Chris Bunton

Monday, October 9, 2023

Samson's Grace

Samson's Grace

A Word on Faith and Grace

Let’s look at Samson. (Judges 13:1-Judges 16:31) He is one of the Bible characters, whose entire life proves that it is all about God.

Samson was born by promise, and was made a Nazarite at birth. His parents obeyed the Word of the Lord given to them by the angel. Samson did nothing at all. It was all done for him and without his power; much like our salvation. We are called by God, we hear His Word about Jesus Christ, passed down to us through the elders, and we believe, confessing Him as Lord. It’s that simple.

Samson lived a sinful life, yet God was with him. His source of power was not his hair. God was his source of power. His hair is a picture of something that grows, which is not controlled by man, other than the power to cut it off. Faith grows, and God works in our lives, as long as we continue to have faith in Him, despite our sinful actions.

He waged war against the enemies of God who were oppressing the people. Remember, God let the Philistines take over Israel, because of their falling away from God. But, when they turned to God, He raised up Samson to fight their enemies. Samson was sinful, Israel was sinful, and the Philistines were sinful. The difference lies in who turned to and trusted God, and the promises God has made. When we trust God and turn to Him, He is with us no matter what. But, when we turn away from Him, the enemy can take over. This has nothing to do with sinful behavior. It has to do with whether you are turning to God, because only God can fix our sinfulness, and failures. Abiding in Him, leads to growth, like Samson’s hair. It grows and we don’t even notice.

Samson was tricked by Delilah which allowed the Philistines the ability to overcome him. Samson already had Delilah sexually, this was not the first time he had seen her, or been with her, as the story implies. So, sex was not the reason he gave up his secret. He gave up his secret, because he became convinced of his invincibility, and trusted something or someone other than God. His secret is God. His hair is the works God has done for Him and the faith He had in God. Samson gave up the one thing that kept him safe; the one thing that kept Him alive and prospered him. The particulars are irrelevant. Samson stopped trusting God. He stopped abiding in Him.

He was captured and tortured and locked up. Much like Israel, who had lost faith in God, and turned from Him. The enemy was able to overcome him. This led to Samson, and Israel being broken, which led to the crying out to God, which is what we should do when we are being broken. Our pride makes us believe we can do it alone. Pride must be broken. Samson’s hair began to grow back. His faith began to grow in that rock bottom place.

And after he was broken, he cried out to God, and God gave him a tremendous victory. God did not abandon Him. Samson did not lose his salvation. God was always there, waiting for Samson to cry out in faith, and God moved in a mighty way. God fulfilled his own purpose through Samson, which was the destruction of the enemy, and setting His people free. That is God’s purpose always; to defeat the enemy and set us free in Him.

Remember, “ALL things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) So, no matter what, remember that you are called, and abide in Christ. Pray, praise, speak faith, confess your sins to Him, and watch Him work. Follow the Holy Spirit as He guides you, and you will see things moving and happening. Eventually one day you will look up and you will be different, and it will be just like growing hair. It’ll be slow and steady, and without your help. Then, you will see that it was all God. You will see that He loves you, and that everything is Ok, and your faith will grow.

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Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from Southern Illinois. He has published in several magazines, and has written a poetry eBook called “Against the Man” and an Addiction Recovery eBook called “Made Free: Overcoming Addiction“ His newest book is called "The Future is Coming" and is a collection of dystopian short stories. Photo by the Author. A small courtyard near the Capitol Building in Washington D. C.

Follow Him on Medium: https://chris-bunton.medium.com/

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Photo by the Author. A small courtyard near the Capitol Building in Washington D. C.

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

On Self-Righteousness

Self-Righteousness is one of the worst things you can do. It is equal to, and akin to Pride.

So what's the big deal?

Well, humans are fallen. We have become utterly corrupted. The thoughts of our minds are wickedness repeatedly.

We were not created this way. But after the Fall. We changed, and grew worse and worse.

Even the best of us are stained from the things we've done in the past, and we omit things, we should do, and still fail miserably.

Not only that, but the world is ruled by Satan and his fallen angels, who keep us in chains to them, and continually work to corrupt us even further.

That's the human condition.

God Himself, came to Earth in the form of a man; Jesus Christ. He lived a holy life, and died for us to set us free from The Plague of Sin, and the control of Satan.

All a person has to do is hear the call of God. Turn to Him, asking Him to save you. Confessing Jesus as their Lord, and believing in Him alone, for salvation.

That's it.

BUT....

Pride will prevent us from doing this. Self-Righteousness will get us to try to save ourselves, by our own righteousness, instead of God's. If we think we can do it, or don't need it, then how can we turn to Him for real?

We cannot.

We must give ourselves to Him and trust in his righteousness, because ours isn't good enough.

Pride and self-righteousness prevents salvation. It leads us to think we can save ourselves. It gets us to think we can help God.

It gets us to think that we are some how required to earn salvation.

It often leads us to treat others badly and judge them, because we think we are better. Or that if we can do the good works, then others can as well.

This self-righteousness is the disease of the Pharisees. It's what killed Jesus. Self-Righteousness and Pride breed envy, when you see that someone is better than you.

Kill self-righteousness in your life. You cannot do it. You cannot save yourself. Even trying is a sin, because you call God a liar. You are saying Jesus's death wasn't good enough to save you.

Just give yourself to Him. Let Him save you. Let Him change you and grow you. Let Him have His way with you. He loves you, and seeks your good.

Just turn to Him. Let Him save you.

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Sunday, September 17, 2023

A God of Infinite Chances

A Word on Forgiveness by Chris Bunton

I hear Christians say this a lot. “God is a God of second chances.” Every time I hear it, it is like a punch in the face; because I need a God of infinite chances. And so do they, despite what they might believe.

     They seem to often believe that if you don’t drink, smoke or chew, or run with girls that do, that you’re ok. If you haven’t been arrested for DUI or drug possession you’re ok. If your marriage is still intact, or you haven’t been fired, you’re ok. They often ignore the sins of pride, gluttony, idolatry, lust, covetousness, and un-forgiveness. They think that since they only sin a little that they are not one of those people who need a second chance. They are in God’s good graces, and no harm shall come to them. But, they are wretched and poor and do not even see it. They don’t realize that they need third, fourth, fifth, and thousands of chances, just like me, and you. They are blind to the fact that every day, they need infinite chances, yet they only want to give others one more chance.

     Jesus said “I say not unto thee, until seven times: but, until seventy times seven”---Matt. 18:21-35. He said this after Peter asked Him how many times he should forgive his brother. “Up to seven times?” Peter had asked. Then, Jesus gives a parable showing how we are to forgive others, and how God is angry that we do not.

But, there is an under lying lesson; it shows us how often God forgives us. We read the parable and we think it’s one time. And it is. But, it is a forgiveness we experience and work through every day, even though He forgave it all already. We have no right to hold things against others because of what God forgives us of everyday.

     It’s not easy to forgive. It’s certainly not easy to forgive the way God forgives. Ask, yourself, “What if God forgives me the way I forgive others?” Maybe He doesn’t answer your prayers because you ignore others who have wronged you. Sure you forgive, but you never forget, right? Fool me once, right? I fall into the same trap.

But God is not like that. He forgives. He lets us off the hook. He throws our sin into the deepest sea and remembers it no more. He removes our sin from us as far as the east is from the west. It’s gone. Never to be brought up or remembered. That’s God, and that is what we are to work to do. That’s godliness. Being like God. It’s being like we want God to be toward us. It’s hard, and we can’t do it on our own, we have to let Him do it in us, and through us. But, we must be willing and we must take that first step, and He will come rushing in. He works to fix us.

     God is a God of infinite chances. He is a God of growth, a God of design and building. He doesn’t quit. God is not a quitter. He doesn’t say “Oh well, you messed up this time. I’m done with you. I didn’t see that coming. I came and died for you, but I never imagined you would do THAT! Are you kidding me? Pack your stuff and get out. Get out of my house.”

     Nope, He washes you when you turn to Him. He doubles down His efforts, and works even harder to mold you. He is there. It is God’s goodness that brings men to repentance. No matter what, turn to Him, and do not run away. Talk to Him, and be real with Him. Tell Him, what’s up. He already knows, but He wants you to see it, and come to agreements with Him on it. By confessing it to Him, over and over and over again, it gets old. It starts to work out of you. It gets less and less, as He works.

Trust Him.He is working. He doesn't throw us away. He grows us and heals us and helps us.

He gives us Grace, and wants us to give it to others.

Praise Jesus.