Mustard seed
Judges 16 Should you be ignorant of the rest of his story, verse one of Judges 16 makes it ever-so-clear, Samson is a flawed man (aren’t we all in some way?). His compromises are hard to ignore. Yet, and perhaps surprisingly, the author of our New Testament book of Hebrews calls us to recognize him as a man of faith. We can’t ignore it. He is given more than a mere benefit-of-the-doubt by listing Him in chapter 11’s Hall of Faith. Flawed and faithful? I remember a ride through London with the brother-in-law of a major Christian missions leader. He was not well liked by his wife’s brother because he went about his Christian service in a manner that was thought to be flawed by hap-hazard behavior. Assigned to ride with him that day I wondered at the rumors I had heard. By the grace of God there is a mustard seed faith, however small, that God can find and use amidst the perceived flaws. Usefulness despite ourselves. We never have an excuse for compromise, especially when it is moral and harmful to the advance of the mission be it your marriage, family vocation or special calling such as deliverance of your nation from an oppressor. Don’t be sloppy. Move forward by faith trusting the Lord to work out His purposes even despite our own fears of failure by reason of depravity. If you fail, when you come to your senses, repent as needed and find a way to contribute, even if it is with your own death in the collapse of a temple filled with the enemy that nearly broke you. “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed you can [place your hands on these pillars and collapse this temple].” Jesus Grace today y’all
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