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LEARN & GROW
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August 2, 2010
KEY VERSE
"Then the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him, and although he had nothing in his hand, he tore the lion in pieces as one tears a young goat. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done. Then he went down and talked with the woman, and she was right in Samson's eyes." (Judges 14:6-7 / ESV)
CENTRAL TRUTH
God uses even sinful and dysfunctional people.
DEVOTION
Samson refused God‘s law about marriage; he deceived his parents and destroyed people in anger, and yet to him God gave His Spirit! God did not approve of all of Samson's actions, and his behavior wound up getting him killed. But God still used this flawed instrument. Perfectionism has always haunted me. Years ago, I knew I was crashing emotionally and sought help. The kind counselor listened to my struggles and then asked me to write down all my roles and what I expected of myself in each. I soon realized that Mother Teresa and Superman would have a hard time living up to what I thought I should be able to do. Over the years I have come to see that I can be a better representative of God if I allow others to see that God works with my flaws and enables me to overcome. Years ago at a conference, I told 400 Christian women that I had struggled all my life with my father's alcoholism and was on medication for depression. The response was immediate and positive. They knew they were not alone in their problems. "For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies." (Rom. 8:22-23) While we are on earth, we will be subject to our old nature and an imperfect body. Good news! One day Christ will return, and we and all creation will be redeemed from the daily effects of sin. As we wait in hope of this glorious release, we must fight the good fight every day to live God's way through the power of His Holy Spirit working in us, and we must believe that God can use us, even if we are flawed. God will use any "cracked pot" if it is yielded to Him.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- Can you think of a time God has used you for His kingdom, in spite of a particular weakness of yours?
- Who are some other examples of people with limitations used as examples of God's power that we read about in the Bible; what were their limitations, and how did God use them?
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About the Author
Anna Maria Peterson
I used to believe that being as perfect as possible was the way to show that God was great. I drove myself into depression trying to fulfill all that I thought I should be. Through counseling and God’s intervention, I was able to accept my limitations and be just a forgiven sinner.
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