Saturday, May 12, 2007

Sermon: A Chosen Disappointment

(Click on above link to listen to sermon audio.)

Today I spoke on the story of Samson and applied some of what is found to Mother's Day. Some might wonder how Samson's story could possibly be a source for Mother's Day.

I think that there are many mothers (and fathers, too) whose value and worth are inappropriately tied to their children. And when their children don't meet expectations, they might experience a letdown and a sense of failure. Samson's story is one where things should have turned out quite well -- godly, devout parents and God's Spirit working in Samson -- but it did not. It's a story with a warning that parents should not base their success as parents in how their children turn out.

Many mothers (and fathers) today have become known as "helicopter parents." They hover (and hover, and hover) over and around their children for fear that something might go wrong. I think that Samson's story is one that shows us that children must be allowed to drive their own lives.

Some mothers (and fathers) may have children who seem headed into ruin, or perhaps are already there. Samson's story is finally one of hope and encouragement, because God does not give up on anyone. Our God is a God who is able to rescue anyone who wants to be rescued.

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