Today is July 5.


May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace through the power of the Holy Spirit. 
 
Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.”   
  
Today’s reading is from the book of Judges, chapter 16.  
 

Now the rulers of the Philistines assembled to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to celebrate, saying, “Our god has delivered Samson, our enemy, into our hands.” Samson said to the servant who held his hand, “Put me where I can feel the pillars that support the temple, so that I may lean against them.” Now the temple was crowded with men and women; all the rulers of the Philistines were there, and on the roof were about three thousand men and women watching Samson perform. Then Samson prayed to the LORD, “Sovereign LORD, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.” Then Samson reached toward the two central pillars on which the temple stood. Bracing himself against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other, Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived.  
  

The Old Testament story of Sampson reads almost like some sort of HBO series. It’s filled with sacrifice, sex, betrayal, slavery, violence, retribution, and death. The Bible doesn’t sugarcoat history, or humanity… Scripture often acts like a window into the worst of the world. It reminds us that there is, indeed, darkness around us. When you think about an area of darkness in your life or in the world that you see, does that bring hope to you, that somehow God is not far away from that darkness?  
  
The Gospel of John reminds us that Jesus came into the world to bring light into the darkness. Listen to this Old Testament story again, and hold it in juxtaposition to what you know of the upside-down way of the new covenant: forgiveness instead of retribution… peace instead of violence… reconciliation instead of animosity…  
  
Christians are realists, we can look at the trouble, without pretending that things are as they should be. And yet – we can hold all of that real inside the knowledge that Jesus calls us forward in faith, hope, and love… toward a new kingdom reality. As we end our time of prayer, would you practice an exchange with God? Offer Him all of the stories you are holding that are filled with pain or trouble. And ask Him to draw near to you with His peace that passes understanding.   
 
Music: Expectation - Vineyard Soul
EXPECTATION | Official Lyric Video | Vineyard Soul feat. Joshua Miller | Vineyard Worship