The story of Samson in the book of Judges is full of intrigue. Looking at Samson’s story can give us great insights into how his private life affected his public life as a leader of God’s people.
Samson had a specific calling, to lead in the deliverance of Israel from the enemy Philistines. He was also to be a Nazirite, which meant he was not to touch alcohol, his hair was never to be cut, and he was not to do anything unclean. All of this meant he was specially set apart to serve the Lord. (See Judges 13:1-5.)
But Samson did not lead a pure life. He ate honey from the carcass of a lion, making him unclean. He slept with a prostitute. Then he fell in love with a Philistine woman, and she tried to learn the secret of his great strength. Eventually she wore him down, and he revealed that his hair had never been cut. When she cut his hair, “his strength left him.” The Philistines then blinded him and made him a slave, for “the Lord had left him.”
What we do in private makes an impact on all the areas of our life. We need to come clean before the Lord, asking for forgiveness and resolving to live in a way that shows we are God’s people.
Is God at the center of your private life as well as your public life?
Father, nothing is hidden from you. Help us to learn from Samson’s story that we need to be faithful to you. Give us a discerning heart to follow you in all areas of our life. In Jesus, Amen.
About the author — John Kuperus
Since he was young, John Kuperus has had a passion that everyone would know Jesus. Spreading the good news that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15) is very important to him. To be better equipped for missions, John attended Reformed Bible College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He applied these skills with marketplace evangelism in a business he started in Sussex, New Jersey. This calling continued to follow him, so John attended seminary and became a minister in the Christian Reformed Church, serving a church in Ontario for eight years. Currently he serves as a missionary for Youth with a Mission (YWAM). He witnesses Jesus changing lives as people walk out of the darkness into the light. John is married to Helen, and they have seven children.
Start your day with quick daily devotions.
See God's love, power, presence, and purpose in your life every day!