Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator. 1 Peter 4:19 (NKJV)
God knows how we work. The Bible refers to Him as our faithful Creator, and in the original Greek, the word for Creator can also carry the connotation of inventor. God made mankind (Genesis 1:27), and therefore, He's thoroughly familiar with the way we're wired and what makes us tick.
This being the case, He also knows that one of the most effective ways for us to learn is through examples. Consider the number of examples He's preserved for us in His Word. Genesis barely gets started before we're confronted with the examples of Noah, Abraham, Jacob, and Joseph. This pattern continues as the biblical narrative follows the lives of Moses, Joshua, Gideon, and Ruth. In the New Testament, we're introduced to Peter, Paul, John, and Mary. And the ultimate objective of the Bible is to draw our attention to the peerless example set by Jesus Christ Himself who also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps... (1 Peter 2:21 NKJV).
Because examples are powerful teaching tools, we'll focus on one of the most inspiring, instructive, and interesting examples the world has ever witnessed. The life of David touches just about every human emotion, triumph, and failure. He possessed the sensitivity of a poet and the strength of a fearsome warrior. He ascended from virtual anonymity to the pinnacle of prestige and power. He succumbed to sin and was plunged into the depths of disgrace, only to experience God's remarkable restoration.
There's a lot to be learned from David's example because it shows us both what to do and what not to do. It provides us with a pattern for spiritual success and a sober warning against the subtle strength of sin. It reveals how God deeply loves a man whose heart is imperfect. And that's an example we can all relate to.
Think About It…
