[Faith-talk] bill keller devotional for july 20

[Andrew]

No matter long you have been saved, no matter how greatly God is using
your life, the fact is that we each wake up in the morning and face
the choice of who we will serve that day. I have used the life of
Samson in various opportunities that I have had over my years in the
ministry when I was speaking to pastors or men's groups. But Samson's
life is very applicable for this message today, in regards to the
choices that you will make today and every day, as to exactly WHO you
will serve.

Samson was miraculously born to a mother who was unable to conceive a
child. He was dedicated to God's service even before he was conceived.
While many may scoff at this, I have known many women who were unable
to have children, but after much prayer and seeking God, their once
barren womb brought forth life! Just in the 15 years Liveprayer has
been on line, we have had five such births that I can recall off of
the top of my head. Samson was dedicated to the Lord's service, grew
up being taught all about God, and the Bible says that the Spirit of
God was upon his life.

One of the points that I want to stress today is that here was a man,
dedicated to God even before he was conceived, raised in the "church"
of his day, and had a heart so close to God that the Bible even says
God's Spirit was upon him. DESPITE THIS, SAMSON, JUST LIKE YOU AND I,
WOKE UP EVERY MORNING AND HAD TO MAKE CHOICES THROUGHOUT THE DAY WHO
HE WOULD SERVE!

The Bible says that the devil comes to kill, steal, and destroy. If
you have accepted Christ into your heart by faith, the Bible says that
you are saved (John 3:16; Romans 10:10; Ephesians 2:8-9). However,
even though the devil can't have your eternal soul, he can destroy
your life, steal the joy, peace, and abundance Jesus promised those
who followed Him would know during our brief journey here, and kill us
literally.

I have known many great men and women of God over the years, who
allowed sin in their life to consume them to the point of death. One
dear brother got into the bondage of drug addiction and died from an
overdose. One pastor I know looked to alcohol instead of the Lord in
times of trouble, and alcohol eventually destroyed his life, and he
died much earlier then he should have because of it. One sister, who
did many great things for God, allowed the enemy to throw her into a
state of depression to the point that she took her own life.

SATAN IS NOT THE CLASS CLOWN, SOME MISCHIEVOUS PARTY ANIMAL THAT LOVES
TO HAVE FUN. SATAN IS A VERY REAL ENEMY WHO PLAYS FOR KEEPS AND IS OUT
TO DESTROY THE LIFE OF THE CHILD OF GOD, STEAL ALL OF THE GOOD THINGS
THAT THIS LIFE CAN OFFER, AND LITERALLY HELP YOU MAKE CHOICES THAT
WILL KILL YOU! HE IS NOT PLAYING GAMES!

As you read through the life of Samson, as he went through life, he
chose to turn from God and serve the enemy. Samson knew how God felt
about being unequally yoked with nonbelievers. Samson knew God's plan
for marriage. Samson knew God forbids sex outside of marriage. Yet
Samson's weakness was women, women who did not know or honor God in
their life.

The enemy is persistent. He will tempt the child of God over and over
and over until he finds the weakness in their life. Samson's weakness
was women. Each day, just like you and me, he had to choose who he
would serve that day. As much as the anointing of God was on his life,
even though he served God in miraculous ways, even though God used him
to bless many, IT WAS SAMSON WHO HAD TO MAKE THE CHOICE EACH DAY WHOM
HE WOULD SERVE.

Over and over, Samson chose sin over God. Over and over, God showed
his love and grace to Samson and gave him chances to straighten his
life out. But Samson took God's grace and mercy for granted, refused
to turn from his sin, and it was his sin that ultimately destroyed his
life, stole all of the blessings God had for him, and ultimately
killed him.

Let me encourage you today. If you have chosen to serve sin, have
allowed things to enter into your life that God does not approve of,
TODAY is the day that you can stop. Is it that easy? NO WAY! It will
be the hardest thing that you have ever done. But if you take the
first step, God will strengthen you and help you to turn away from
sin, and back to Him.

THE CHOICE THAT YOU MAKE TODAY COULD LITERALLY SAVE YOUR LIFE, BUT IT
IS A CHOICE THAT YOU MUST MAKE. NOBODY CAN MAKE IT FOR YOU.

I love you and care for you so much. God loves you and cares for you
even more. Each day, He gives you the choice to love Him and serve
Him. Even those who have loved Him and served Him for many years,
STILL each day must make that choice. I pray today that you learn from
Samson's life and choose God.

Each day I get hundreds of emails from people all over the world,
saying that what I write is intolerant, it isn't for "today", that
there is nothing wrong with doing what we want. They simply don't
understand that God loves us SO MUCH, that He sent His word to
encourage us and guide us along our journey here. How He shows us to
live our life is not to keep us from enjoying our life, but to know
the peace, joy, and abundance that this life can offer.

God loves us enough to give us the free will to choose each day
whether we will serve Him or not. That is a choice that I will make
today, and it is a choice that YOU will make today. My prayer today is
that you will choose to serve God!!!



In His love and service, Your friend and brother in Christ,

Bill Keller