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| Taylor James as Samson |
Samson
3 Spiritual Insights We Can Glean
From ‘Samson’
MARK MITTELBERG AND CASSIE LITTEL
Samson
was the original superhero—an ordinary man who received supernatural strength
from the one true God, with the purpose of bringing hope and freedom to God's
people who were being crushed underneath an oppressive government.
You've
probably been exposed to the story of Samson a number of times, but we're
confident that when you see this powerful movie it will come alive like never
before.
Samson's
story is larger than life, but it contains wisdom for us today. Embedded in his
story are lessons about how we, too, can receive God's strength.
Here
are three lessons from Samson about receiving God's strength in our lives
today:
1. God created you for a higher purpose.
In
the book of Judges (chapters 13-16) we meet Manoah and his wife, a couple who were unable
to have children until God intervened in their situation.
More
than that, God placed a special calling on their soon-to-be-born son, Samson,
even before he had been knit together in his mother's womb.
Samson
was handpicked by God to liberate God's people.
Samson
grew up knowing God's will for his life.
His
parents made sure he heard the story of how he had been chosen by God before he
was born.
His
marching orders were made clear by the angel of the Lord who had visited his
parents.
Moreover,
God gave him supernatural strength, so Samson had everything he needed to
deliver God's people, Israel, from the oppressive hands of the Philistines (see Judges 13:5).
God
chose you, too.
God
chose you, and gave you a purpose before you were even born.
When
God created heaven and earth, he knew that one day you would find yourself
right where you are at this moment.
You
have been created in the image of God, and you were made for a purpose.
One
of the most important things you can do, then, is to seek God's guidance
concerning what your main mission should be, and how you can best fulfill it.
"See then that you walk carefully, not as fools,
but as wise men, making the most of the time because the days are evil.
Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is" (Ephesians 5:15-17).
2. You'll need God's strength to fulfill your calling.
Samson's
story illustrates how God wants to enable us to fulfill the calling He's given
us.
Samson
could only further his mission as God gave him strength.
Without
that strength, he could do nothing; with it, he was completely unstoppable.
The biblical message to us is that we can confidently
say with Paul, "I can do all things because of Christ who strengthens me"
(Philippians 4:13).
Peter also reminds us that "His divine power has given
to us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of
Him who has called us by His own glory and excellence" (2 Peter 1:3).
Our
real purpose is not simply to work 9 to 5. God has a plan to use you in unique
ways to help build His kingdom.
Have
you discovered that purpose yet? If so, have you thrown yourself wholeheartedly
into it?
How
different would our lives, our families, our churches and our communities be if
we walked with a greater sense of mission, along with steadfast trust in God's
strength to help us fulfill it?
Where
in your life do you need an encounter with God's strength?
Maybe
it is for how you parent your children or love your spouse in difficult
circumstances.
Maybe
you need God's strength to walk through hardship.
Maybe
you need God's strength to step in the direction of a dream He has put on your
heart.
Wherever
you are, His strength is there for the taking.
But
be warned: When you discover the purpose God has for you, and you tap into the
strength he wants to give you, there will also be people who attempt to come
against you.
3. You will face opposition while fulfilling God's call.
You
probably know that Samson faced all kinds of resistance as he sought to fulfill
God's calling. He was not only opposed by the Philistines, but sometimes by his
fellow countrymen, and even by the woman he loved, Delilah. In addition, Samson
was often his own worst enemy.
In
much the same way, as we seek to honor God and to obey his leadings in our
lives, we're going to face opposition.
Jesus said in John 15:20a, "A servant is not greater
than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.'"
A chapter later, Jesus says, "In this world you will have
tribulation. But be of good cheer. I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
Jesus'
warning is not that we might face opposition as we try to fulfill our
divine callings, but that we will face it.
Thankfully, He didn't leave us on our own. "Keep leaning on me," He
conveyed in multiple ways, "and I'll
carry you through."
Or, as he put it in the Great Commission: "And
remember, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20b).
So
seek after God's purpose for your life; count on his strength to help you
fulfill it, rely on his wisdom and abiding presence to overcome obstacles.
And
with his help, you can walk in the supernatural strength of the God who helped
Samson.
You
can win the battles God has called you to win and leave the God-honoring legacy
he wants you to leave.
"For the weapons of our
warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of
strongholds, casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts
itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to
the obedience of Christ"
(2 Corinthians 10:4-5).
Watch the SAMSON trailer
here, and be sure to go with friends
and watch SAMSON, at your local theater. Bring a group from your
church, or buy out a theater.Also, be
sure to check out the new book, SAMSON, based on the movie, and the worship album soundtrack based on the movie.
Mark Mittelberg is a bestselling author, speaker, outreach
strategist, and the Executive Director of The Center for American Evangelism, in partnership with Houston Baptist University. You
can connect with him on twitter.
Cassie Littel is a content strategist and event director for
Think Eternity. She and her husband Kyle, and their two children live in
Indianapolis, Indiana. You can connect with her on instagram.
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