[Faith-talk] bill keller devotional for july 20

[Poppa Bear]

Thanks for this, it is simple and true and like most truths, putting it into
practice could change a life, also, as God usually does, it was a
reinforcement of the message I heard at Church just this morning.

-----Original Message-----
From: Faith-talk [mailto:faith-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Andrew
via Faith-talk
Sent: Sunday, July 20, 2014 7:20 PM
To: Faith-talk
Subject: [Faith-talk] bill keller devotional for july 20

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

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