Remembering the miracle of God's second chances

Lots can be said about the mistakes Samson made in his life. They were many. Those mistakes are troubling to remember because Samson was a "miracle" son born to a childless couple. God destined the miracle son to live as a Nazirite who would lead Israel. As a sign of belonging to the Lord, Samson couldn't cut his hair, consume alcohol, or touch a corpse. 

Source: Wikipedia

God intended to use Samson as a living weapon against Israel's enemies, the Philistines. God used Samson mightily to stop the harassment of the Philistines, but Samson eventually lost sight of God's purpose. Samson didn't keep his Nazirite vows, he didn't listen to his parents about marriage, and he allowed himself to be taken down by Delilah, who conspired against him with the Philistines. Delilah didn't stab or poison him. She pressed Samson until he shared his spiritual secrets about the seven locks on his head. She shaved his head, and Samson's amazing strength disappeared.

It's a tragic, but mesmerizing story. But it's not the end. Samson's hair grew back. While blinded and humiliated by the Philistines -- Samson became entertainment for them -- he rededicated himself to the Lord and asked for a second chance. And the Lord used Him! Here's what happened:

And when their hearts were merry, they said, “Call Samson, that he may entertain us.” So they called Samson out of the prison, and he entertained them. They made him stand between the pillars. And Samson said to the young man who held him by the hand, “Let me feel the pillars on which the house rests, that I may lean against them.” Now the house was full of men and women. All the lords of the Philistines were there, and on the roof there were about 3,000 men and women, who looked on while Samson entertained.Then Samson called to the Lord and said, “O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes.” And Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and he leaned his weight against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other. And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines.” Then he bowed with all his strength, and the house fell upon the lords and upon all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he had killed during his life (Judges 16:25-30, ESV).

Samson's story should encourage us that we may wander far from His purposes, but there's a miraculous opportunity when the Lord offers a second chance. How many of us have experienced a second chance? How many of us long for one today? How many of us will allow God to use us to give a second chance to others? 

Whatever category that fits us, let's do this. This holiday season, let's ask for a second chance. And let's not hesitate to give a second chance to others.

Help Dallas Leadership Foundation serve as a conduit for God’s miracles to Dallas families. Help us give others a second chance! Sign up to volunteer or browse our new online Treasures of Hope Christmas Store at dlftx.org/events and purchase a gift for someone special. Share this post on your social networks with the hashtag #WebelieveGodcan or #Miracles.

The miracle of believing before seeing

The story about Jesus healing the blind man in Bethsaida is an encouraging one because it's nestled within other episodes that show the pains Jesus took to build the faith of His disciples and train them to discern between light and darkness. From this story, we can take comfort in knowing that He wants to train us too. We can also take courage that He wants to send us out to boldly share our faith in faith!

Wikipedia -- Christ Healing the Blind Man by A. Mironov 

Check out Mark 8. Do you see how Jesus warned the disciples to beware the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod. Leaven was an element used in baking, so the disciples thought He described ordinary bread. But Jesus used the picture of bread to warn the disciples about allowing elements of the Pharisees' doctrine to infiltrate their spiritual understanding. 

The disciples didn't "see" what Jesus was warning them about, however. When they went to Bethsaida, the hometown of Peter, Andrew and Philip, Jesus received a blind man brought to Him for healing. Through this event, He would steer everyone toward unrelenting faith in Him. 

Before He healed the man, Jesus took him out of town. He spat on the ground and used the paste to touch the man's eyes. At first, the man saw men as trees. Jesus touched him again, and the man saw completely.

There's a lot to chew on in this passage. The usual question is why didn't Jesus heal the man instantly? Perhaps the better approach is to meditate on the context.

Jesus wanted the disciples to view spiritual things from His perspective, and it was taking them minute. Bethsaida was the home of at least three of the disciples. Bethsaida also was one of the places Jesus later rebuked in Matt. 11:21 for its unbelief. 

Could that be why Jesus took the man outside of town? Sometimes God isolates so that unbelief doesn't soak the atmosphere. Jesus took that approach when He healed the dead girl in Matt. 5:35-43. He kicked out mourners who ridiculed Him for saying the girl was only asleep.

Jesus may also have allowed the blind man to be healed after two touches to demonstrate divine patience. God holds all power, so the hold-up wasn't with Him. The man from Bethsaida, a community with a faith problem, may have had to undergo an inward transformation in some way -- at the discretion of Jesus. Perhaps the man had to submit to leaning on Jesus for his healing, and not himself or others.
  
Likewise, the disciples had to learn to trust Jesus implicitly, even if they didn't understand immediately. They had to hunger for the pure bread of heaven instead of the corrupted religion the Pharisees offered. And, like the blind man, their spiritual healing was taking time.

If God puts us into a quiet place this Thanksgiving week or during the Christmas holiday, perhaps it will be His chosen opportunity to build our faith at deeper levels. He may present object lessons that reveal His desire for us to believe in Him without any reservations.

Get ready.

Help Dallas Leadership Foundation serve as a conduit for God’s miracles to Dallas families. Sign up to volunteer or browse our new online Treasures of Hope Christmas Store at dlftx.org/events and purchase a gift for someone special. Share this post on your social networks with the hashtag #WebelieveGodcan or #Miracles.

A miracle birth announcement that can change your life

Imagine leading a church service. You’re the pastor leading the sermon. Or the choir director. Or the deacon explaining a church program. Suddenly, an angel appears. You’re terrified. Heaven is for real-for real at that moment. No one else sees the angel, who tells you that God has answered your impossible prayer.

Medieval view of Gabriel: Source: Wikipedia -- Mestia Museum Georgia

Do you believe what the angel tells you? Do you believe more in the human obstacles you’re used to seeing? In other words, if the angel told you would bear a child, and you’ve had your AARP card for 20 years, would you believe? If the angel said that God had healed you, would you believe the heavenly message or your doctor’s prognosis?

Every day we wrestle with unbelief. It’s something that’s common to human beings. So we should feel the human tension in the story of Zecharias and Elizabeth described in Luke 1. The couple was elderly, childless, devout, and Zecharias served in a spiritual leadership role as a priest. According to BibleGateway.com, Zecharias would have been among about 18,000 priests. He served twice a year. Then, after being chosen by lot, he got a chance in a lifetime to serve in the holy place of the Temple. 

As crowds waited outside the temple, Zecharias, who was offering incense, saw Gabriel, who announced to the priest that his wife would bear a son. Gabriel announced a miracle of life and the destiny for a baby named John. God would fill John with the Holy Spirit while he was in the womb, and, one day, John would turn the hearts of Israel to the Lord.

Stunned, Zecharias reverted to unbelief. “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years,” (verse 18). Is that an echo of pain and resignation in Zecharias's voice? What if his words reflected a longstanding prayer in his married life or the isolation he and Elizabeth felt?

Gabriel’s reply is telling:

“I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time” (Luke 1:19, 20).

If one word summed up Gabriel’s reply, it would be perspective. Gabriel saw things from heaven, not earth, where age and childlessness sought to trample Zecharias and Elizabeth’s faith. Gabriel also knew his name, which in Hebrew means “man of God” or “God is my strength.” The angel knew the Person who possessed the ability to perform miracles and knew His character.

Maybe we should tape Gabriel’s words to the bathroom mirror when our prayers of faith seem dry, lifeless, and useless. The Lord can surprise us and refresh our faith by supernaturally announcing that He has answered our "impossible" hopes. 
  

Help Dallas Leadership Foundation serve as a conduit for God’s miracles to Dallas families. Sign up to volunteer or browse our new online Treasures of Hope Christmas Store at dlftx.org/events and purchase a gift for someone special. Share this post on your social networks with the hashtag #WebelieveGodcan or #Miracles.