(Read Judges 13:1-7 for context)

A wise person will learn from the mistakes of others, so they don’t make the same mistakes but instead learn the lessons that elevate them instead.

The story of Samson is filled with one moral failure after another. Yet before he was born, he was destined to do great things.

Samson was set apart from birth with a Nazirite vow. The Hebrew word Nazir which is where Nazirite comes from means one consecrated, devoted.

As a result of his vow, he was given unmatched strength to single-handedly overthrow the Philistines.

Samson’s strength did not come from spending hours in the gym but from the Spirit of LORD. Each time there is an exhibition of his might, the scripture says, and “the Spirit of the LORD came upon him.”

There would be no limit to his strength as he maintained his commitment to God. That’s what made Samson’s strength an anomaly.

Christians are consecrated people.

You have been destined to make an eternal impact in this life. Every interaction, every encounter can be an opportunity to fulfill God’s purpose for your life.

Let’s highlight two purposes of being consecrated.

#1 We are different.

The way we live and the reason for living is not going to align with the ways of the world.

1 Peter 1:6, “since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

 The word “holy” in Greek means to be set apart to or for God. In the process of being transformed, the image of God will conflict with the image of this world.

#2 We are set apart for work; we are kingdom builders.

The kingdoms of this world are fading; they won’t last forever. God’s kingdom is eternal.

We have not been forgiven so that we can continue living as we lived prior to being forgiven. We have been set free to be a part of building the kingdom of God around us.

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;” Isaiah 61:1

This verse defines three ways we can build God’s kingdom on earth!

#1 You are called to share the good news!

Lately, everything feels like gloom and doom. But we have a message filled with hope. We could change the temperature of the times if we began to flood society and social media with the good news.

#2 You are called to bind up the brokenhearted.

To bind up the wounds of the brokenhearted is to come alongside someone and help them restart living.

• God is near the brokenhearted, Psalm 34:38.
• He binds up their wounds, Psalm 147:3.

#3 We are called to set captives free.

There is an invisible prison people find themselves in called sin. Sin gives people what they desire, but in exchange, sin detains them with an unquenchable lust for more.

 “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,”. Ephesians 4:1

• Samson was called.
• You are called.

Samson did not honor his calling nor walk in a worthy manner of it. As a result, he never accomplished fully what he was destined and capable of doing.

Are you walking in a manner worthy of your calling? Or is your focus being detoured by things of this world keeping you from what you are called to do?

Life has a way of distracting us from our divine calling, so we must focus on the One who has called us. Though we may face obstacles, we are unmatched because God is our strength.

We have a mandate from Heaven to walk in a manner worthy of our calling.

When our life is done, what will be said about us? It will be the lives we touched and impacted that will matter most.