Have We Become Like Samson?

There has been some discussion recently about what each of us considered as some of "the scariest" scripture in the Bible. Of course, most would probably say that "blaspheming the Holy Spirit" would rank up near the top of the list (Mark 3:28-30). However, I came across one that startled me a little because, quite frankly, it had never struck me like this before.

It comes out of the book of Judges as part of what we know as "The Story of Samson and Delilah." It is Chapter 16, Verse 20 and it reads, "Then she cried, 'Samson, the Philistines are here!' When he awoke from his sleep, he said, 'I will escape as I did before and shake myself free!' But he did not know that the Lord had left him."

Wow...can we, as believers, actually get comfortable enough in our faith or even become so routine in our walk with God that we don't even notice when we start "drifting away" from Him? Has our ministry lost its vitality...has our influence lost its grasp on others...do we even find ministry all that enticing anymore? Does it even bother us (or convict us) when we miss attending Church on Sunday?

Think about it...you may be assuming "all is well...everything is fine," but seriously consider where things stand at this very moment. Take inventory and see...for instance, when you pray, do you notice the answers don't seem to come as they once did? The positive effect you once had on those around you seem to be negligible or even harmful?

Were you once a friendly and reconciling person, but now have been noticing more problems in your relationships? Have those who have relied on you stopped coming because you're not proving to be as helpful as before? Some things to consider....have we, like Samson, taken our relationship with God for granted?

Spiritual decline is something to guard against daily. If we can get to the point, like Samson, that we don't even realize the Lord "isn't even with us," we need to stop and get our relationship with God back where it belongs. The fact remains: God desires a relationship with us...one that is close, personal, loving and intimate.

May it be our prayer that we would invite God to search our lives to see if there are attitudes, relationships, or activities/habits that need to be removed from our life. When He reveals this to us, we quickly rid them from our life, and walk with God to grow in spiritual strength.

Maintaining a loving, personal, and intimate relationship with God, through Jesus Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit will allow us the vitality to stay alert and strong so that we don't "fall asleep" like Samson and end up in a ton of trouble. We should never get to the point where we don't even realize "the Lord had left...." Have you become like Samson? Let us all make sure our relationship with God remains loving, personal and close!

Tetelestai!

Just before Jesus gives up His spirit on the cross, He utters a very powerful word. The word that He cries out is “ tetelestai” (tih-tellis-tie). When literally translated, this word means, “It is finished.” It can also refer to something completed or accomplished. The word occurs in John 19:28 and 19:30 and these are the only two places in all of the New Testament where it is found. In the John19:28 passage, it is translated, “After this, when Jesus knew that all things were now completed , in order that the scripture might be fulfilled, he said, ‘I thirst.’” Two verses later, he utters the word himself: “Then when he received the sour wine Jesus said, ‘ It is finished ,’ and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” Did you know that the word tetelestai was also written on business documents or receipts in New Testament times to show indicating that a bill had been paid in full? The Greek-English lexicon (by Moulton and Milligan) sa...

The 50-Days of Easter

Jesus rose from the dead. Period! He is alive. We are “easter people” and live daily as proof that He is risen from the dead. He did walk out of the grave. He conquered death. Jesus not only came back to life, but He stayed on earth to be seen by many witness. 1 Corinthians 15:5-8 , “ He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him.” After the resurrection, Jesus spent forty days on earth before He ascended back to His rightful place (1 Peter 3:22), and then there were ten more days after that before the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-47). Jesus accomplished many things in this time between His resurrection and return to Heaven. One of the most important was actually a command to us. We refer to this impor...

Not Rejected

I think we could spend hours, if not days, in just the sixth chapter of John’s Gospel. If there is one thing that is made clear in this writing is that God is passionately pursuing us and bidding us to have a relationship with Him that is restored by His Son, Jesus. There is one verse, in particular, that stands out to me. John 6:37 , “However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them.” Those that come to Jesus will never be rejected. If you come to Jesus, just as you are now, he will not turn you away. He gladly welcomes you to come to him. It is not God’s design or plan that we live separated from Him. He makes the way for that relationship to happen. He initiated the plan. He paid the price. He gives freely. He gives us free-will to choose or reject that offer of reconciliation through Jesus, His Son. God makes His intent clear: Ezekiel 33:11 , “As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the ...

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