Tuesday 28 February 2017

He forgives and restores

Judges 17 contains an odd little story.

It starts with a woman cursing a thief because someone has stolen a significant sum of money from her. The curse is so bad that her son feels terrible and decides to confess to stealing the money - he doesn't want that curse on his head! Then the mother praises her son for returning it.
I don't think the situation would be the same if the thief was a stranger or a neighbour even. The woman seems to forgive her son and even uses some of the money to give him a gift.

It's an odd story, I don't know if I'd react the same as the woman. She has lost a considerable amount of money through a their, and she is rightly annoyed about it. When the thief turns out to be her own son, she blesses him for returning the cash. He's only returned the cash because he doesn't want the curse though - there's nothing to do with repentance. He doesn't say sorry or anything, he just tells his Mum that he did it.

It's an odd story because although I don't agree with the morals both of these people exhibit, I can see a strong example of love within it.
The relationship between this mother and son displays love. The mother forgives her son and even returns some of the cash to him in the form of a gift. There no question that a thief would of been punished, but a son is forgiven.

This correlates to how God receives us. We do all sorts of wrong towards God, we disobey him, we ignore him and we are horrid to those around us - who are his family. Yet, God welcomes us into his home, he continues to call us sons and daughters. He knows we mess up, but his heart is big enough to cover over our wrongs because of Jesus. We are part of God's family if we believe that Jesus died for our sins. It's only then that we can know true freedom because we don't need to carry the weight of the stuff we do wrong around with us. God forgives and restores us. Like the woman forgave her son and continued her relationship with him - even blessing him in the process.

God does the same for us. He forgives and he restores.

Tuesday 21 February 2017

Samson's humility

I've been reading through Judges and have come across the story of Samson. Now, many of us probably know about Samson and Delilah and that he had unbelievable strength because of his long hair. That's about as much as I've really noticed before.
 Reading this account again, he seems like a man sure of what he wants and determined to get it. Take for instance the circumstances regarding his wife - His parents don't seem too sure about him marrying a Philistine woman, but eventually they agree - it seems Samson is quite persistent and determined about what he wants.
 Let's rewind a bit - Samson is a miracle child whose birth was foretold to his parents before his Mum was pregnant, in fact she was known to be a barren woman, but gets an amazing promise that she will have a child who will begin to free Israel from oppression from the Philistines. Then, fast forward a few years and Samson wants to marry a Philistine woman - yes, a woman from the enemy. No wonder his parents weren't too keen! However, Samson seems quite determined once he decides to do something, and he managed to persuade them to allow it to happen, so they go to meet her. This section of scripture is about when Samson and his parents went out to meet his soon to be wife:

 Judges 14:5-6 'Then Samson went down with his father and mother to Timnah, and they came to the vineyards of Timnah. And behold, a young lion came toward him roaring. 6 Then the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and although he had nothing in his hand, he tore the lion in pieces as one tears a young goat. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done.'

 There are a couple of bits that struck me, 'he had nothing in his hand' he had NOTHING, no tool, no weapon, nothing with which to defend himself when a lion came towards him - how terrifying that would of been! I don't know about you, but I'd be legging it in the opposite direction or trying to find a tree to get out of the way, but Samson, determined as ever, stands his ground, and he manages to tear it apart! That is incredible! It is only because, 'the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him' that he was able to do it, what incredible, super strength is available through the Holy Spirit! Samson had the guts to stand up and fight his enemy, which was about to destroy him, and God helped him in the battle. Sometimes we need to be prepared to stand up and fight before we see God step in.

 What also struck me is what it says next, 'he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done'. Now, I don't know about you, but if I'd just defeated a lion or overcome a massive obstacle or challenge in my life- I'd let people know about it! Samson keeps silent.
In fact he meets up with his parents, just afterwards and they don't even notice anything different about him - no hair out of place, no massive grin spread across his face, he's not skipping with joy. It's as if nothing uncommon has happened here. Just an everyday occurrence, battling a lion! What humility Samson demonstrates. He is not full of pride, he doesn't brag, he carries on in gentle humility.

He must of acknowledged to himself that this was an incredible feat, but he doesn't let it go to his head. That's where we sometimes go wrong. Instead of acknowledging that we've been given unusual; grace, favour, strength or knowledge in situations, we can sometimes accept that we have done such a wonderful thing that WE end up being praised rather than the one who helps us. Samson seems to of got it right here. He knows what he's done, but he doesn't need other people's acclamation, adoration or approval to know who he is and what he's capable of.
He is content with knowing who he is and what God can do with him.

Later on, Samson even has opportunity to boast when he finds honey in the carcass, but he still keeps quiet about it all. He knows. That's enough.

 When we achieve great things, when we overcome amazing obstacles, help people in need or gain what seems to be impossible we should ask ourselves; do I need to tell anyone about it? If we are sharing our successes, is it about us? Is it about us getting approval, acclamation or adoration?

What is the purpose of sharing even the amazing feats God performs in us?

Samson's parents knew who he was, they knew his strength and that he had an amazing purpose. Samson didn't need to tell them this amazing feat in order for them to believe in him, they already did. They already know the amazing power and benefit of following God.

 I ask you to consider Samson, and consider who your stories need to be told to. Are they to puff you up? is it because you feel proud or desire praise in wanting to share your successes? Consider the humility of Samson, make sure you are keep your lion defeating moments to honour God. The Bible tells us in the New Testament that those who boast about their generosity, how faithful they are etc have, 'received their reward in full', make sure you're not receiving all your rewards now, and save some up in heaven.

Wednesday 15 February 2017

Jephthah's daughter


In Judges 11 we hear about a guy called Jephthah. He rises up to lead Israel against the people now oppressing them, the Ammonites. He makes a vow, he promises that if he is victorious against the Ammonites, then he will sacrifice the first thing that comes out of his house.

His daughter is the first thing to come out of his house.

What a terrible dilemma Jephthah is in. He has made a promise to God, which he doesn't want to back out of. His daughter is his beloved, only child. His daughters response? “My father, you have opened your mouth to the Lord; do to me according to what has gone out of your mouth, now that the Lord has avenged you on your enemies, on the Ammonites.” (V36).

What incredible obedience!

This daughter must be devoted to her Dad, she completely upholds his word, no matter the cost to herself, she accepts what her Dad says, and recognises that promises to God mean more than anything else. She is obedient even unto death. I don't even know if she's aware exactly of what her father has promised, but she's willing and obedient anyway.

This is the kind of obedience that God wants from us. Complete, total, sacrificial obedience.

Monday 6 February 2017

Are you happy?

Are you happy?

This profound question was asked of me last week by my lovely husband. The answer? No! I hadn't thought about it, and I am not a person who asks myself those kind of questions, I just get on with life. My answer even surprised myself.
I should explain, I am not happy like full of joy and laughter, but I'm not unhappy either. I am not depressed, anxious or worried about anything really. Most of the time I am content, but at present, no im not happy.

The last few weeks have been tough, and I admitted to my wonderful husband that I am 'trudging on'.

The next day I went for a run. Oh, that was hard! I didn't want to do it, I didn't have a lot of energy and I didn't think I could make the distance. Then I was reminded about the conversation with my husband -I just had to keep 'trudging on'.

Sometimes life is hard, we are tired, have no energy, don't really know what's going on, and at times and we can feel alone. However, we've just got to keep lifting those heavy feet. In order to get that run done I had to concentrate on lifting one foot and putting it down, lifting the other one and putting it down.
Sometimes the steps are slow and arduous, but I was reminded that each step we take is closer to the finish line. 
Hebrews 12:1 says; 'Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us'.
We have got to keep moving forward. Endurance is about keeping in going even when it gets tough.

That's as true for life as it is for running.
We are all heading for the finish line, so keep lifting those feet. Sometimes it'll seem like you're as light-footed as a gazelle, at others you'll be trudging like an elephant, but at least you're moving. Keep going towards those goals. The finish line is getting closer.