Mighty Weakling

He shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines. Judges 13:5.
God’s promise that through Samson He would “begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines” was fulfilled; but how dark and terrible the record of that life which might have been a praise to God and a glory to the nation! Had Samson been true to his divine calling, the purpose of God could have been accomplished in his honor and exaltation. But he yielded to temptation and proved untrue to his trust, and his mission was fulfilled in defeat, bondage, and death.
Physically, Samson was the strongest man upon the earth; but in self-control, integrity, and firmness, he was one of the weakest of men. Many mistake strong passions for a strong character, but the truth is that he who is mastered by his passions is a weak man. The real greatness of the man is measured by the power of the feelings that he controls, not by those that control him.
God’s providential care had been over Samson, that he might be prepared to accomplish the work which he was called to do. At the very outset of life he was surrounded with favorable conditions for physical strength, intellectual vigor, and moral purity. But under the influence of wicked associates he let go that hold upon God which is man’s only safeguard, and he was swept away by the tide of evil. Those who in the way of duty are brought into trial may be sure that God will preserve them; but if men willfully place themselves under the power of temptation, they will fall, sooner or later.
The very ones whom God purposes to use as His instruments for a special work, Satan employs his utmost power to lead astray. He attacks us at our weak points, working through defects in the character to gain control of the whole man; and he knows that if these defects are cherished, he will succeed. But none need be overcome. Man is not left alone to conquer the power of evil by his own feeble efforts. Help is at hand and will be given to every soul who really desires it.
Conflict and Courage p. 132
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for C and J. They just found out that there is not enough amniotic fluid for their developing baby and that the ultrasound shows some of the baby’s organs are missing. They visit a specialist today. Please pray that they have wisdom as to how to proceed. Rose
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Dear Friends,
As a teen, I had wanted to become an archaeologist, but with my allergies that was an impossible dream. Knowing this, Ronnie Jay told me about an archeology program that was on TV last evening that he thought would be interesting to me. A group of Egyptologists were going to visit a pyramid which had been demolished. The previews of the program gave the impression that it was the first time someone was going to go into its inner chambers. In my mind, I thought of all the wonderful items they would show us.
In reality, the pyramid had been ransacked long before. All that was there was the underground chambers now exposed to the elements. Most of the great stones had been carried away by the Romans and some by men of the nineteenth century. There were no artifacts left. Basically, they took what should have taken about twenty minutes to tell and stretched it into two hours. Yet, they did it in such a way that I kept anticipating something spectacular at the end. It never came. It left me feeling cheated and upset with myself for wasting two hours.
How much like the promises of this world. There are allurements on every side, but they leave us feeling empty, cheated, disillusioned. Jesus declares, ?No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.? Luke 16:13 How very true. We may try to have the best of both worlds, but in the end we find that we have lost everything. ?For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Mark 8:36
John tells us, ?Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.? ?For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.? 1 John 2:15-17, 5:4
Paul advises, ?be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.? Rom 12:2 May we shun the allurements of this world and say with Paul, ?I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death, If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.? Phil 3:8-14
Rose