Daily Devotion

WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU BECOME

Genesis 49:3-4 “Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: Unstable as water, you shall not excel; because you went up to thy father’s bed; then you defiled it: he went up to my couch”. 

Are you aware that who you are determines what you can become in life? Jacob had twelve sons, and Reuben was the first.  But one day, Reuben defiled his father’s bed by sleeping with his father’s wife (Genesis 35:22). That act brought a curse on his life, a curse he never recovered from till he died. At the end of Jacob’s life, he gathered all his children and began to give them rewards according to what they had done. To Reuben, Jacob said: “Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: Unstable as water, you shall not excel; because you went up to thy father’s bed; then you defiled it: he went up to my couch”. Jacob seemed to have told Reuben, “Reuben, you are my first born. You are my strength and power, the excellency of strength and dignity, but you shall be unstable as water. Your doom is sealed because you defiled your father’s bed” (Paraphrased). You see, the most critical determinant of your destiny is not your intelligence, money, handsomeness or beauty but your character. Your character is the greatest determinant of your destiny. Who you are determines what you can become.  There are many people who want to become many things in life such as doctors, lawyers, great preachers, entrepreneurs etc. All these are good visions and ambitions. However, until your character is in place, your destiny is out of place.  What you will become in future is a product of who you are currently.  Therefore, you need to deliberately work on your character so you do not end up disastrously in life like Reuben. 

Confession for Today

I decree and declare that I belong to God and I shall live to fulfill destiny in the mighty name of Jesus.