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…
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Monday, May 14, 2012
Approachable People
For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered.... Titus 1:7 (NKJV)
As Paul continued with his list of pastoral prerequisites, he wrote that a bishop mustn't be quick-tempered. A more contemporary way of putting this would be that a pastor shouldn't have a short fuse. He shouldn't be the sort of person who's prone to being angered easily but should have a high tolerance for hassles and difficulties. Something is spiritually "off" when a minister constantly loses his composure, because an angry attitude doesn't accomplish God's righteousness:
So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. James 1:19-20 (NKJV)
This doesn't mean that a pastor should never be angry. In fact, the Bible acknowledges there are certain situations where anger (without sin) is an appropriate response (Ephesians 4:26). But Paul was talking about something different here. He was referring to the kind of anger that defines a person's character. The sad effect is that people no longer feel the freedom to approach their pastor when they should. I can't ask a question like that because he'll chew me up and spit me out! I can't confess that sin because I'll get blasted. A pastor ought to address and confront sin when necessary, but he should also be approachable.
Jesus was approachable. People weren't afraid He'd "go ballistic" on them when it came to their sins. In fact, there were several occasions when people felt the freedom to interrupt Him with their problems (John 4:47; Mark 7:25; Matthew 17:14; Luke 18:38). We're also told that parents were comfortable with Jesus handling their little children (Matthew 19:13). None of this would have happened if Jesus had the reputation of being a hot-tempered man.
Let's take it one step further and ask ourselves whether we're quick tempered. But Pastor Bob, I'm not planning on being a pastor anytime soon. It doesn't matter. All of us, as Christians, are called to walk as Jesus walked (1 John 2:6).
Our Lord wasn't easily angered but instead projected a sense of approachability and accessibility, and so should we.
Think About It…
Answai T. White, B.S., M.Div.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Bouts of Doubt
In hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.... Titus 1:2 (NKJV)
It all starts with God's character. That's what Paul understood as he wrote what we would come to know as the book of Titus. In this brief, three-chapter epistle, the apostle penned a plethora of precious promises. But he knew these would just be words on a piece of parchment unless they were backed up by something more substantial than the moral fiber of man. Therefore, he directed Titus' attention to the fact that God is the One behind these promises and that He cannot lie.
Titus needed to be reminded of this truth, and so do we. The circumstances of our lives are beyond our control and constantly changing. As they do, we may be tempted to question God's character: If God is so good, why did He let that person pass away? Where was He when I needed Him most? How am I supposed to trust Him again? We ask ourselves these questions from time to time when faced with seasons of uncertainty in life.
But we can always be sure of this: God cannot lie, which means He will never go back on His Word, and we can always trust what it tells us. We can trust that the Lord will never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5), He will be with us until the end of this age (Matthew 28:20), and His ways are always just and true (Revelation 15:3). God is forever faithful, and if He can be trusted to make good on a promise as important as eternal life, He can surely be trusted in matters pertaining to this life.
God's impeccable character is the basis of the book of Titus, and it's also the unshakable foundation of our lives. When we find ourselves going through a bout of doubt, we need to know what God has promised in His Word and remember that His promises must be true because He cannot lie.
It is impossible for God to lie.... Hebrews 6:18 (NKJV)
Think About It…
Answai T. White, B.S., M.Div.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Crisis is a Catalyst
There was a certain nobleman whose son was sick...he went to Him [Jesus] and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. John 4:46-47 (NKJV)
Imagine you're the nobleman in this passage. Your beloved son is seriously sick; in fact, he's on the brink of dying. Helplessness and hopelessness begin to overwhelm you. But then you hear that there's a Man about twenty miles away who has a reputation for miraculously healing people. His name is Jesus, and you pursue Him in hopes of convincing Him to come heal your son.
The clock is ticking, and after an anxious journey you finally find yourself face to face with Jesus. You share your need and ask Him to return with you to your son's bedside. But Jesus' answer catches you off guard, "Go on back home. Your son is OK."
This father takes Jesus at His word, turns around, and makes the return trip home. Along the way, some of his servants intercept him with good news, "Your son has been healed!" He asks when this happened, and it becomes clear the healing occurred at the same time Jesus pronounced his son to be well, over twenty miles away! In response, the nobleman and his entire household believe in Jesus, recognizing He's much more than a mere man (John 4:53).
Now notice the progression. The crisis of the son's sickness became the catalyst for spiritual salvation. If the son had never gotten sick, then the nobleman and his household would not have placed their faith in Jesus. But because the son was so close to death, a chain reaction was set off that eventually led not only to the physical blessing of physical healing, but the eternal blessing of eternal salvation through faith in Christ.
Crisis is often the catalyst God uses to accomplish His good-and greater works in our lives. It comes to us as an unwelcome guest but fulfills a key role as the Lord uses it to work all things together for our good.
Think About It…
Answai T. White, B.S., M.Div.
Imagine you're the nobleman in this passage. Your beloved son is seriously sick; in fact, he's on the brink of dying. Helplessness and hopelessness begin to overwhelm you. But then you hear that there's a Man about twenty miles away who has a reputation for miraculously healing people. His name is Jesus, and you pursue Him in hopes of convincing Him to come heal your son.
The clock is ticking, and after an anxious journey you finally find yourself face to face with Jesus. You share your need and ask Him to return with you to your son's bedside. But Jesus' answer catches you off guard, "Go on back home. Your son is OK."
This father takes Jesus at His word, turns around, and makes the return trip home. Along the way, some of his servants intercept him with good news, "Your son has been healed!" He asks when this happened, and it becomes clear the healing occurred at the same time Jesus pronounced his son to be well, over twenty miles away! In response, the nobleman and his entire household believe in Jesus, recognizing He's much more than a mere man (John 4:53).
Now notice the progression. The crisis of the son's sickness became the catalyst for spiritual salvation. If the son had never gotten sick, then the nobleman and his household would not have placed their faith in Jesus. But because the son was so close to death, a chain reaction was set off that eventually led not only to the physical blessing of physical healing, but the eternal blessing of eternal salvation through faith in Christ.
Crisis is often the catalyst God uses to accomplish His good-and greater works in our lives. It comes to us as an unwelcome guest but fulfills a key role as the Lord uses it to work all things together for our good.
Think About It…
Answai T. White, B.S., M.Div.
Monday, March 12, 2012
He Can
With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26 (NKJV)
As we come to a principle as profound as the one presented to us in Romans 8:28, we need to begin with a basic understanding about something: God's ability to make good on the claim to work all things together for the ultimate good of His people. If we don't believe God is actually able to do this, then we'll have a hard time believing He actually will.
That's an uncertainty we don't need to be held captive by because the Bible tells us two things about God that prove His ability to fulfill Romans 8:28.
First, the Bible tells us that God is omniscient. "Omni" means all, and "science" means to know. There is nothing that can be known that is not known by God. He's fully aware of every event and happening that has ever taken place from one end of the universe to the other. He has absolute awareness of every fact and factor. The atomic number of hydrogen, the height of the Empire State Building , the way your co-worker looks at you, the crack in the driveway six doors down, the thoughts you're thinking as you read this...God knows it all.
Secondly, Scripture also assures us that God is omnipotent. Again, "omni" means all, and "potence" means power. God is all-powerful. When He determines to do something, there is no question about it being done because His power knows no limitations. The earth needs the sun to sustain life, and God is able to provide it according to His power. Mankind requires redemption, and God's power provides it. No matter how massive or monumental the task, God's power is always sufficient.
Now, put these two attributes together and you can see how God is able to work all things together for our good. He knows every detail about everything happening in our lives, and His limitless power allows Him to control them in a way that always benefits us in the end. Regardless of how impossible things might seem, all things are possible with the God who is able to use them for our good.
Think About It…
Answai T. White, B.S., M.Div.
As we come to a principle as profound as the one presented to us in Romans 8:28, we need to begin with a basic understanding about something: God's ability to make good on the claim to work all things together for the ultimate good of His people. If we don't believe God is actually able to do this, then we'll have a hard time believing He actually will.
That's an uncertainty we don't need to be held captive by because the Bible tells us two things about God that prove His ability to fulfill Romans 8:28.
First, the Bible tells us that God is omniscient. "Omni" means all, and "science" means to know. There is nothing that can be known that is not known by God. He's fully aware of every event and happening that has ever taken place from one end of the universe to the other. He has absolute awareness of every fact and factor. The atomic number of hydrogen, the height of the Empire State Building , the way your co-worker looks at you, the crack in the driveway six doors down, the thoughts you're thinking as you read this...God knows it all.
Secondly, Scripture also assures us that God is omnipotent. Again, "omni" means all, and "potence" means power. God is all-powerful. When He determines to do something, there is no question about it being done because His power knows no limitations. The earth needs the sun to sustain life, and God is able to provide it according to His power. Mankind requires redemption, and God's power provides it. No matter how massive or monumental the task, God's power is always sufficient.
Now, put these two attributes together and you can see how God is able to work all things together for our good. He knows every detail about everything happening in our lives, and His limitless power allows Him to control them in a way that always benefits us in the end. Regardless of how impossible things might seem, all things are possible with the God who is able to use them for our good.
Think About It…
Answai T. White, B.S., M.Div.
Friday, March 9, 2012
How's Your Vision?
How’s your vision?
The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance Acts 10:9-10 (NKJV)
Yesterday, we discussed how Paul received a vision of a man begging for his help in Macedonia . This vision was instrumental in Paul discerning a door that God had opened for him. But this isn't the only instance where God used a vision to reveal His will.
In Acts Chapter 10, Peter went to the top of a house to pray, where he suddenly fell into a trance and was given a vision by God. Up to that point, Peter had assumed Jesus came to save Jews but not Gentiles. The vision God gave Peter showed him it was just as much God's will for Gentiles to be saved through faith in Christ as it was Jews (Acts 10:11-16).
It was an important step forward in God's will for both Peter and the Church.
"So, should I expect my life to be filled with visions?" Let's go back to that word trance, which is "a condition where a person's normal state of mind is temporarily suspended." While we see that a vision can be biblical, we also need to see that by very definition it's not normal.
Here's the balance we need to strike when it comes to visions: We need to be open to the possibility that God may use them in our lives, but we need to temper this with the understanding that they are unusual.
It's a big red flag if someone is constantly talking about a "vision" or "revelation" God gave him or her. Again, it's not the norm. However, if someone with the reputation of being stable-minded receives something similar to what Peter and Paul experienced, and if it doesn't contradict anything we see in scripture, then it's quite possible God gave it to them.
Visions should never be the primary or only means of discerning God's will, but they can be used to get us to see things God's way.
Think about it…
Answai T. White, B.S., M.Div.
The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance Acts 10:9-10 (NKJV)
Yesterday, we discussed how Paul received a vision of a man begging for his help in Macedonia . This vision was instrumental in Paul discerning a door that God had opened for him. But this isn't the only instance where God used a vision to reveal His will.
In Acts Chapter 10, Peter went to the top of a house to pray, where he suddenly fell into a trance and was given a vision by God. Up to that point, Peter had assumed Jesus came to save Jews but not Gentiles. The vision God gave Peter showed him it was just as much God's will for Gentiles to be saved through faith in Christ as it was Jews (Acts 10:11-16).
It was an important step forward in God's will for both Peter and the Church.
"So, should I expect my life to be filled with visions?" Let's go back to that word trance, which is "a condition where a person's normal state of mind is temporarily suspended." While we see that a vision can be biblical, we also need to see that by very definition it's not normal.
Here's the balance we need to strike when it comes to visions: We need to be open to the possibility that God may use them in our lives, but we need to temper this with the understanding that they are unusual.
It's a big red flag if someone is constantly talking about a "vision" or "revelation" God gave him or her. Again, it's not the norm. However, if someone with the reputation of being stable-minded receives something similar to what Peter and Paul experienced, and if it doesn't contradict anything we see in scripture, then it's quite possible God gave it to them.
Visions should never be the primary or only means of discerning God's will, but they can be used to get us to see things God's way.
Think about it…
Answai T. White, B.S., M.Div.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Brotha Magazine's Best Book of 2011
Brotha Magazine is proud to announce that Patrick Shaffer's book "Love Again A Spirtual Memoir" has been chosen as its BEST BOOK OF 2011. "Love Again dares to express what most men feel, but fear to say-and what every women longs to hear. This book challengens preconceived notions about the depth of masculine emotion whil paving a pathway to self-recovery and healing."
Charles Clark, Brotha Magazine's Publisher/Editor says ....
"Whether you are single, dating, married, separated, or divorced Patrick's book is a must read. His transparency will help you uncover what you have tried to bury and help you to know that you will LOVE AGAIN"
For more information about "Love Again" visit: www.patrickdshaffer.com/
For info on the Brotha Magazine please visit Brotha Magazine @ www.brothaonline.com or email us at info@brothaonline.com. A press release will be available shortly.
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