Using God’s Gifts

By Jeff Curtis

The story of the call and birth of Samson in Judges 13 tells of the great potential God gave him. He worked miracles and wonders to provide Samson with the best start. He blessed him and caused His Spirit to stir in Samson.

Samson’s story should cause us to reflect on our own calling and birth circumstance. Obviously, no one today is called to rid the land of the Philistines, but the Scriptures make God’s purpose for life very clear. The majestic call of Jesus in Matthew 16:24 – “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me” – should cause every follower of Christ to reflect on the whole concept of being asked by God to help Him in His mission in the world.

Samson’s birth raises the issue of natural qualities and abilities each person receives as a child. Every birth, whether the miraculous birth of Samson or the natural births of most other people, provides a challenge to reflect on how a person uses the investment God has put into him. Some, like Samson, fail to use their gifts correctly. Others carefully expand on their gifts in remarkable ways.

Maybe, the story also allows fathers and mothers to learn from Samson’s parents. The angel worked with them to convey God’s will, and they finally understood the message. They set the example for other parents to consider the gift God provides in each child. Some children may disappoint their parents at times, but the parents must focus on their task of allowing the children to grow up with God’s blessings.

Preventative Medicine

by Heath Rogers

“For this reason, I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you” (2 Peter 1:12-13).

Although they knew and were established in the truth, Peter realized these Christians needed to be reminded of some important truths. He was not insulting their intelligence. He was stirring them up with a reminder.

There are several important subjects that a local preacher needs to cover from time to time. Sermons are needed regularly on the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, worldliness, sin, the church, scriptural worship, Bible authority, Bible study, evidences, prayer, and brotherly love. Preachers brought in for Gospel Meetings need to present sermons on these same subjects for the same reason.

While solid meat needs to be offered on a regular rotation, and mature Christians need to be challenged with “deep dives” into the treasures of God’s word, first principal sermons need to be preached over and over again. There are always those in attendance hearing them for the first time. There are young people maturing to the point they need these foundational truths explained to them. There are members struggling to teach their neighbors who need to hear these subjects laid out and explained clearly again. Balance is needed in the pulpit.

It is important for us to do things to keep our physical bodies healthy. A lot of times serious health problems are avoided if we practice some preventative medicine (eat right, exercise, take vitamins, get checkups, etc.). Serious spiritual problems in the local body of Christ (the church) are also avoided with some “preventative preaching.”

Think about it

God’s Oversight

By Jeff Curtis

Throughout the Scriptures, God’s care and oversight of His people can be seen (Genesis 28:15; Exodus 13:21,22; Psalm 121; Isaiah 41:10; Jeremiah 29:11). First Samuel is no exception. God opened Hannah’s closed womb (1Samuel 1:6-20) at just the right time in Israelite history. Through the period of the judges and until Samuel’s time, the Israelite people’s obedience to God had suffered greatly (Judges 17:6; 21:25). Their dedication to God had deteriorated to the point of blatant disobedience, even within the priesthood of God (1Samuel 2:12-17; 22-25). Even so, God had plans for Israel. He would take the nation to a higher spiritual plane. He began by answering a barren woman’s prayer (1:10-28). God had decided to revive Israel by the son of that woman.

Samuel would be trained and prepared under God’s care to become a prophet in Israel and a force for good (2:18). God arranged for Samuel to be trained under Eli, the priest at Shiloh (3:1). Through Samuel, God provided for Israel a leader through who He would reveal Himself and His will to Israel (3:19-21). God’s word “was rare in those days” (3:1); but, through Samuel, God gave divine direction to Israel (3:19). Samuel was a successful prophet and leader of Israel because of God: “The Lord was with him and let none of his words fail… And the Lord Himself appeared again at Shiloh, because the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the Lord” (3:19-21).

The seemingly unimportant prayer from a seemingly unimportant woman (1:10-11) became the means by which God changed the spiritual direction of Israel. God used Samuel as a bridge between the period of the judges the time of the kings. Samuel was a key figure in helping Israel to defeat the Philistines in battle (7:1-14). He was also God’s instrument in anointing the first two kings of Israel, Saul and David (9:15-17; 10:1; 16:12-13).

Life Lessons

By Jeff Curtis

The Bible is filled with “practical lessons.” It teaches several, if we are willing to put them to use in our lives. Such as…

1. People will sometimes betray us, so, we should put our faith in God instead of mankind.
2. It pays to be watchful in order to protect our souls as well as our bodies.
3. Courage will always be needed by God’s people.
4. Not every opportunity comes from God.
5. The Lord helps us in our efforts to be His children.
6. We can’t allow the circumstances of life to squeeze God’s out of our lives.
7. Revenge is God business, not mans.
8. God is good and merciful.
9. We shouldn’t play the fool by rejecting God’s will.
10. When we faithfully abide by God’s will, even our enemies will sometimes speak well of us.