Day 77

The Boy with Potential

Read: Judges 12-14

What great possibilities there were for Samson. From his birth, he was called to be a Nazirite, that is, a person dedicated in a special way to the service of God. He had wonderful parents. When they knew they were to have a son, their prayer was that God would show them how to care for this child. They worshiped the true God with great awe. And best of all, the Lord blessed him by sending his Holy Spirit upon him. What great things can be done by one in whom God himself is at work.

But this strong man was weak. Because of this he never reached his full potential. He did some great things, but he could have done so much more for the kingdom of God. His weakness was that he was not wise in dealing with people of the opposite sex. How true this is of so many today. Instead of choosing a woman who loved and served the true God for a life partner, he was foolishly attracted by the outer beauty of a woman who served false gods.

Samson was also a gambler, betting that the guests at the wedding could not solve his riddle. As he would do again later to his downfall, he allowed a woman to tease him into telling his secret. And she was untrue to him. The result was anger and bloodshed. “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers,” says Paul (2 Cor. 6:14). Yet today many will not listen.

PRAYER
Father, keep us from making foolish mistakes which will rob us of our potential for service. In Jesus’ name. Amen.