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4 February 2008
Word on the Web
Judges 16 v 1-3
One day Samson went to Gaza and saw a prostitute there. He went in to spend the night with her. When the people of Gaza heard, "Samson has come here!" they surrounded the place and waited for him near the city gate all night. They whispered to each other, "When dawn comes, we will kill Samson!"
But Samson only stayed with the prostitute until midnight. Then he got up and took hold of the doors and the two posts of the city gate and tore them loose, along with the bar. He put them on his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that faces the city of Hebron.
Samson's sexual desires had lured him into dangerous territory. He was surrounded by enemies without much chance of escape. Addictions, unchecked sin and anything we put before our relationship with God can become a snare. Samson was a man of God, a Nazirite infused with the Holy Spirit and yet his lust pulled him into sin countless times.
It is never okay to use spiritual maturity as an excuse to go 'close to the edge' with things like lust and other idols. We still fail and sin can wrap itself around us like a trap. What are the desires in your life that could or do pull you away from God? How can you combat these?
Here Samson, for once, sets a good example. Samson arose in the middle of the night and left his sin. In response, God gave him the strength to escape the trap he'd gotten himself into. We have to choose to turn away from the sin in our lives in the knowledge that God is faithful to help us through while providing Himself as the better alternative for our time and energy.
Father, you are a faithful friend and awesome God. We are sorry we seek to fulfil our own desires before your will. Thank you for being faithful in providing strength to release us from the snares of sin. Please continue to provide strength so that we can keep you as our focus. Amen
Written by members of the Xplore team
Word on the Web
Judges 16 v 1-3
One day Samson went to Gaza and saw a prostitute there. He went in to spend the night with her. When the people of Gaza heard, "Samson has come here!" they surrounded the place and waited for him near the city gate all night. They whispered to each other, "When dawn comes, we will kill Samson!"
But Samson only stayed with the prostitute until midnight. Then he got up and took hold of the doors and the two posts of the city gate and tore them loose, along with the bar. He put them on his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that faces the city of Hebron.
Samson's sexual desires had lured him into dangerous territory. He was surrounded by enemies without much chance of escape. Addictions, unchecked sin and anything we put before our relationship with God can become a snare. Samson was a man of God, a Nazirite infused with the Holy Spirit and yet his lust pulled him into sin countless times.
It is never okay to use spiritual maturity as an excuse to go 'close to the edge' with things like lust and other idols. We still fail and sin can wrap itself around us like a trap. What are the desires in your life that could or do pull you away from God? How can you combat these?
Here Samson, for once, sets a good example. Samson arose in the middle of the night and left his sin. In response, God gave him the strength to escape the trap he'd gotten himself into. We have to choose to turn away from the sin in our lives in the knowledge that God is faithful to help us through while providing Himself as the better alternative for our time and energy.
Father, you are a faithful friend and awesome God. We are sorry we seek to fulfil our own desires before your will. Thank you for being faithful in providing strength to release us from the snares of sin. Please continue to provide strength so that we can keep you as our focus. Amen
Written by members of the Xplore team
