email : Webview : Duane Brooks - Every Day with Jesus

May 3, 2018

Judges 16:31

Then his brothers and his father’s whole family went down to get him. They brought him back and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father. He had led Israel twenty years.

New International Version (NIV)

                 “Who you become is your gift to God!” So runs the second line in a framed cross-stitch. God gives us the gift of our lives and then what we do with those lives really matters. We can consume our lives selfishly caring for our own needs or we can give our whole lives back to God.

                Samson was not supposed to cut his hair or touch any dead animal or drink strong drink. But he impulsively disregarded the rules. He took honey from a Lion’s carcass, then used a fresh jawbone of a donkey. Later he gave Delilah the secret of his strength so that she cut off his hair.

                For all of Samson’s great giftedness, the real question is what he might have been if he had given his whole life to God. “Of the saddest words of tongue and pen; saddest of all, ‘it might have been.’” His disobedience and reckless choices finally cost him his life.

                If we give our whole lives to God, we will live without regrets. He can use us in almost any line of work or career field. The question is: who will we be when we succeed? At one level, Samson was wildly successful in defeating the Philistines. At another level, he squandered his life.   John Piper says it well, “Don’t waste your life.” Who you are is God’s gift to you. Who you become is your gift back to God!

Pray with me:

Father, teach us how to live life according to your great purpose. You designed our lives. Help us to use each moment to give you greater glory. Forgive our failures and set us on the right road. Show us the ways that we are least like Christ our Lord. Conform us more closely to his perfect image today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

This year we focus our Every Day with Jesus readings on Jesus’ story. With references to Tallowood's Read Through the Bible in 2018 daily reading plan, let's focus our undivided attention on Jesus and follow where he lead. He will not fail. Neither will we!
Joyfully,
Duane

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