Today's devotion will be submitted from the archives! Dear Daily Message Readers,
Judges 15:14 (NIV) "As he approached Lehi, the Philistines came toward him shouting. The Spirit of the LORD came upon him in power. The ropes on his arms became like charred flax, and the bindings dropped from his hands."
The will of God has been discussed in theological circles, published in books, written in devotions and articles, and preached in sermons for as long as our Christian faith has been around. While some people consider Gods will as a lifelong mystery to be discovered, others believe signs such things as flipping a coin or opening a Bible and pointing to a verse determine Gods will. Yet we know that God's will is not based on any kind of luck or chance. Even though some people may dismiss the above ways as false, still others spend so much time worrying about Gods will, discussing Gods will, and praying about Gods will, that they never actually do it. Whats more, sometimes we do what we want to do and call it Gods will.
In Judges 15, we learn that God's will is done despite our disobedience or lack of understanding. Samson, who a chapter earlier married a young Philistine woman against the command of God (14:4), goes to visit his wife at her father's house. After he is denied entrance and offered his bride's younger sister for marriage and pleasure, Samson becomes enraged. He becomes so enraged in fact that he lights about three hundred foxes and jackals on fire in a wheat field owned by the Philistines. Once they hear that the culprit is Samson, the Philistines kill the father and daughter by fire.
Despite Samson's disobedience in marrying a Philistine woman, God restores him to his original purpose of delivering Israel out of the hands of the Philistines by using his unappeasable sexual desire to bring him right back into the fight. In the end, Samson, under the power of the Lord, killed one thousand Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey (15:15).
The lesson for us today is clear: God works through our sins, mistakes, and failures to accomplish His will in our lives and on earth. This doesn't mean we won't suffer for our disobedience to Him, because the Old Testament story of Jonah shows how running away from God still results in punishment (He was swallowed by a big fish!Jonah 2). However, the Spirit of the LORD can come upon you in power, break the chains of sin, and lead you to victory in your faith (Judges 15:14). Ask the Lord today to forgive you of your disobedience for not following His plan for your life. Faith Lesson: God can use our disobedience to accomplish His will.
In Christ,
Darin Smith
Judges 15:14 (NIV) "As he approached Lehi, the Philistines came toward him shouting. The Spirit of the LORD came upon him in power. The ropes on his arms became like charred flax, and the bindings dropped from his hands."
The will of God has been discussed in theological circles, published in books, written in devotions and articles, and preached in sermons for as long as our Christian faith has been around. While some people consider Gods will as a lifelong mystery to be discovered, others believe signs such things as flipping a coin or opening a Bible and pointing to a verse determine Gods will. Yet we know that God's will is not based on any kind of luck or chance. Even though some people may dismiss the above ways as false, still others spend so much time worrying about Gods will, discussing Gods will, and praying about Gods will, that they never actually do it. Whats more, sometimes we do what we want to do and call it Gods will.
In Judges 15, we learn that God's will is done despite our disobedience or lack of understanding. Samson, who a chapter earlier married a young Philistine woman against the command of God (14:4), goes to visit his wife at her father's house. After he is denied entrance and offered his bride's younger sister for marriage and pleasure, Samson becomes enraged. He becomes so enraged in fact that he lights about three hundred foxes and jackals on fire in a wheat field owned by the Philistines. Once they hear that the culprit is Samson, the Philistines kill the father and daughter by fire.
Despite Samson's disobedience in marrying a Philistine woman, God restores him to his original purpose of delivering Israel out of the hands of the Philistines by using his unappeasable sexual desire to bring him right back into the fight. In the end, Samson, under the power of the Lord, killed one thousand Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey (15:15).
The lesson for us today is clear: God works through our sins, mistakes, and failures to accomplish His will in our lives and on earth. This doesn't mean we won't suffer for our disobedience to Him, because the Old Testament story of Jonah shows how running away from God still results in punishment (He was swallowed by a big fish!Jonah 2). However, the Spirit of the LORD can come upon you in power, break the chains of sin, and lead you to victory in your faith (Judges 15:14). Ask the Lord today to forgive you of your disobedience for not following His plan for your life. Faith Lesson: God can use our disobedience to accomplish His will.
In Christ,
Darin Smith
