Thank God for His Grace! Part Two 7-19-24
The message today is a continuation of yesterday’s post about God using people with character defects, which includes His children throughout history.
Samson loved a Philistine woman, named Delilah, who tricked him into telling her where his strength was (Judges 1 6:4-5, 15-17). Consequences- Then the Philistines took him and put out his eyes and brought him down to Gaza. They bound him with bronze fetters, and he became a grinder in the prison. However, the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.
Then Samson called to the LORD, saying, “O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes!” And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars which supported the temple, and he braced himself against them, one on his right and the other on his left.
Then Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” And he pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So, the dead that he killed at his death were more than he had killed in his life. The end of Samson’s earthly life ended up in victory!
David committed adultery with Bathsheba; she became pregnant and he had the woman’s husband killed on the front line of the battlefield. (2 Samuel, chapter 11). Yet, David was called a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22).
Peter denied Jesus three times. And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times. And he went out and wept bitterly (Luke 22:61-62).
This same Peter and other apostles preached with so much power, they that the demons used the Jews to attack them. But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, These who have turned the world upside down have come here too (Acts 17:5-6).
Paul consented to Christians being killed. Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time, a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles (Acts 8:1). Although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an [a]insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief (1 Timothy 1:15).
Paul’s bad past resulted in something great! Paul’s Valedictory- For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearance (2 Timothy 4:6-8).
These examples are not justification for someone’s sin, but they are to let those who are judging others and looking down on them, that they are no better. Everybody had issues, which includes you and me.
Grace and Peace,
Betty A. Burnett ~ burnettministries.org
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