DECEMBER 13

Aaron Goulet

I always appreciate a good reminder of the strength and victory of Christ. These reminders are very important considering how easy it is to see the fallen world around us, as well as the work of our enemy, Satan, against the plans of God. The reality of Christ’s work to counteract the darkness should balance our understanding and encourage us in such times of weariness. So today, Samson will be our purposeful reminder of the power of Christ.

I’m sure you are familiar with Samson’s story: a larger than life character with superhuman strength, who killed a lot of people, tore an animal in half, told his secret to Delilah, and got his eyes plucked out for the trouble. The story ends in a blaze of glory as blind, chained Samson pushes over the pillars in the temple and takes out a bunch of Philistines (and himself) in a dramatic final act.

Yet Samson, with all his questionable life decisions, was appointed by God to be a Judge over Israel and bring them victory over their captors, the Philistines. As said by an angel to Samson’s parents, “He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines” (Judges 13:5).

God gave Samson the gift of strength for a divine purpose to overwhelmingly defeat the Philistines in Israel’s time of need. This is a reminder of the gift God gave us with his Son Jesus, who would come with a divine purpose to overwhelmingly defeat a much stronger enemy and achieve a much greater victory. All that Jesus is and has done for us on the cross has set us free from the bonds of the enemy; we have been delivered from the power of sin, which is death.

On our own, we would be overcome by such a strong enemy. But we have been given divine strength through Jesus. As children of God, we are on the side of absolute triumph. What a glorious victory He has given us! Our story certainly has a happier ending than a temple coming down on our heads.

I hope that the story of Samson can remind you today to focus on the power of Jesus over the darkness of this world.

“And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” (Colossians 2:15)