“There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother’s womb; if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man” (Judg 16:17).

Samson had a great, high calling. Before he was born an angel appeared to his mother and told her about his birth. Even his manner of life and his calling to be a judge were foretold. Despite all this, Samson’s life and ministry turned out to be an utter failure. He lost all his strength and his anointing. He could not deliver the people of Israel from the bondage of the Philistines. He eventually committed suicide. Why? Had God failed to fulfil His plan concerning him? No, rather, Samson failed God by allowing a razor (sin) to come upon his head (thoughts).

We may have a great high calling on our life and God may have planned great things for us. However, there is a part that we have to play for God to fulfil His plan. We must keep our lives in purity.

Samson failed to keep his Nazarite vow and miserably failed God, but thank God, there was someone else in the Old Testament who kept his Nazarite vow. It was Samuel. His mother Hannah made a vow, saying, “If Thou wilt… give unto Thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and THERE SHALL NO RAZOR COME UPON HIS HEAD” (I Sam 1:11). Samuel kept this vow till the end of his life. As a result, he was given a multiple ministry that no one in the Old Testament had. Samuel was priest, prophet, and judge – three blessed ministries were bestowed on him, and in all these three offices he was outstanding. If we, like Samuel, will not let a razor come upon our head, if we do not let sin enter our thoughts, the Lord will richly bless us and make us a blessing to everyone.

Dear friend, perhaps today you feel like a Samson. You might have repeatedly given room to sinful thoughts and defiled your mind and failed God. Repent and come to the Lord. In this Grace Period, God can change a Samson into a Samuel.

• TPM Morning Manna

Stay Blessed 😊
Ravi