August 2, 2010

Aug 2, 2010 Judges 16

Samson loved a woman. Sally Jesse Raphael used to say on her late night radio talk show, “It doesn’t matter who you love as long as you love.” Is that correct? Samson, as a deliverer of the people of God, should have loved a woman within the covenant. This Philistine woman never gave even pretense of loving Yahweh. She loved Dagon, the Philistine god. She loved money. When offered a great sum of money to entice Samson to discover the secret of his strength, she had no qualms about misleading him. Because of his love for her, Samson had no qualms about eventually telling her the secret of his strength. I guess he thought that he would always have his strength. Temptation is always like that. He gave in to her pestering. He lost his God-given strength. He should have guarded his heart as to with whom he allowed himself to love.

Having been humiliated by the Philistines, they began to give praise to their god, Dagon. They denigrated the only true God, Yahweh. The Lord is very protective of His glory. Yes, Samson had royally blown it. Yet the Lord is protective of His glory. He answered Samson’s final request. As a result Samson destroyed more Philistines in death than in life. Not only that but it was in the temple of their god Dagon. Hmmm. . . . The Lord seeks to exalt His glory in us. Would it be better to cooperate with Him in life, or let it be accomplished in death? I choose life. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor john

Romans 5
Peace is a scarce commodity in our world. Terrorists capture the headlines almost everyday. Even in the USA where we live in relative safety, peace eludes many. In our homes of luxurious comfort, we still fight with one another. We still verbally attack, accuse and defend.

Why? Because we are not at peace with ourselves. Why are we not at peace with ourselves? We suffer from condemnation. Deep inside we know an ugly secret, “There is something that makes us unlovely.” We live without hope that the ugliness will ever be taken away. In actuality that ugly secret is there because we are at war with God.

That is what makes Jesus so glorious. Through His death a peace treaty has been called. His blood is the provision of the peace treaty. His blood bought the peace. It is paid for by Him. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor John