Posts Tagged ‘Faith’

Salvation isn’t Easy

Posted: January 19, 2025 in Heaven Bound
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You may be stunned slightly by the title of this post but I needed to get your attention. I found myself in the book of Matthew recently where Jesus was finishing up His famous Sermon on the Mount. In that sermon, He literally blew listeners’ minds that day due to the power and authority that He spoke with. But that isn’t why I call your attention to that message today, instead, this is when He talks about the wide and narrow gates. Have you heard of this before?

Let me quote what He said for you so we are on the same page.

Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it. Matthew 7:13-14

Simply put, Jesse points out the two choices you and I have in life; the wide gate and the narrow one.

The wide gate is the natural choice from a human point of view. Why? Because mankind gravitates towards sin. Our raw nature prefers darkness and falling in step with what is going on around us. Unfortunately, many of us have chosen this wide gate because it is the path of least resistance. This path doesn’t ask you to limit yourself because there are no boundaries. There is even tolerance for sin just as long as you say you love Jesus.

One of my favorite authors, John MacArthur, describes the wide gate this way, “And, if you insist on taking luggage, the wide gate may be more appealing. It is marked “Heaven…it may even be marked “Jesus “…but it is not going to Heaven and it has nothing to do with Jesus. It is the gate for the religion of the masses, a wide open gate through which anyone can pass without jettisoning self-righteousness, pride, material possessions, or even sin. But there is no salvation for those who choose this gate”

Where does entering the wide gate take you?

Read Matthew 7:21-23

Alternatively, Jesus also talks about the narrow gate, but, more importantly, “few are those who find it”.

Why do so few people find the narrow gate? Because you have to look for it. Jeremiah 29:13 is clear when it says, You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all of your heart. The message of Christ does not conform to what we need but rather WE are required to do the changing. MacArthur also tells us “Jesus did not want casual followers,  but people willing to give their lives for Him.”

Guys, the bottom line for you and me, God intentionally makes the narrow path difficult. He demands that those who REALLY want to follow Him step out of the crowd and pick up His cross.

Like I said, Salvation isn’t easy. But His plan is for you to become a changed person inside your heart along your journey. What does “changed” mean to you and me? One who does the “will of the Father”. Remember, the test of true faith is whether or not it produces obedience…and that is what validates your Salvation.

What is your reward for living a life like this?

Eternal life with the Savior who made it all possible for all of us.

Until next time Guys,

MacArthur, John. The Gospel According to Jesus. Michigan: Zondervan, 2008

Killing them with Kindness – Part 2

Posted: December 26, 2024 in Inspirational
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OK Guys, so last time I posted a blog about kindness that talked about the “why” we should choose to respond with compassion versus the alternative. In my previous post, I promised you how to execute this kindness response proposition into real action. 

If you are like me, talking about a big topic like this without giving me practical ideas of how to apply is like sitting down at the dinner table with a HUGE meal and no utensils. I may ultimately figure out how to eat, but the process could have been far easier with a fork.

Take a look at these 4 bullet points below and see:

  • Listen More, Judge Less: This is SO hard to do because sometimes, people lash out because they feel unheard or misunderstood. Focus on trying to listen with understanding can help diffuse tension and show that you value what they are saying.
  • Respond, Don’t React: Again, take a deep breath; when you are confronted with negativity, take a moment to pause. Think first, then respond. A calm, kind response can completely change the tone of a conversation.
  • Be Generous in Small Ways: A smile,  a thoughtful comment, or a small gesture of help can brighten someone’s day—even if they don’t deserve it.
  • Lead by Example: Guys, this is where it should hit the mark for you. If you demonstrate that kindness is a strength and not a weakness, your actions will inspire those around you (even your kids) to act with compassion as well. This is our goal.

Why all of this Matters

Finally, I have written 25 posts in 2024, and most centered on being a better Father, or I tried to inspire you to be better dudes. Why? Because the world doesn’t need any more arguments, any more grudges, or any more division. It needs men and women who are willing to rise above all the clattering noise of this crazy world and choose kindness, even when it’s hard. Christ, right before He was crucified gave us this simple, life-changing verse that all of us should apply. He said, Love your neighbor as yourself. Matt 22:39

Again, not easy. I get that…But when have you ever backed down from a challenge? What I am asking will require effort which is my charge to you in this new year.

Focus your responses with a “killing them with kindness” mindset. Remember that you don’t just “win” at the moment— rather you are planting seeds of positivity that can grow far beyond what you see.

Guys…so the next time someone tries to bring you down, remember this: you don’t have to meet them on their level. Instead, rise above and respond with kindness. You might just change their day—or even their life.

Think of it this way, kindness isn’t just an action. It’s a superpower.

Until next time Guys-

I know who I am…Because I know who You are

Posted: November 10, 2024 in Inspirational
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How you ever been pummeled with a lie and after a while you actually start to believe it? Whether in person or online you just begin to ask if that is really who you are? Is there a maximum amount of negative comments you can hear before you break the camel’s back? Will there come a time that you don’t recognize yourself anymore in the mirror? 

Finally and worse yet…Is there a tipping point where I might move backwards in how I feel about God or myself? How much is too much?

If any of that feels familiar let me say I was inspired by a song this week that reminded me about these exact questions because this issue is real. The world is a nasty place. I have told you before on this very blog about the activity of the enemy…especially now…

But this Megan Woods’ song hit me with exactly with what I needed it to… PURE TRUTH. In fact, the song is called The Truth and I highly encourage you to take a few minutes to listen to it and be inspired like I was. You can find it on Amazon.

Why do I share this with you today? I want you to listen to the words from her chorus so you know. Do you remember the question I asked you above? When you are faced with being told a lie about yourself over and over again, when do you start to believe it is true? Read these words below-

“The truth is I am my father’s child I make Him proud and I make Him smile

I was made in the image of a perfect king He looks at me and wouldn’t change a thing

The truth is I am truly loved by a God who’s good when I’m not good enough

I don’t belong to the lies I belong to you…and that’s the truth” (emphasis added)

PLEASE let that sink in for a moment…because it is exactly opposite of the message you will hear from this world. Everyday, the enemy tells you you’re not good enough. He whispers you’re a failure until one day, you think it may be true.

So today, I am drawing a line in the sand-

I wanted to give you an alternative opinion. I wanted to remind you instead that YOU are loved by a God that accepts you…just as you are…

He meets you right there…wherever you are with His grace…and not a body slam.

She closes this amazing song with what I titled this blog today and that is this message that I pray will resonate with you when you are finished reading and listening….

I know who I am…Because I know who You are

Remember – You are made in HIS image and therefore changed on the inside so you can be set free in knowing that you are a different person and that you make Him proud. I really want you to remember this fact the next time you look in the mirror…that reflection you see is pretty cool dude in God’s eyes.

Just in case you forgot…Because of HIM, now you know who you are…

Until next time Guys

  • The Truth, Megan Woods, Amazon Music, 2024

My son wears a Cross around his neck

Posted: September 21, 2024 in Father
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My wife and I sent our youngest son away to college in another state a few years ago. He wanted to attend that university because it was far from his parents. As his dad, I understand why that was important to him completely because I was very independent and did not want my parents around when I was his age. And this kid is independent with a capital “I”. It was all we could do to get him to text us back more than just one-word replies like yes, no, and sure even after he landed there as a freshman.

But as time passed, he got better with his texting and now we even FaceTime him and get to see his mug …which is very nice for my wife…and me.

I think what I enjoy the most has been watching him change and grow over these short few years. How many of us looked at our children and truly wondered if they would make it in this life? In my son’s case, other than playing sports and video games, he wasn’t interested in anything. I tend to be pretty handy around the house and I worked to get him to at least try to learn the basics; like how to change a tire or replace his car battery. I even went so far as to teach him to use a table saw and power drill because we all know those skills are required in his future.

To say he appreciates what he learned would be a lie, but I also know he is still at school and not out on his own…But maybe he will thank me someday…I digress.

I don’t know about you, but when I watch my son now, I look for the intangibles that I think will ultimately get him to the next level in life. These are the things that can’t always be seen, but they are there and will separate him from the pack…and that is where we get to the main point of this post. My son wears a cross around his neck, and I didn’t ask him to.

That last bit I added because it is true. And from my vantage point, that is the best part. I said nothing to him. He decided that wearing a cross was what HE wanted to do for himself. That was an intangible I may not have picked up from him when he left for college, but 4 years later as he gets ready to graduate in a few months, I can see it in him now.

What makes this even more remarkable is that none of his roommates or friends wear one. He is the only one. And he knows that. To solidify that point, he is the kid who doesn’t care what other people think and at 22, that is kind of amazing. Why? Because when we were his age, fitting in is ALL we cared about but for some reason, with him, that just doesn’t matter as much. By the way, I know the reason.

So as I watch from a distance, through texting and occasionally getting to see him on a tiny phone screen, I am reminded of this each time; my son wears a cross around his neck…and I could not be more proud of him.

Until next time Guys…

The Wisdom of the World

Posted: June 29, 2024 in Something to think about
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I thought a great deal about this title today because the idea of the “Wisdom of the World” continues to bother me. I am speaking directly about wisdom today and not knowledge…and before you ask me, here is the distinction between the two.

The primary difference between wisdom and knowledge is that wisdom involves a healthy dose of perspective and the ability to make sound judgments about a subject while knowledge is simply knowing. 

From my vantage point, wisdom comes from age and life experience, whereas knowledge…well, we have all encountered a REALLY smart person who has never done anything in their life. Maybe book smart versus street smart?

Why do I make this distinction? Because worldly wisdom puts a great deal of effort into ensuring you understand that you are in charge of yourself. And YOU, are the only one that can be, “all you can be” and to just work harder so YOU can achieve all YOU were meant to. You should be a self-starter, self-sufficient, self-driven, self-disciplined, and altogether 100% self-dependent on yourself. That is the Wisdom of the World.

Human self-sufficiency. Human self-indulgence.

Moreover, we are told that if we follow the blue-print above, we will achieve the apex of living which includes happiness and success. The irony for me is that the richest, certainly smartest, and most self-sufficient human being who ever lived on this earth, Solomon, said this about worldly wisdom.

I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil. 

Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun. Ecclesiastes 2:10-11

You see, when a wisdom that excludes God, and only emphasizes human self-sufficiency and makes humanity its highest authority…well, that wisdom God calls foolishness. Why? Because through the wisdom of the world, humans have failed to find the truth or come to know the Creator. 

It truly is meaningless.

Does any of this sound familiar? Who do you think is behind the Wisdom of the World? Who is the prince of this earth right now? Yes, Satan. That is why Worldly Wisdom makes no sense to believers and the message of the cross is difficult for unbelievers. The Apostle Paul said this:

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18

Guys, if you only hear one thing I say today, hear this; Worldly wisdom leads to YOUR softness, which leads to YOUR moral collapse which leads to YOUR spiritual decline. And that is exactly where the evil one wants you.

I encourage you to watch and listen. You will be able to discern which wisdom you are hearing.

Until next time Guys-

Pride or Humility…It is your Choice

Posted: April 22, 2024 in Heaven Bound
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If you’re like me, the older I get, the more I learn, and the more I learn, the more I realize I don’t know…but that is a whole other blog. This post is about my continuing revelation of how God constructed this whole “personal relationship with Jesus” idea and why I think its so hard for men to stay consistent. 

News Flash, yours (and mines) personal relationship with Christ must begin with humility.

Yes, I said Humility. But the problem is that “being humble” works directly against how we feel about ourselves while we live on earth. 

Face it guys, it is HARD to be humble when all we see is ego exhibited everyday of our lives. It seems like very athlete just seems to call attention to themselves. Not everyone…but a lot of them. A baseball player hits a monster home run and he just stands there and admires it as it leaves the ballpark…A body builder stands in front of the mirror and just stares and stares…

We live in such a “Me ONLY” focused world that as Christian men, its so easy to assimilate into that culture. Look at it this way, if you get up each day and don’t think about your relationship with Christ and just start your day with you driving, I can easily say that over time, you will find yourself moving towards prideful behavior. The influence is that strong.

Listen to how The Message translation of the Bible talks about this in Proverbs 16:18, First pride, then the crash – the bigger the ego, the harder the fall. That is pretty self explanatory isn’t it? God doesn’t have any place for pride or egos in His Kingdom. Its all about HIM, not us.

What you and I see around us here on earth was NOT the plan God had in mind. Rather, sin got in the way and it corrupted everything (Genesis 3 to be exact). As hard as this may be to grasp, pride is NOT from God. It was NOT created by God but rather it is from Satan and he is the one selling that crap to all of us through television, or online, or at the gym…

It is everywhere and conditioning you slowly.

Pride IS a wall keeping you from a relationship with God and it blocks your ability to communicate with Him. Once you reach a point that you are so full of yourself that you don’t think you need God, then the enemy has you where he wants you.


Remember the Bible also tells us in James 4:10 to Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. As I have told you before, NOW IS THE TIME to get right with God Guys! You can see the signs all around you just as easily as I can. 

Satan is working overtime to pull as many men and their families down as he can. 

Where do you plan on spending eternity?

My “ask” of you today is don’t let your ego be the reason you walk away from God. You might be very good at something…your job, or a sport, or something else…but remember that skill is a gift from Him and if you thank Him for it rather than act like it came from you, who knows, we just might be playing a pick up game on that Heavenly court in the sky.

I’ll meet you there…

Until next time Guys-

Reminder – 5 Reasons for all of us to have HOPE right now…

Posted: April 6, 2024 in Inspirational
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Almost 10 years ago, I wrote this post based on what I sensed and felt going on in the world at that time; which was only sadness and destruction. Fast forward 10 years later, everything kinda looks pretty much the same. I don’t know about you, but that fact causes me to seek God every day for the very same thing I did back then…a reason for hope.

I know that I cannot provide anyone with the reasons why our world is like this other than the Bible states who is “the god of this age” (2 Corinthians 4:4, John 12:31, 1 John 5:19)  who prowls around seeking to devour (1 Peter 5:8) those who don’t resist him. Believe me, my friends, NOW IS THE TIME TO RESIST THE ENEMY. Don’t give up on yourself but rather look to Christ for your hope. Here is what I mean;

God’s word is clear…” I will never leave you or forsake (forget) you” (Joshua 1:5)

By its very nature, the word hope concerns the future, our future. Now I know that I have written before on this blog that Hope is NOT a Strategy, however, I am not referring to a simple hope such as, “I hope I can get a nicer car or bigger house”, but rather I am talking about Biblical hope, which is very different. Biblical hope consists of assurance inside your heart or just firm confidence about future things because of God’s promises and His revelation to us. 

Guys, real Biblical hope in Christ Jesus is something that never fails when you place your trust in Him. The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 15:13;

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

In other words, Biblical hope is inseparably linked with a firm faith in Him. They go hand-in-hand with one another. As a result, what is yielded is a confident trust in God that is unshakable when the adversity of life hits you like a wave…(Like right now).

So with all of the chaos our world is throwing at you every single day, I wanted to give you some actual reasons why you can still have faith and HOPE that things are going to be alright…

So here are my 5 reasons for all of us to have HOPE right now…

God is still on the throne – He hasn’t gone anywhere. He is still alive and at work in our world. I know it is very easy to look at what happens in this world and say God is dead or maybe He is just sleeping? Believe me, I have heard that before. But the Bible assures us He is alive and well and knows exactly what is happening on this earth.

With man, things are impossible…but with God, ALL things are possible (Mark 10:27) It is so easy to just give up and give in to all of the adversity that is constantly thrown in our direction because we simply forget God’s promises. The bottom line, God has NO limitations. His ways are NOT our ways and therefore he will not react or think as we do…our response needs to be to simply ask, to trust, and to hope in Him.

You Are Not Alone – We are told in Joshua 1:5, “He will never leave us nor forsake us” and I’ve come to realize that my trying to understand the ”whys” of this world is NOT my job. My job is to completely trust in Him…even though I don’t understand. LET GOD DO THE HEAVY LIFTING. Do you remember the story of Peter when he got out of the boat and started walking on the water to meet Jesus? (Matthew 14:29-30) He was actually walking on water until he took his eyes off Christ and then what happened? He started sinking fast…and what was his reaction? He cried, “Lord save me!” which is exactly what we are supposed to do…

All of what you are going through right now is only temporary – Weeping may last for the night…but joy comes in the morning (Psalms 30:5).  It is easy to “get caught up” with what we SEE. But I am here to remind you that Jesus has prepared a place for all of us IN HEAVEN (John 14:2) and this place we see around us, will all pass away. It is only temporary. Heaven is eternal.

I know how this story ends – All of the difficulties and adversity we face every day sometimes can be overwhelming. It may seem like the bad guy in this world may be winning. But let me assure you with an overwhelming confidence. Have you ever read Revelation? Because I know who wins in the end. You and I will be victorious.

    But you MUST STAY THE COURSE. Don’t give up. Have faith and put your trust in Him.

    He will give you the reason to HOPE…

    Until next time guys…

    Another One in the Fire

    Posted: March 30, 2024 in Inspirational
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    How has your week been? If you’re like me, you are in the middle of the storm and working hard just to keep the ship going straight. Does that sound familiar? I was reminded of something earlier that I think may be of some strength to you if you are in that storm I mentioned. I also feel compelled to write this directly to those of you who need to hear this today. You know who you are.

    Do you remember Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? This is the great story in the Bible in the Book of  Daniel chapter 3 about these young men who were a part of the conquering of Israel by Babylon and King Nebuchadnezzar. They came to Babylon as slaves but with higher positions due to their intelligence and previous standing in Israel. The problem for them was that Nebuchadnezzar issued a command that everyone in his kingdom was required to worship an image made of gold when they blew the trumpets and these 3 young men refused to do so.

    So the king had these young men brought before him and threatened them with death by the fiery furnace if they did not comply. Their response was incredible. With great faith, they told him that “our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of your hand oh King”. As you can imagine, this upset the King so much that he had the furnace heated 7 times hotter than normal to ensure they were destroyed. In fact, the furnace was so hot that the guards who threw them in were killed.

    But here is the key to the story and what I wanted to share with you today which is the title to this post. First, they did not die when they went in but rather just stood there marveling at what was happening. More importantly, however, King Nebuchadnezzar noticed there was another one in the fire with them. Instead of 3 men, there were now 4. Jesus himself came and stood with these boys in the midst of what should have been sure death but instead…they were saved.

    Guys, that is the single point I wanted to convey to you today. They were saved JUST like you can be. No matter what you are in the middle of, there is another one in the fire with you today. And I can say with absolute confidence that you are NOT alone on your journey. I encourage you to hold on today to these words today that He is with you in your fire, standing at your side.

    I understand though…when you don’t see Him physically and sometimes you don’t feel Him it is easy to think you’re alone…and those feelings are real and they can cause your faith to weaken to where you become vulnerable to the enemy’s lies.

    My words to you are hold on. Keep pounding on heaven’s doors because there is another one in the fire with you…right in the middle of the storm and chaos that is around you. Don’t give in to the enemy…resist and hang on to the words of Christ.

    Remember this…no matter what happens in this world, all of the bad things and the struggles of this life…we are told to take heart because He has OVERCOME the world. He has already won the battle for you…you just have to believe that.

    Until next time Guys-

    What? God’s going to Judge my Secrets?

    Posted: February 22, 2024 in Husband
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    So I recently found myself reading from the book of Romans. I have not spent much time in that book but I came across a scripture that hit me very hard. Honestly, like a brick in the side of the head hard…a scripture that affects all of us…

    This will take place on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.    Romans 2:16

    Now, if you are like me,  most of us don’t think about being accountable or the idea of being judged because maybe we don’t know? or we are just focused on what we see in front of us. Either way, this kind of verse typically isn’t at the forefront of our minds. I completely understand that because I am right here with you. 

    Our lives just get in the way.

    I also know with guys…well…our minds are usually running 100 mph, am I right? We tend to think about stuff like our work, kids, wife, vacation, yard work, that cute receptionist…You know I am right! You might as well admit that our brains roam all over the place and sometimes land in areas we know we shouldn’t be. These are the secrets that can get us into trouble. 

    One more thing I will tell you is we can’t use the excuse “We are guys and we’re just wired that way” NOPE…I am not buying that one…Because you DO have a choice…and you DO have control.

    But before I go any further, let me tell you I am NOT judging anyone out there. I fight the same battles you fight and continue to do my best I can to navigate this world just like you. But when I came across that verse…I was compelled to write because we, collectively as men, need to remember that we will be judged on OUR ACTIONS, OUR THOUGHTS, and OUR SECRETS.

    That blew me away. Why? Because I thought that my secrets were MINE just like your secrets are yours. No one else knows what they are and that’s why they are secrets. The problem we have now is they aren’t just our secrets anymore. 

    God not only knows about them, but He is planning on judging us accordingly…OUCH.

    So why do I write this today? Here is how I see this issue; when a verse that asks us (Christian Men) to separate ourselves is NOT in our line of sight, we don’t think about it, right? Maybe some of you never even knew that verse existed. But wherever you fall on that scale now, please understand this, the reason I write is to make you aware. I just want you to think about it.

    My intent is to remind you that what you have done, what you are doing, and what you will do…all of that MATTERS to God. And, more importantly, you and I will be held accountable for our lives and how we lived them…AND, for our secrets. 

    That verse completely changed my mindset and I hope it does yours as well. By knowing, or just being aware, you can adjust. Every one of us has to make course corrections periodically on this journey we call life. It’s just the way it is…

    Until next time guys…

    Samson is an Enigma to me

    Posted: February 17, 2024 in Something to think about
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    Have you ever read the story of Samson? If you are a guy, Samson is the Hercules of the Bible. He was by far the strongest character the Bible talks about and honestly, besides David fighting Goliath, no other character was like Samson. Think about it…You have Joshua who was the warrior of the Bible. He was a General and a leader who conquered the Land of Canaan by following the direction of the Lord. With each conquest that God gave to Joshua, his legend grew among his enemies…But Joshua was a general with an army. Samson was just one guy whom God raised up to fight an entire Philistine nation. 

    Samson’s story is unlike anything you have ever read. Did you know that an angel of the Lord came and announced to Samson’s mother that she would give birth to him? (Judges 13:3). That only happened a couple of other times in the Bible and BOTH were significant births…I am sure you recall both John the Baptist and Jesus Christ?

    Samson however, was born and raised from day one with the Nazirite vow which meant that no razor could ever touch his head. Why? Because he was set apart for God from birth. Just so you catch this part…He was set apart from birth by God to save his people. Talk about having a plan for your life.

    With that small introduction, this begins my blog about why I never quite understood this Samson character. As I mentioned, God anointed his birth as the next Judge of Israel. (If you don’t know Judges, the book after Joshua, God raised up a few people during this time to lead Israel…because they had no King) God gave Samson to Israel to fight for them against the idol-worshiping Philistines and that is exactly what he did.

    Samson drove the Philistines nuts. He was a one-man wrecking crew every single time he encountered them. One guy against an army…and the army had no chance. Again why? The Bible tells us that each time he met them, “The Spirit of the Lord came upon him in power” which meant that suddenly, Samson became the strongest human being who ever lived, and what army could stand against that?

    I could go on and on about his feats of strength but I want to zero in on the reason I am writing today. Samson had another weakness besides shaving his head which, if you had not figured out was the secret to his strength. The weakness I am referring to was lust and sex. Samson was attracted to Philistine women and according to the Bible, he could not get enough which ultimately leads us to Delilah. If you have yet to hear about her then sit tight. 

    Delilah was a beautiful Philistine woman and in my opinion, is the epitome of the line said in the animated Disney movie, Beauty and the Beast, “Twas Beauty that killed the Beast”. Samson fell in love with her for the reasons I mentioned above. Moreover, she must have been well known because once she got her hooks into Samson, Delilah was approached by the local Philistine leaders to find out the secret of his strength so they could capture him. If she could do that, she would get paid. 

    The Bible tells us that several times Samson gave her false ways for him to lose his strength and each time she fell for it. Finally, because of this continued failure, the Bible tells us that she began to nag and pester him to the point that he was literally “tired to death of listening to her”. The bottom line… Samson finally relented and told her his secret and of course, he was captured. They shaved his head, gouged out his eyes, and threw him in prison.

    Here is where I have to ask the question, what did he expect to happen? Each time she asked the question he made up an answer. Finally, he gave in. Was Samson that unintelligent?

    Secondly, the Bible also says that when his head was shaved, the Spirit of the Lord left him and he did not know it, Judges 16:20. That is also very hard to grasp because I would think the presence of the Spirit would be a living and powerful presence inside of him and with it exiting you would think he would notice…but that was not the case.

    I need to wrap this up so what can we learn from this story? I think one of the biggest lessons about Samson is that he was able to overcome how far he had fallen. God never forgot Samson, even while in prison. When we look back on the life of Samson, we can also see that God viewed him as a man of faith. Samson is listed among the other men of faith in Hebrews 11:12 below:

    And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, and Jephthah, about David and Samuel, and the prophets…

    All of those men did GREAT things for God but yet every single man on that list also had his faults…just like you and I do. But God was able to use them exactly for the purposes they were created for. Samson in particular, is included in the Bible for that very reason.

    The bottom line for you and me, we don’t have to have our lives all buttoned up and perfect before God will consider using us. That is so far from the truth. Think about it…Samson was a mess but God was able to use him for his purposes JUST like He can do with you. All you have to do is take the first step and ask…

    I encourage you to do just that-

    Until next time Guys…

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