DAILY STRENGTH FOR MEN
February 18 (day 1)

WITH GREAT POWER...

The hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.
Judges 16:22 NRSV

Bitten by an experimental spider, Peter Parker has acquired some of the abilities of the spider, as well as its proportional strength. After using that strength to win a fight with Flash Thompson, Peter is confronted by his Uncle Ben in a scene from the film Spider-Man. "Remember," says Ben, "with great power comes great responsibility."

Peter ignores the advice. When he has the opportunity to stop man who just committed a robbery, Peter lets the man go. That man ends up shooting and killing Uncle Ben.

Samson also had great power, because his mother followed an angel's directive and raised Samson as a Nazirite (one separated and consecrated to God), so that he could "begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines" (13:5). Samson took his great power for granted and led a sinful life, expecting God to bail him out again and again. When Samson told Delilah that the secret of his strength was his long hair, Delilah had a man shave off Samson's hair. God allowed the Philistines to overpower Samson, gouge out his eyes, and take him as a prisoner.

But God also allowed Samson to live long enough for his hair to grow back, which was enough time for Samson to understand that his strength had come from God, not his hair. When Samson was brought out to "entertain" three thousand Philistines, he called out to God and asked for strength one more time. And God granted his request. Pushing against the two pillars that supported the roof, Samson literally brought the house down, killing everyone inside.

You may not have the strength of Samson, but God has blessed you in many ways. How will you use those blessings? When you choose to use them to honor God, other people are blessed ... and so are you.