(Proverbs 16:3) Commit
your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.
Preparing for
battle is a requirement needed prior to combat and for those who look to stand
in the victors circle must allow time for preparation. Complacency is not your
friend but shear grit and determination are if found in the bounds of the good
graces of the Lord. We must will them into our corners. I am persuaded that
whatever is of importance to us will become a way of life. If your relationship
with the Lord Jesus has priority it will soon become obvious. Lip service will
eventually run its course exposing the babbler. I am starting to understand
what is truly meant with this statement; “you will know the tree by its fruit.”
And until that fruit is palatable we are to avoid it. Men are prone to make
mistakes, God knows how I have made more than I care to recollect.
Whilst in the
throws of our pruning we will not bear any fruit fit for the Master’s use.
However only once “our hair begins to grow again” will we be of any use. Samson
was a man mightily blessed of God and he judged Israel for twenty years, but
sadly there came a time in his life where he toyed with His gifting and that
decision cost him his sight. For a time and only a phase was he given up for
dead, forgotten as the great rescuer of Israel and its judge; his own (Israel)
discarded him as one that had served his purpose and was of no more use to
them. No rescue party was sent out to free him and he was left to rot in a
Philistine cell. There will always be costs to our folly and we must accept our
part with those mistakes. Confess our sin before God and commit ourselves to
Him regardless of our blunders, pleading just like king David did and asking
God to renew a new spirit in us. We may have made varying mistakes along our
journey but once we come to our senses and seek out God forgiveness for them
pruning will happen and before long our trees will once again being to bear
fruit. Praise God for this reality in the Christians life. Without our fill of
suffering we will never understand the part we played with our sinful actions
that crucified the Lord Jesus. We all nailed Him to that cruel roman cross and
it was our own sin that fastened Him there.
When a tree is
servery pruned is does not bear any fruit until it is nourished enough and has
gained its strength to once again bear its produce. Samson lost his eyes, his
sight was taken from him and during that period in his life he was no longer
looked upon as a threat by the enemy; “But
the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.” (Judges 16:22) - Although God had left him, “But he
did not know that the LORD had left him”. - It was only for a season to teach
him just as He teaches us many truths through sufferings. Without this facet to
our lives we will not grow up into mature Christians.
Some may conclude that Samson got what he deserved,
after all he toyed with his gifting. This may be true and have its relevance,
but I will err on the side of mercy for I have been forgiven much and
understand the logs that remains in my own eyes which still needs to be pried
from them in certain areas of my life. But to be sound in our theology, we must
stick to doctrine. Peter has this to say on the subject; “For what credit is it if, when you sin and are
beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you
endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been
called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example,
so that you might follow in his steps.” (1Peter 2:20-21)
We must not believe the garbage that some false
prophets or so called apostles propagate and teach that if we suffer it is
because there has to be sin in our lives. Discipline may arise from our
rebellion but when we suffer for doing well this is a gracious thing in the
sight of our Lord.
The writer of Hebrews is compelled to remember
Samson for his faith and not his failures, praise God for that, who hasn’t
failed in one form or another?
“And what more shall I say? For time would fail me
to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah,
of David and Samuel and the prophets-- who
through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained
promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out
of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign
armies to flight.” (Hebrews 11:32-34)
In conclusion we must come to a place of
understanding that if we suffer for doing what is right in the sight of God,
this is commendable in the sight of our heavenly Father. We must learn to
commit all our ways to Him as we leave the rest to Him to set out in accordance
with His will and purpose.
Lord willing in our next post we will conclude with
the instruction to the church at Laodicea in the book of Revelation.
Grace and peace to all your confess Jesus as Lord
and to those who believe that God raised Him from the dead.
Signing off
Tyrone
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