehoram and Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel (2 Chronicles 18:1; 19:2). By doing so, he invited wickedness and destruction into his family. Ultimately, Jehoram murdered all his brothers to secure his dynasty (2 Chronicles 21:4-6).
Jehoshaphat’s grandson Ahaziah became king upon the death of his father Jehoram. He was described in 2 Chronicles 22:3-4, “He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor to do wickedly. He did evil in the sight of the Lord like the house of Ahab, for they were his counselors after the death of his father, to his destruction.” Ironically, Ahaziah’s premature death was caused by making the same error as his grandfather – he allied with Israel (2 Chronicles 22:5-9).
Upon her son’s death, Athaliah attempted to murder all the “royal offspring of the house of Judah” (10-12). Providentially, the seed of David survived through a baby named Joash who was rescued by his aunt Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the wicked queen.
In this time of great betrayal and bloodshed, the son followed in the ways of his wicked mother and the daughter thwarted her evil plan. We all have choices to make in life!
Seize the moment and walk in the way of victory for your life – you are more than a conqueror in Jesus Christ (Romans 8:37). It’s a choice you must each day!
God bless you!
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YOUTUBE:
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