A twisted theology is what I read tonight.

First, Samson was lured by Delilah into telling the secret of his God-given strength.  She must have had him wrapped around her little finger, because he never caught on to her scheme despite her overt pouting and nagging.  Did it now occur to him to question WHY she wanted to know how she could tie him up?  Maybe he enjoyed having her tie him up?

And then his stunning feat in bringing down the temple is reminiscent of today’s suicide bombers, isn’t it?  He killed more people in his death than he ever did in his life, the Bible says.  Yet his act was powered and directed by the Lord and not by explosives.  Those who had been mocking Samson and the Lord were crushed in one fell swoop.

Then I read about Micah, who worshiped both the Lord and the idols that he made out of silver.  He bought himself a priest who didn’t set him straight about the “the Lord is ONE” thing.  His theology became twisted somewhere along the line.  The tribe of Dan then came and stole his idols and his priest before they went and wiped out a town to give themselves a place to call home.

I am still having troubles with all the death and destruction recorded in the Old Testament.  Once again, I come back to the idea that the LORD is Lord, and I am not.  I don’t have to understand everything.

That is a novel idea: I don’t have to understand everything.  I am the girl who cried over her physics book because she couldn’t grasp the concept; I am the one who researches the internet and other sources to find out everything she can before taking prescriptions.  I love homeschooling because I like to KNOW, and I get frustrated when I come across something that my brain just can’t comprehend.  I see the same trait in my daughter, poor thing!

My only work is this: to believe in Jesus.

At church a couple of weeks ago, the pastor brought up this interesting passage in the book of John chapter 6 regarding what works are required of us:

²⁶Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. ²⁷Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”

²⁸Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

²⁹Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

Notice that their question was in the plural form — …to do the works (plural) God requires?

Notice Jesus’ answer is in the singular form — …the work (singular) of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.

I’ve been dwelling on that concept ever since.  How freeing it is to know that I only have ONE work — and that is to believe!  If I hold on to that one rock, I will be less susceptible to the twisted theologies that steal and destroy.