APRIL 5, 2023

  “Self-discipline is a form of freedom. Freedom from laziness and lethargy, freedom from expectations and demands of others, freedom from weakness and fear -- and doubt.” 

― H.A. Dorfman

JUDGES 15-17

15Then she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when you won’t confide in me? This is the third time you have made a fool of me and haven’t told me the secret of your great strength.” 16With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was sick to death of it.

17So he told her everything. “No razor has ever been used on my head,” he said, “because I have been a Nazirite dedicated to God from my mother’s womb. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as any other man.”

18When Delilah saw that he had told her everything, she sent word to the rulers of the Philistines, “Come back once more; he has told me everything.” So the rulers of the Philistines returned with the silver in their hands. 19After putting him to sleep on her lap, she called for someone to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him.^c And his strength left him.(16:15-19)

LUKE 10:1-24

1After this the Lord appointed seventy-two^a others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.3Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.

5“When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ 6If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. 7Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.

JOURNAL 

Samson grows weary and capitulates to Delilah...revealing the source of his strength. Jesus sends out seventy-two disciples ahead of him to help prepare the people for his visit.  They are the first missionaries of the kingdom. Going out into hostile territory. They are to work for what they get as evidenced by the phrase "for the worker deserves his wages". I wonder exactly what they were sent to do? No matter the details...they were sent and were definitely accompanied by the spirit of God, for upon their return they state that "even the demons submit to us in your name".

Thinking about this juxtaposed with the story of Samson gives a very clear picture of life with and without the spirit, Samson lost focus, lost discipline and as a result lost his power. In 2 Timothy Paul describes the effect of the spirit in a human life. He says it is not timid but is of Power, Love and Self-Discipline. So it can be reasoned that operating outside of God's spirit will be plagued by weakness, hate and self-indulgence. The more I read the Bible, the more I live life...the more I see the truth in these words. 

Love is God and everything that he is, perfect complete love. Power is our ability as humans, to act, make decisions, function in complex ways. Self-Discipline is our ability to choose, make decisions and choose God's ways of love rather than alternate actions of hate and destruction.


2 Timothy 1:7 has been one of my favorite verses but reading further it is even more powerful in considering verses 6-14...

6For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 8So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. 9He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.

13What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 14Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

2 TIMOTHY 1:6-14