"Brief Devotions For Busy Lives" by Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson: Judges 16:29-31

 June 24

"Samson took hold of the two middle pillars supporting the temple and leaned against them, one on his right hand and the other on his left. Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines.” He pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on the leaders and all the people in it. And the dead he killed at his death were more than those he had killed in his life. Then his brothers and his father’s family came down, carried him back, and buried him...So he judged Israel 20 years." - Judges 16:29-31 (HCSB)

Have you ever felt like a failure? You are not alone. Samson had tremendous potential. Not many have started life with gifts and credentials like his. To help accomplish God's plan, he was given many talents and enormous physical strength. Yet because he wasted his strength on loose living and eventually surrendered it to impress a woman, we often tend to see him as a failure. We often remember Samson as the Judge in Israel who spent his last days in a Philistine prison and may feel he wasted his life. Samson could have strengthened his nation, returned Jews to the worship of God, and wiped out the entire Philistine army. Even though he didn't, Samson still accomplished God's main purpose. In his final act, Samson sacrificed his own life to rescue Israel from the cruel Philistines. Samson can teach us 3 vital things today:

1. God's love for us is eternal even though great strength in one area of our life does not make up for great weaknesses in other areas.

2. We always maintain our own free will. God's gifts and presence in our life never supersedes our own free will.

3. God can always use a person of faith in spite of mistakes.

Interestingly, the New Testament doesn't mention Samson's failures or heroic feats of strength. In Hebrews 11:33 he is listed with other heroes who "overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them". When he died, God turned his failures and defeats into victory. Samson shows us it is never too late to start over. However badly we failed in the past, it's not too late to seek God and let him use us powerfully today. God's transforming love awaits to forgive, embrace, and heal you today and every day!

Prayer: Lord, Thank you for Samson's heroic sacrifice. Amen.

Meditation For The Day: Weakness becomes strength in God's hands.

Brief Devotions For Busy Lives: Daily Spring Renewal Paperback – February 21, 2017, by Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson (Author)