Slavery is a difficult topic to discuss with many people. Not only do some have it in their family backgrounds, but there are millions of people still in slavery around the world today.

There are many who refuse to read or accept biblical truth because there is no outright condemnation of slavery in the Bible. “How can you say this is really truth,” they argue, “if it neglects basic human rights topics like slavery?”

Just today I read an interview with Brad Bright, the son of Campus Crusade for Christ founder, the late Dr. Bill Bright. One of the questions the interviewer asked was, “How did he [Dr. Bright] maintain his relaxed spirit amid all the pressures he obviously went through?”

Here was Brad’s response:

The genius of Bill Bright is that he understood who God was – he understood who God was and what difference that made. Let me tell you about the time it first really dawned on me what this dynamic meant. I was about 25 years old, sitting in his office, and there was a reporter from a local Christian magazine who asked him, “Dr. Bright, share with us an example from your own life about a problem you faced that the average Joe Christian can relate to.” Dad said, “I don’t have any problems.” The reporter said, “Don’t overspiritualize this, we all have problems.”

Well, this dear guy asked the question seven times, seven different ways, and finally my dad turned to him and said, “Young man, you need to understand that I understand that I am a slave of Jesus, and a slave doesn’t have problems. The only thing the slave has to do is what the master asks of him. He doesn’t have to be successful, and when you really understand that, all of a sudden you don’t have problems anymore. All that’s left is opportunities to see God work.”

Can you say today, “I am a slave of Jesus”? Paul wrote, “For to me, to live is Christ…” (Philippians 1:21) Peter wrote, “Casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

When we truly submit ourselves completely to God, we can say, “I have no problems – I am a simple slave doing the work of my Master.”

Until next time,

Dan’l

The comments in this blog are always the personal opinions of Daniel Goepfrich and are not meant to be taken as official statements of Oak Tree Community Church, its staff, or its members.

Self-control is one of those things that everybody needs and wishes they had but nobody really wants to put the effort into getting it. It’s like this: if it were easy, we’d all have it!

Self-control is a problem because it’s such a pain to acquire, and it can affect any area of our lives. Think you have it nailed? Gotcha! Something else pops up just to prove you don’t.

If we are going to live successfully (as God measures success) – if we are going to “run to win” – we have to develop self-control. In what areas do you struggle with self-control? Let’s use this weekend’s message to see how God says to deal with them. (Feel free to answer anonymously – I’m not looking to turn this into a confessional blog!)

Until next time,

Dan’l

The comments in this blog are always the personal opinions of Daniel Goepfrich and are not meant to be taken as official statements of Oak Tree Community Church, its staff, or its members.