Day 131 – May 11, 2021
Scriptures: Judges 15-17, 2 Peter 1 2 Peter Bible Project Sign up for the new email service, and please email me if there are any problems. We have until July to figure out the best service to continue email updates of the devotions. Sign up here: FollowIt “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.” (2 Peter 1:3–7, TNIV) Samson’s story is one of carnage, betrayal and brutality. It is difficult to read the text and understand God’s purposes. Why would God give him strength, especially after his abuses of it? But God’s ways are higher than our own. And as much as we might question the life of Samson and ponder God’s use of Samson, we aren’t smarter than God. Besides, God in his mysterious ways does appear to use this Samson story to show himself to the Israelites as far superior to any other gods. The Philistines fancy themselves victorious and hail their gods as superior. In their gloating and pride, the whole thing literally crashes down on them. Our 2 Peter reading offers us something else that we ought to pursue, rather than power and control. It’s an invitation to much more than brute strength of Samson. Jesus teaches us that we do not use strength to gain power in the world. Rather, we are given everything we need for a godly life. Jesus helps us see what is most important. It isn’t power to carry out our will, rather, it’s the divine work of God in our life to live a holy life. God is at work, giving us his divine strength, so that goodness, godliness, perseverance and love would pour out of our lives and sustain us. In this, we become eyewitnesses of His Majesty! We declare the superiority of our God, Jesus Christ our Lord! Jordan
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AuthorJordan Ickes, Minister of Etna Green Church of Christ. Archives
December 2022
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