OCTOBER 16 Judges 13:24; 16:20-21 

An angel of the Lord appeared and promised Manoah & his wife a son. Today’s scripture reading tells us that “the child (Samson) grew, and the Lord blessed him.” Samson grew up well. But as he grew up, he loved himself more than God. He was blessed by God with phenomenal strength, but eventually, trusted more in the strength than in the Giver of that strength. He wanted his own way and so sinned against the Lord many times. In the end he lost his eyesight due to his disobedience ( Judges 16:20-21).

Dear children, you may claim to believe in the Lord and may even be attending Sunday School every Lord’s Day. But when you grow older, would you remain faithful? When you become a teenager, would you stray from Jesus?

Are we possibly like Samson, who loved making himself happy rather than making God happy? Or are we, like Samson, trusting in the gift God gave rather than in the God who gave? Some of you may be good in your studies or play a musical instrument well; or come from a wealthy family.

Whatever the Lord may have blessed you with, make sure these gifts do not replace God’s place in your life.

You must learn to love God and His Word more each day. This way, you will not only start well, but end well, following the Lord all the way to Heaven. How? By reading and obeying His Word!

Thought: How much time do I spend with the Lord every day?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please grant me discipline to pray without ceasing and have diligence in reading Thy Word every day. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.