Emmanuel Okoro (aka MrLift)

When a Vow Is Wrong "At the end of the two months, she came back to her father. He fulfilled the vow with her that he had made. She had never slept with a man. It became a custom in Israel." ( Judges 11:39)  There are several examples in Scripture that show us that not every vow is right before God. The Bible says that if a woman makes a vow without the consent of her husband, such a vow may not stand. The same applies to an underage daughter who makes a vow without the approval of her father. God understands that some decisions are made emotionally, rashly, or without wisdom. But in our text, we see Jephthah, a leader of Israel, making a vow that was completely wrong. In my opinion, he made it in an attempt to impress God or secure divine favor through sacrifice. It was a vow born out of emotion rather than wisdom and obedience. One reason the vow was wrong was because it violated God's commandment against killing. Even worse, he ended up sacrificing his own daughter...

God Did His Part, Now Do Yours "When he realized who it was, he ripped his clothes, saying, ‘Ah, dearest daughter—I’m ruined! I’m devastated! I made a vow to GOD and I can’t take it back!’ She said, ‘My father, if you made a vow to GOD, then do to me according to your vow, since the LORD has given you victory over your enemies.’" (Judg. 11:35–36) Balance is important in spiritual matters. Many people fall into dangerous extremes when zeal is not guided by truth and understanding. Scripture must be interpreted in the light of God’s nature and His established principles. Jephthah’s story is one of those difficult but deeply instructive passages in the Bible. Before going to battle against the Ammonites, Jephthah made a rash vow that if God gave him victory, whatever first came out of his house to welcome him would be offered as a sacrifice to God. Tragically, it was his only daughter who came out to greet him. The pain in Jephthah’s reaction was overwhelming. Yet his daugh...

The Lord Knows Those Who Are His "Then they cleaned house of the foreign gods and worshiped only GOD. And GOD took Israel's troubles to heart." (Judg.10.16 Israel had once again drifted into compromise. They had turned away from God and found themselves abandoned to the oppression of their enemies. Their suffering was not because God lacked power to save, but because their hearts had wandered far from Him. But something changed. The Bible says they cleaned house of the foreign gods and worshiped the Lord alone. Then God took their troubles to heart. What a powerful statement! It reveals that all their previous religious activities had not truly moved God because their hearts were divided. They may have still offered sacrifices and maintained outward forms of worship, but inwardly they were attached to other gods. God is not merely looking for activity; He is looking for sincerity and devotion. Scripture says, “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone ...

Rise to the Occasion " Tola son of Puah, the son of Dodo, was next after Abimelech. He rose to the occasion to save Israel. He was a man of Issachar. He lived in Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim." (Judg.10.1) There are sayings that stir the soul: “May the road rise to meet you,” and sometimes, “May your road be rough.” Strange as the second sounds, both carry one truth — growth often comes when life demands more from us than comfort ever will. The Bible says that after the chaos and destruction caused by Abimelech, Tola rose to save Israel. He did not wait for perfect conditions. He did not hide among spectators. He stepped into responsibility when the moment called for courage. Pause and think about it: when was the last time you truly rose to the occasion? When was the last time you attempted something that stretched your faith, challenged your capacity, or forced you beyond the boundaries of convenience? Many people live only within the circle of what is famil...

Because He Is Your Relative “You have just betrayed him. You murdered his seventy sons on one stone and crowned Abimelech—the son of his maidservant—king over Shechem’s leaders, simply because he is your relative.” (Judges 9:18 MSG) Gideon had many sons—seventy in all—born to different wives. But there was also Abimelech, the son of a maidservant. After Gideon’s death, Abimelech exploited his maternal ties, persuading his mother’s relatives to back him. With their support, he slaughtered his brothers—seventy lives cut down in one brutal act—while only one escaped. And why did they stand with him? Not because he was the most capable, not because he was righteous—but because he was their relative . That phrase— “your relative” —carries more weight than we often admit. It has justified poor decisions, protected wrongdoing, and elevated loyalty above truth. It has cost nations progress, weakened institutions, and blurred the line between justice and bias. When relationship becomes the s...

Purpose Over Position " The trees then said to Vine, "You come and rule over us." But Vine said to them, "Am I no longer good for making wine, Wine that cheers gods and men, and to be demoted to waving over trees?" (Judg.9.12 - 13 MSG) This is one of the clearest pictures of purpose you’ll ever encounter. It doesn’t just explain purpose—it embodies it. Many people chase position, thinking it is the gateway to impact. Titles, offices, and recognition often look like the highest form of influence. But the truth is, position without purpose is empty. That’s why some leaders lose their relevance the moment they lose their title—because their influence was tied to a seat, not a calling. In this story, the trees were searching for a king—someone to rule, to command, to wield authority. When they approached the vine, it seemed like an opportunity too good to refuse. After all, who wouldn’t want to be king? But the vine refused. It understood something many over...