Old Testament reading: Judges 15-16
“The end of a thing is better than its beginning” (Ecc 7:8). So we come to the end of Samson’s “leadership.” Perhaps the best we can say of Samson’s life is that even though he died beneath a mountain of rubble, he still went out on top. Samson’s lack of self control, especially where women were concerned, led to his capture, blindness, servitude and public humiliation. Moreover, the Philistines gave credit to their gods for delivering Samson into their hand. Lessons to be learned? Our personal shortcomings can give others cause to direct their praise in improper ways. We should never give men cause to glory in our sins and bring reproach upon that noble name by which we are called. Another lesson is that we can always finish strong in our service to God. Though blind, Samson’s eyes were opened to a final opportunity to serve God and his fellow Israelites. His prayer to God was heard in that his strength was restored that he might deal one final blow to the wicked Philistine nation. So great was this blow that Samson killed more Philistines in his death than he had in his life (16:30). That’s going out strong!
New Testament reading: Matthew 10-12
Matthew 12 reminds us of Jesus’ earlier words about bearing good fruit (cf Matt 7:15-20). Of particular note is the use of the tongue. The tongue is a mirror to the heart, “a good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings for evil things” (v 35). When you find a person who is known to speak soft and pleasant words, you have found a person with a good and thankful heart. Where you hear chronic complaining and dissatisfaction with any and every thing, you have found a black heart that lacks the ability to be thankful. Avoid these like the plague! So revealing are our words that Jesus says these will justify or condemn us (v 37).
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