With the exception of chapter 12 this is the story of the life of Samson.

Can I give a word of encouragement to parents? This story demonstrates that parents can seek the will of the Lord on behalf of their children. raise them as God directs and those children can still wander. Maybe that is not encouragement to new parents like myself just getting started, but I know many parents live under a banner of guilt and regret, maybe some the regret is truth, but for many there was nothing more they could have done, they asked like Samson’s parents, “What shall we do unto the child that shall be born unto us?”

If only Samson had obeyed God’s divine direction with the same discipline as his parents, but he did not and his great flaw of life was, yes women, but more importantly the types of people he chose to associate with. Maybe the greatest lesson we can teach our kids is who they choose to hang-out with. We should associate with everyone for the sake of witness, but our true “bosom buddies” should be those that help us to grow closer to Jesus.

In the story of Samson and his wife, the young philistine girl, we see the tragic trajectory of sin. First he was hanging out with a crowd that had no desire for God’s will. Next he allowed himself to be drawn to a girl that was not “equally yoked” with him, then he ignored the counsel of his parents.

We also see how pride can lead to great sin. He kills a lion, the Bible tells us that God gave him the strength and power to kill that lion. But later on Samson’s pride leads him back to admire his kill. When he sees it he sees the honey, and he eats the honey out of dead animal which is unclean, and thus he has there broken his Nazarite vow. He then gives some of that unclean honey to his parents, but he doesn’t tell them where it came from thus leading them into a sinful act, though an unknowing one. He then again with his pride decides to show-off by telling a riddle about his triumph. And when his pride leads to a fall rather than just manning up he kills people and eventually gets his own wife and her father burned alive.

Then with Delilah, again the trajectory of sin. He is with a woman he should not be with. She keeps trying to trap him, he thinks he is strong enough to resist her traps and so thought she is bad news, he had to know that he keeps going back to her…she is like a drug. She finally wears him down, how he just gets annoyed and decides to fold thinking he can handle whatever comes.

Probably the saddest line in the entire book…well at least one of the saddest lines,

“But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him.” -Judges 16:20

For so long he had been walking with one foot in the world and one foot with God that when he finally put both feet in the world he didn’t even realize that he’d made that transition.

The story ends tragically with Samson killing himself…and yet also with grace…because the Holy Spirit inspired the writer of Hebrews years later to include Samson in the hall of faith. What does this mean? To me it means that though Samson got a lot in life, even his suicide…at the end to the best of his ability as a fallen and broken individual he reached his hand out to God and God said that is enough and through Jesus on the cross, like for so many of us the gap was bridged! The faith of a mustard seed…

Samson’s life is a absolute reminder of this statement from Ellen White in regards to Samson,

“if men (or women) willfully place themselves under the power of temptation, they will fall, sooner or later.” Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 568

I’ve fallen to willful sin, maybe so have you, if we put ourselves in the seat of temptation we will all eventually fall, but that doesn’t have to be our end, that doesn’t have to be the end of our story or our hope!

If it has already happened in your life don’t be like Samson and repeat that willful mistake over and over again for 20 years.

Ask Jesus for forgiveness and renewed strength and walk forward in the newness of life…maybe with a limp…but still assured of life in Jesus!

Tomorrow’s Reading: Psalms 21-23

I love the book of Genesis the stories are so rich and insightful into so many areas, human nature, the effects of sin, theology, doctrine, personal relationships, etc..

Today two points that I was struck by

In Genesis 28:10-22 the story of Jacob’s Ladder dream is relayed to us the readers, in this dream God promises to bless Jacob and to be with him always. Jacob then in response to this promise worships God and notice one aspect of this worship,

“This stone, which I have set up as a pillar, will be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.” -Genesis 28:22

A TITHE. Jacob when he had nothing in his worship committed to God a tithe. Before there was a “tithe” system. Tithe was already an outflow of the expression of a worshipful heart. When we are truly worshiping we will be compelled to RETURN back to God in response to all His blessings.

The second thought that struck me is based on this verse,

“So Jacob served seven years for Rachel and they seemed to him but a few days because of his love for her.” -Genesis 29: 20

Let no one tell you “love is not emotion it is only a choice.” Yes there are days we must choose to love even when we don’t want to, but a God that would inspire the above verse in scripture, is a romantic that has a love that is more than just choice it is very emotional too.

And here is my tangent to that thought, there are times in our corporate worship when it is okay that the driving aspect of the relationship in that moment is emotion! People need to not just know at times in worship they also need to FEEL something in worship!

I love the book of Genesis! I pray it is blessing you as well.

Talk with y’all tomorrow.

Tomorrow’s Reading: Judges 12-16

I am back! Sorry for the troubles with my internet and then my blog over the last couple days. Pastor Jason who works on my team and manages a lot of things in updating my blog settings discovered a number of people had tried to break into my blog to hack it. So Jason reset everything in so doing I was a bit confused on how to get into the blog and then the blog was blocking me because of the new security settings, and so on and so on…But I am here and glad to be back!

Now to today’s reading, Romans chapters 15 & 16:

“Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves.” -Romans 15:1

If we lived by this text in our churches and in our world, but for now let us just consider our churches, how much conflict and distraction from petty things would be avoided. Think of all the fights over carpet colors or music style (not based on conviction but preference) or what about even when people get mad that someone sits in “their seat” at church. Yes, yes this really happens. If we lived by Romans 15:1 it never would.

This is not just good advice this is God’s call to us by more than just words, which are enough, but they are strengthened, if that is possible by verse 3a,

“For even Christ did not please Himself;” -Romans 15:3a

The next time we start to want our own way can we pause and remember Jesus even did not do things just as He wanted.

Another text that I was touched by is the reminder of the purpose of scripture,

“For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” -Romans 15:4

The way Paul writes points can get lost, but here is the point of that text,

“For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that…we might have hope.”

Scripture instructs us to give us hope. If we find ourselves walking away from the Bible discouraged, arrogant, proud, angry, etc…we are missing the point, we should walk away with HOPE!

Finally in Romans 16:7 a name is mentioned, “Junia” or “Junias” this name was a name of much contention over the last 5 years. Follow THIS LINK and read a nice article from The General Conference’s Ministerial Magazine addressing this text and the significance of it.

Have a great Sabbath!

Tomorrow’s Reading: Genesis 28-31

I am but a broken record when blogging on the book of Job. I know…I understand that at some point in my life I’m sure something within these chapters we’ve been reading from Job will resonate with my soul, not because I want them to but because I understand, “in this life you will have trouble,” and when that day comes I pray that I will have the strength to continue to say, “I will hope in Him” (13:15b), but I also hope that I will not accuse or blame God.

I guess that is a truth though that should be comforting to many, even if they have blamed or been angry at God, the book of Job shows us that God is big enough to take it and also that God is gracious to us in our ignorance.

I will say about chapter 14 we see some truth about the state of the dead,

“So man lies down and does not rise.
Until the heavens are no longer,
he will not awake or be aroused out of his sleep.” -Job 14:12

and then…

“You will call (*at the resurrection morning*), and I will answer You;
You will long for the work of Your hands.” -Job 14:15

Keep being patient with the book of Job as God was with Job, it begins to transition around chapter 20 🙂

Tomorrow’s Reading: Isaiah 34-39

Today Psalm 19 stirred my heart and filled me with a desire to be more like Jesus.

This psalm acknowledges the two books that reveal His character, nature and the scriptures (referred to by David and at this point in history, “the law”).

Psalm 19:1-6 are about God’s works seen in the power of creation. I particularly like the following,

“The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.
Day to day pours forth speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.” -Psalm 19:1, 2

David is stating that all creation, each and every day testifies to the existence of a creator God. No wonder the devil attacks the theory of creation so intensely!

Then Psalm 19:7-11 speak of God’s character and will for humanity being revealed through His “Word.”

The verse that particularly touched my heart is verse 13,

“Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins;
Let them not rule over me;
Then I will be blameless,
And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.” -Psalm 19:13

After walking with Jesus for nearly 20 years, oh how I wish I could say all presumptuous sins were behind me, but there have still been some and there are still times of struggle with these sort of sins. So David’s prayer is the cry of my heart today,

“Let them not rule over me!…Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” -Psalm 19:13b, 14)

I want to get to the place where my only thought is “what is pleasing, what is acceptable to You Jesus?”

If you want to pray for me you can pray that on my behalf!

Tomorrow’s Reading: Job 13 & 14

For all the good of Gideon’s life and story how tragic that it ends with this note,

“Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, both you and your son, also your son’s son, for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian.” 23 But Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the Lord shall rule over you.” 24 Yet Gideon said to them, “I would request of you, that each of you give me [t]an earring from his spoil.” (For they had gold earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.) 25 They said, “We will surely give them.” So they spread out a garment, and every one of them threw an earring there from his spoil. 26 The weight of the gold earrings that he requested was 1,700 shekels of gold, besides the crescent ornaments and the pendants and the purple robes which were on the kings of Midian, and besides the neck bands that were on their camels’ necks. 27 Gideon made it into an ephod, and placed it in his city, Ophrah, and all Israel played the harlot with it there, so that it became a snare to Gideon and his household.” -Judges 8:22-27

Verses 22 & 23 show such great character, but then verse 27 show that for such a grand gesture in verses 22 & 23 there was still a part of him that wanted an aspect of the people’s “worship.”

James 2:20 tells us,

“faith without works is dead”

Judges 10:10-17 seem to show evidence of this concept in the Old Testament.

The people cry out to God to deliver them. But God does not answer their prayer the way they desire. So they cry out again, but this time they also destroy their idols and God delivers. Maybe some would say that seems like righteousness by works, but since the idols were a symbol of worship as long as they kept them it showed their faith was not 100% focused upon God.

These are the two stories that spoke to me in todays reading and both are reminders that half-way with God always comes up all the way short.

Tomorrow’s Reading: Psalm 18-20