And Samson Went

“And Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines. And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife. Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.” ‭Judges‬ ‭14:1-3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the Lord, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.” ‭Judges‬ ‭14:4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Verse 4, just jumped off the page, at me, this morning. 

Sampson had been raised right, yet insisted on living wrong! He bore the consequences of his action and in the end; turned back to God and was mightily used by Him. He fulfilled God's purpose for himself. Another lesson learned, bringing a man to repentance!

Wouldn't our lives have much more peace if we could grasp God's authority and power to use every aspect of our life for His purpose? The birth of a child; the death of a loved one; even an attack on a nation are all in His control; protection given or protection withheld. (Judges 13:1)

We go about blindly believing we have an impact on our life with our wants and desires;  our thoughts and our words, yet the only lasting influence we have, is when we listen and obey God's direction! Our thoughts are not our own and unless we are living according to God's Word, we are being directed by the enemy, with his distractions. Whose voice determines the impulses for good or impulses for destruction? 

We are merely vessels for honor or dishonor. 

“Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?” Romans‬ ‭9:21‬ ‭KJV‬‬

When we see ones we love, going down the wrong road, we have two effective choices: 1.) love and prayer OR 2.) we can accuse; we can complain - all for naught! Most often our words drive them further away. And when we continue to speak of evil we are playing into the devil's plan; reinforcing his lies.

We should speak life and trust God!

If you have a wayward child or sibling, repent of the evil words and proclamations you have made for their life. Forgive their choices and repent of your judgments! Relinquish the control you think you have and turn them to over to God! You love and you pray: "His will be done in their life!"  

When you do that; God has just done in you, what He intended for you, that you most likely would not have done under different circumstances! 

Now give Him The Glory! 

If you don't have peace, you didn't do it! Try again and this time use your heart and tears!

Remember: God can and will use anything to get us to turn and obey Him, even a talking donkey! Just listen. He's still speaks!

Even so - MARANATHA! 

PS: I wonder if Samson's family  grasped how God used him when they collected his remains 

or IF, in their sorrow, they just saw a wasted life?

From 12/17/15