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Daily Devotional - May 1st
May 1, 2024 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Daily Read - Judges 13:1-14:20; John 1:29-51; Psalm 102:1-28; Proverbs 14:15-16
Many times, those things forbidden seem to be acceptable because they hide under a sweet looking veneer. Remember when Eve was tempted by the forbidden tree in the garden, its appearance blinded her to the death that was lurking beneath its branches. Samson was also beguiled by Satan's plan through a seemingly sweet delicacy.
Samson was called from the womb as a Nazirite meaning he was consecrated and set apart for God. He had to follow strict regulations to fulfill this calling. He could not consume strong drink, nor even touch the fruit of the vine. A razor couldn't touch his head, and he could not touch anything unclean, which included anything dead.
The tempter first came to Samson when he went to the city of Timnah and saw a woman who was the daughter of the uncircumcised Philistines. He desired her as a wife and coaxed his parents to get her for him. Interestingly, the name Timnah means forbidden in the Hebrew.
On his journey to Timnah, a lion came to devour him, but the Spirit of God came upon him and he tore the lion to pieces killing him. Later, he came upon the carcass of the lion to find bees and honey inside. He ate of the honey and took some home for his parents to eat. Of course, he never told them where he had gotten the honey because he was well aware of his Nazirite vow. He knew what it meant to touch a dead animal, yet alone eat something from its carcass!
Did these acts of disobedience open doors in Samson's life allowing the devourer opportunity to take advantage of Him? Did these seemingly small compromises begin weakening His commitment and vows to God? How many times do we give the enemy access in our lives dismissing his temptations as insignificant or petty only to find out later how destructive they actually were?
The enemy never comes to us in an ugly undesirable form. He comes as an angel of light, a pleasurable looking fruit, or he comes as sweet honey on the honeycomb. He wraps himself in things he knows appeals to our fleshly desires and lures us in to partake of his deadly plans.
Sadly, Samson gave into temptation one too many times and it cost him everything. He went from a place of strength and the talk of the town, to weakness and the laughing stock of the show.
Satan knows how to weave a web of temptation and cunningly lures us into its crippling threads. Nevertheless, our God gives us the way of escape. 1 Corinthians 10:13 - No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
Let us begin the day by asking Holy Spirit to show us things to come and to lead us from temptation. Command all things the enemy has hidden up to the light of God's truth. Ask the Lord to give you an increased perception to recognize the poison that is wrapped in the appealing package. Ask Holy Spirit to show you the way of escape for each and every temptation.
Judges 14:7-9
Then he went down and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well.
After some time, when he returned to get her, he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion.
And behold, a swarm of bees and honey were in the carcass of the lion.
He took some of it in his hands and went along, eating.
When he came to his father and mother, he gave some to them, and they also ate.
But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey out of the carcass of the lion.
Then he went down and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well.
After some time, when he returned to get her, he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion.
And behold, a swarm of bees and honey were in the carcass of the lion.
He took some of it in his hands and went along, eating.
When he came to his father and mother, he gave some to them, and they also ate.
But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey out of the carcass of the lion.
Many times, those things forbidden seem to be acceptable because they hide under a sweet looking veneer. Remember when Eve was tempted by the forbidden tree in the garden, its appearance blinded her to the death that was lurking beneath its branches. Samson was also beguiled by Satan's plan through a seemingly sweet delicacy.
Samson was called from the womb as a Nazirite meaning he was consecrated and set apart for God. He had to follow strict regulations to fulfill this calling. He could not consume strong drink, nor even touch the fruit of the vine. A razor couldn't touch his head, and he could not touch anything unclean, which included anything dead.
The tempter first came to Samson when he went to the city of Timnah and saw a woman who was the daughter of the uncircumcised Philistines. He desired her as a wife and coaxed his parents to get her for him. Interestingly, the name Timnah means forbidden in the Hebrew.
On his journey to Timnah, a lion came to devour him, but the Spirit of God came upon him and he tore the lion to pieces killing him. Later, he came upon the carcass of the lion to find bees and honey inside. He ate of the honey and took some home for his parents to eat. Of course, he never told them where he had gotten the honey because he was well aware of his Nazirite vow. He knew what it meant to touch a dead animal, yet alone eat something from its carcass!
Did these acts of disobedience open doors in Samson's life allowing the devourer opportunity to take advantage of Him? Did these seemingly small compromises begin weakening His commitment and vows to God? How many times do we give the enemy access in our lives dismissing his temptations as insignificant or petty only to find out later how destructive they actually were?
The enemy never comes to us in an ugly undesirable form. He comes as an angel of light, a pleasurable looking fruit, or he comes as sweet honey on the honeycomb. He wraps himself in things he knows appeals to our fleshly desires and lures us in to partake of his deadly plans.
Sadly, Samson gave into temptation one too many times and it cost him everything. He went from a place of strength and the talk of the town, to weakness and the laughing stock of the show.
Satan knows how to weave a web of temptation and cunningly lures us into its crippling threads. Nevertheless, our God gives us the way of escape. 1 Corinthians 10:13 - No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
Let us begin the day by asking Holy Spirit to show us things to come and to lead us from temptation. Command all things the enemy has hidden up to the light of God's truth. Ask the Lord to give you an increased perception to recognize the poison that is wrapped in the appealing package. Ask Holy Spirit to show you the way of escape for each and every temptation.
Truth revealed in Jesus Name!