Today’s reading: Judges 14:5-9 (NLT)
Before Samson was even conceived, his parents knew he was going to be “dedicated to God” in order to “begin to rescue Israel from the Philistines” (Judges 13:5). Although we don’t have verses specifically showing us that Samson was aware of his selection and calling by God, I’m sure Manoah and his wife told Samson about their encounters with the angel of the Lord and the clear message the angel had delivered. But while being instructed about something is good and helpful, often what we’ve been taught and told doesn’t make full sense until we experience it. Here’s a common example of what I mean. We can take a driver’s education class and learn (head knowledge) all about driving a vehicle. And while we may think we’ve got it down, until we actually get behind the wheel of a car and drive in traffic, we don’t (and can’t) fully understand driving. The actual experience makes what we’ve been taught clearer and better prepares us for the future.
When Samson encountered an aggressive attacking lion on the way to Timnah, God gave him supernatural power that enabled him to easily rip “the lion’s jaws apart with his bare hands” (Judges 14:6). And there was no evidence of a struggle with the lion after the fact–no wounds, scratches or bruises. What a way for God to both show and let Samson experience the physical strength and power that He had given to him. He also prepared Samson for what was to come by revealing to him the means (his supernatural strength) by which he was going to help Israel break free from the Philistines.
Take a few minutes to think back about your spiritual journey. Identify one or more times when God showed you the power you have within you because of Him. What’s one specific example from your life? (NOTE: It doesn’t have to be physical strength. It could be something like strength to hold your tongue in a challenging situation, strength to take action in crisis, the ability to speak eloquently when that’s not the norm, or the strength to be a calming force for your family or a person in need during a difficult time.) Tami
Source: Tami’s Blog
