Judges 13:5, "You will become pregnant and have a son whose head is never to be touched by a razor because the boy is to be a Nazirite, dedicated to God from the womb. He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines."

Proverbs 17:24, "An intelligent person aims at wise action, but a fool starts off in many directions."

Think

The angel of the Lord appeared to Samson's parents with strict child-rearing instructions from God. He was to be a Nazirite; someone set apart by God for a specific purpose. He was to lead Israel and deliver them from their enemy, the Philistines. Therefore, they were to follow these three rules:

• Samson couldn't touch anything dead.
• Samson couldn't eat anything made from fermented grapes.
• A razor couldn't cross Samson's head.

As Christ-followers, we, too, have been sanctified, meaning "set apart," through the blood of Christ. But just because we've committed our lives to Jesus doesn't mean it's always easy to live out God's commands. And, as we'll learn this week, we might have more in common with Samson, the biblical bodybuilder, than we think.

The truth is, most of us don't like rules - even those set by God. But how can we be so arrogant, at times, to think we can ignore boundaries set by our Heavenly Father? We errantly feel invincible as we walk the ledge of compromise. But whether we want to admit it or not, our repeated failures prove that we are far from it!

God isn't a killjoy. His commands are for our protection. Therefore, think of "R-U-L-E-S" like this: Restrictions that Underscore Love and Enjoyment Strategically.

If you know Jesus personally, remember that you - like Samson - have been set apart to be used by God for a specific purpose! Be obedient to God, follow His rules, and discover the passion and joy of going the right way - God's way!

Act

Recall a God-established rule that you chose to ignore. Do you remember the fallout from that choice? Resolve from this moment forward to choose to do life God's way.

Pray

Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your forgiveness, mercy, and grace all the times I've failed to follow Your commands. Today, I seek to stay within the boundaries You've so lovingly set before me for my protection and well-being. In Jesus' name, Amen.