Dodging the Bullet Today's Three-minute Bible Study Print, Study and Apply Title: "Dodging the Bullet" ------------- Date: 10/06/1998 Keywords: "careless" "vulnerable" "risky" Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. The story of Samson (Judges 13-16) depicts the tragedy that can result from giving in to lust. Let us see what we can learn from his experience. Passage: Judges 16:1-3 * 1 Now Samson went to Gaza and saw a harlot there, and went in to her. 2 When it was told to the Gazites, saying, "Samson has come here," they surrounded the place and lay in wait for him all night at the gate of the city. And they kept silent all night, saying, "Let us wait until the morning light, then we will kill him." 3 Now Samson lay until midnight, and at midnight he arose and took hold of the doors of the city gate and the two posts and pulled them up along with the bars; then he put them on his shoulders and carried them up to the top of the mountain which is opposite Hebron. Questions 1. Was visiting a harlot part of God's plan for Samson's life?   2. Did Samson appear to suffer any adverse consequences from this sin?   3. Did Samson exert his might on something that would bring honor to God or something that would bring honor to Samson?   4. What risky behaviors are you engaged in (Internet pornography or otherwise)? Have you "gotten away with" these behaviors?   Practical help Although Samson's adversaries have not defeated him yet, they are getting closer to him. With every little step toward sin and away from God, Samson becomes more careless and vulnerable.   Right now, you may not see the bad consequences awaiting you if you continue viewing Internet pornography (or engage in other risky behaviors). But you can be sure they are there. (I will not punish your daughters when they play the harlot or your brides when they commit adultery, for the men themselves go apart with harlots and offer sacrifices with temple prostitutes; so the people without understanding are ruined. - Hosea 4:14). The sooner you run away from Internet pornography, the sooner and easier it will be to master this temptation.   For Tomorrow Consider what consequences of Internet pornography might be lurking just outside your door. Write some of them down. eXXit homepage Index of three-minute studies Copyright 1998 by eXXit *"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission."