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Lessons from Samson’s life

20 Nov , 2009 1 Comment

Samson was one of the most “wheels off” characters in the Bible.  Read his story in Judges 13-16 and you’ll see: he was mostly out of control.  In many ways he epitomizes a kind of rugged “man’s man” in our culture today (brut strength, a womanizer, independent, even violent).  But in the end his story is tragic.  He ends up stripped of his God-given abilities, blind, and suicidal.  Such is the destructive bent of one who disregards God’s commands.

In the end Samson does, however, end up in the “Hall of Faith” in Hebrews 11.  How could it be?  Behind this unlikely hero is a God who is faithful and can use us in spite of our sins.  Consider a few lessons from Samson’s life:

1. The true measure of a man is not found in his physical strength or appearance. Samson seems to be a man in search of his identity.  Even his strength and ability to overpower (both men and women) did not bring any sense of peace to Samson’s life. Our worth is found in Christ and what He’s already said about us and what He’s already done for us.

2. Often your greatest strength can be the source of your greatest weakness. It is possible to squander the very gifts God has given you to live out his purposes for your life.  Failure to give those gifts fully over to God will carry a high price tag.  Samson’s strength became his demise.  He did not use his God-given strength for God alone.  He used it to leverage his own desires.

3. Strength in one area of your life does not make up for weakness in another. You can be “successful” in worldly ways and not in godly ways.  In what areas of your life are you strong (and does it really matter that you are strong in those areas?)  For instance, I often say, nothing makes up for failure in the home.  You see, you can be “successful” in certain areas of your life and still fail where it matters most.

4.  Acknowledging your bent toward certain sin is the beginning of your battle to overcome it. Admit where most apt to fall. Name it; say it out loud and tell others.  Sin unconfessed is sin revisited.  Sin revisited is sin that is self-destructive.

5. There are always consequences for disobedience. Samson’s story goes from sad to tragic when Samson does not learn from his mistakes.  He repeats the same bad mistake of entering into a relationship with another bad woman.  Word of warning to all you students/singles- Guys: Watch out for Delilahs. Girls: Watch out for guys like Samson.  You must guard your heart!

This verse expresses the lessons of Samson’s life: “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” Galatians 6:7

6. God can restore your life for His purposes even after you fall. Though you may face the consequences of your sin for the rest of your life, God can restore you.  Though some people will never forget, God forgives.  You may not enter back into a particular place or position but God will still accomplished His purposes through your life.  Samson ended up in the “Hall of Faith” because he continued to believe God- even in the end.  Sometimes it seems an undying faith in God trumps even our failures.

The High Price for Delayed Obedience

02 Nov , 2009 No Comments
Jonah

Jonah is yacked up on the beach!

The story of Jonah reminds us that we do not set the agenda for God’s call our own lives.  You and I must get to the point where we answer God’s call on our lives with no strings attached.   Jonah shows us that delayed obedience can come with a huge price tag.  He said “no” to God then was caught in a storm, brought to a suicidal state, thrown into the sea, swallowed whole by a giant fish, and vomited up on the beach.  Just ask Jonah: When God speaks we need to respond immediately.

What are you currently going through that could be the result of delayed obedience?  Let Jonah remind us that God’s plans supersede our own plans and desires. When we chose not to obey, it doesn’t mean that God will not accomplish His purposes.  It does mean, however, that we don’t experience the joy of being used by Him.  In the end, (even though God used Jonah) it was Jonah who missed out.  There is a high price for delayed obedience!

When Truth Prevails

10 Oct , 2009 2 Comments

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33

How do you do this?  How can you seek His kingdom and His righteousness in every day life?  Jesus spoke of the kingdom as a present and future reality- not simply something far off, out there in the distance. When Jesus taught us to pray He taught us that at the core of our prayers is this:

“Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10

What does it mean for His kingdom to come “on earth as it is in heaven”?  It means that the values of the kingdom are the values I live by.  It means that the things that are happening in heaven are happening in and through my life.  It means that whatever God loves I love.  Whatever God hates I hate.  One of the things God loves is truth.

“Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.” Psalm 51:6

God desires total truth in every area of our lives.  Why?  Because He wants us to live full and meaningful lives.  And we’re only as sick as our secrets.  Sin, failure, and struggles that are brought out into the open can be addressed and dealt with.  There are certain things that grow in the dark- fungus grows in the dark.  Mushrooms grow in the dark- and SIN grows in the dark.  But sin is dealt with in the light.  It’s why, in John 1 it says that Christ came and He was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness but those living in darkness do not want to be brought into the light.  If you want to be a follower of Christ, you must come into the light.  In fact, that’s really what worship is: it’s stepping into the Light.  Truth prevails in the light.  Is truth a guiding force in your life?  Does it guide and direct your relationships?  Do you desire to be honest about who you really are?

Truth must prevail in your life (“prevail” means to “win, to succeed, triumph”)

Truth wins in your life only when you decide to get honest:

  • with God

This is why confession is so important.  Confession is actually “agreeing” with God.  When you confess your sin to God you’re agreeing that what you have done is sin.  You’re not telling God something He doesn’t already know; you’re allowing truth to prevail in your relationship with Him.

  • with yourself

We must see ourselves for who we really are.  We are sinners, saved by His grace.  And it’s “costly grace”- that costs you your life- every day.  Not cheap grace without repentance, without sacrifice, or without commitment. As we are honest about who God is and who we are before Him, we will confess our sin before Him and truth will prevail in our lives!  Confession is like spiritual breathing: You breathe out the truth about your sin and you breathe in the forgiveness of God.  Truth prevails when we keep a short list of sins before God.

  • with others

Being honest with others means we stop playing games with others about who we are.  We determine to be completely honest in our dealings with others.

Finally, truth is found in a right relationship with God through Christ.  If we know Him, we know the truth.  In the end Truth has a name and His name is Jesus.

Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  No one comes to the Father but through me.” John 14:6

A Thousand Questions

04 Oct , 2009 1 Comment

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiNBmNl88Pk]

“Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10

Jesus taught us that the kingdom of God is a present and future reality.  It is a realized eschatology.  The kingdom is eternal, universal, spiritual, and personal.  There is an inauguration, a continuation, and a coming consummation of the kingdom.

God’s kingdom comes when we value the things God values- when grace abounds, when truth prevails, when mercy reigns, and when justice rolls.  In short, His kingdom advances wherever we allow the King be the Ruler of our lives.  All the while we live between the glorious tension of heaven and earth, between the “already” and the “not yet”.  I am heaven-bound yet still here.  I am forgiven yet still a sinner.  I have the hope of heaven and yet I experience pain and sorrow.  I join all of creation groaning and longing for redemption.

Every day we live between the Promise of God and the fulfillment of the Promise.  Until  then, we must live by faith and not by sight.  We must put on a new pair of glasses.  We see what God sees.  We love what He loves and hate what He hates.  I see our broken world and determine that I am part of God’s solution.  “Here am I Lord, send me.”

Don’t like change?

18 Aug , 2009 1 Comment

As a pastor I’m constantly leading people to change.  Isn’t that, in the end, the Christian life?  Change seems to be the mandate of the day, doesn’t it?  Of course, unecessary change is a bummer.  But necessary change is, well, also a bummer.  And most of the time it’s not easy.   One of our members sent me this quote in response to Sunday’s message:

“If you don’t like change, you’re going to like irrelevance even less” (Gen. Eric Shinseki, former Chief of Staff, US army).

Are you experiencing the necessary and expected tension in your life as God is leading you into a dynamic and different future.  None of us want to be irrelevant or see our churches become irrelevant in our culture (what good is the Gospel if nobody’s interested in listening?) but so many don’t want the change necessary to allow us to remain relevant.  I’ve taught for years about the necessity to stay committed to the core but the willingness to change whatever is non-core if it will help us maintain our relevance.  Too many churches have gone the way of irrelevance, unwilling to change to reach an ever-changing culture.   “Oh God, let us not be yet another.”  Let’s all keep moving forward with courage, always willing to change as God leads us!