Living Out Your God-Given Potential

DON'T WASTE YOUR LIFE - JUDGES 13

You are young. You have potential! Potential does not guarantee success though. Potential is only a possibility: you have the capacity to become or develop into something in the future. It is something not yet achieved. No biblical character shows more potential than Samson.

The biblical author of Judges highlights the birth narrative of Samson throughout chapter thirteen. Why? I believe the author is pointing to the potential of this child. The angel of the Lord visits Manoah, and later his wife, twice. He instructs them about their son’s Nazarite vow. Samson’s Nazarite vow is unique. It is divinely imposed, unlike the normal voluntary vow. A Nazarite vow would usually be a temporary token for a period of time to show dedication to God, but Samson will have this vow from conception until death!

Don’t forget what the author highlighted in the opening verses: Manoah’s wife’s barrenness. They could not have children! So, the announcement of a child was a BIG deal. Those must have been the longest nine months of their life. Finally, Samson was born! 

Judges 13:24, 25 “And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the Lord blessed him. And the Spirit of the Lord began to move him...”

Samson’s potential is off the charts!

• Called by God while in his mother’s womb.
• Stirred as a child by the Spirit of God.
• Empowered with extraordinary gifts by God.
• Granted exceptional opportunities to be a hero by God.
• More attention is given to Samson than to any other character in the book of Judges.

After reading chapter 13 of Judges you naturally would ask yourself these questions.

• Will Samson succeed?
• Will the promise represented by his birth find fulfillment?
• Will the end of his life be filled with joy and excitement like his birth?

For the next three chapters over and over again Samson will find himself facing a tug-a-war in his heart between – living for God and living for self. 

Chapter 14 Summary: 
Samson is disrespectful to his parents, uncaring toward his Nazarite calling, disloyal to his own people, compromising his morals, rude to his wife, flippant with his tongue, driven by his lust and appetite.

Chapter 15 Summary: 
Samson is self-centered. Although it may appear exciting, he is violating his calling. Life is all about Samson and his pleasure. 

Chapter 16 Summary: 
Samson treats his call like it is a game. His eyes end up plucked out, and his last days are spent grinding grain. Instead of fulfilling his life’s potential for God, it is wasted by living for himself.

You too have great potential to live a life for God. But that potential will be wasted when your life is spent on yourself. Those who refuse to embrace the special life of a Christian end up losing the blessed life. Determine, by God’s grace, to live out your fullest potential for Christ. 

Guest Writer, 
John Lande
Southwest Baptist Church
Church Planting Missionary to Sri Lanka