Samson led Israel for twenty years in the days of the Philistines.
Judges 15:20 (NIV)
Father God, how often are my kingdom works overshadowed by the bad things I do? No one usually remembers that Samson led Israel for twenty years. We only remember that he fell to the wiles of Delilah, what happened with him and the Philistine woman from Timnah, how he violated his Nazarite vow by eating honey from a dead lion’s carcass, and how he died, killing more Philistines in his death than he did in his life. But we don’t remember that he led Israel for twenty years. Nor is there a record of any of the good things he may have done during those years.
My soul ponders this morning, what will folks remember about me? How will I be immortalized in their memory? What stories will my children and children’s children recall when they speak of me? Will my foolish antics and self-serving shenanigans be the talk flowing from their lips? Or will my devotion and dedication to You, my Kingdom service and Christ commitment be at the top of their mind? Not that I am living that I might be remembered fondly. Instead, my Savior’s words ring in my spirit this morning, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16) They compel me to ask this question of myself. How is my light shining?
So I pray today that You would show me how I am foolishly consumed with self and not seeing the bigger, Kingdom picture that is before me. Forgive me for this shortsightedness and help me to make the most of the moments, glorifying You and lifting up my Savior in all my interactions and decisions today. Help me to “connect the dots” and see how You are setting me up to bring praises to Christ Jesus and show the world, in every moment of my life, that You are God alone. Remind me that there are no small, insignificant encounters in Kingdom building but that every opportunity to share the love of God in a tangible way counts. Use me, LORD, as I pour out my life into the lives of others in this grace exchange as salt of the earth that all who engage with me might not only see my love for You, but also desire the same for themselves. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.