Daniel and his friends were teenagers. They had been forcibly removed from their homes as their country was overthrown, and had been sent to a foreign country (Babylon--modern day Iraq).
As "nobles", they were the ones who would have carried on the leadership, religion and culture of Israel...but when Israel was overthrown, Babylon did not stop with military victory, but tried to wipe out Israel's culture (as was common then). They did this by 'indoctrinating' the young leaders into the ways of their own culture.
They taught them the history, culture, and even the religion of Babylon. They dressed them in the clothing of thier culture.
They even gave them new "Babylonian" names (trying to really target their very identity as Israelites and Jews!).
Finally, they fed them 'Babylonian' food.
The plan was to do all this for a period of 3 years. In this way, Babylon would virtually wipe out the culture of Israel and Judah.
...but they didn't account for 2 things: God, and some young men who would not capitulate!
Daniel and his 3 friends, Hanaiah, Mishael, and Azariah were committed to NOT forgetting.
They were NOT foolish, and they were NOT simply 'obstinate'...if they had been, they'd probably have been killed. Rather, they were wise.
Culturally, they learned about Babylon. They learned about the history, wore the clothing, even took the names of Balteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego.
...but Daniel led them and "he determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king." (Daniel 1:8)
So, why was the food a big deal?
Was it because Daniel and co. were vegetarians? No.
Was it because they couldn't eat any of the meat and other Babylonian dishes? Not necessarily.
It was because food at the King's table would have already been sacrificed to their Babylonian 'gods', and dedicated to them. Therefore, for Daniel and co., it would have been like they--themselves--were submitting to them.
This would not do.
Ultimately, it wasn't about culture or customs; it was about GOD--the True God of Israel, Yahweh!
They could not allow themselves to give up on HIM!
Therefore, they proposed that they'd be allowed to avoid the food. Normally, there would be no discussion...the answer would be "No!", but it says in Daniel 1:9, "Now God had given the chief of staff both respect and affection for Daniel."
Daniel and co. were stepping out on faith...and God was stepping in!
Because of this attitude toward Daniel, the Chief of staff said 'yes' to a 10 day vegetarian trial period...and at the end, Daniel and co looked better than all the other guys, who'd eaten the "King's food"!
God didn't stop there...
"God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams.
When the training period ordered by the king was completed, the chief of staff brought all the young men to King Nebuchadnezzar. The king talked with them, and no one impressed him as much as Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they entered the royal service. Whenever the king consulted them in any matter requiring wisdom and balanced judgment, he found them ten times more capable than any of the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom." (Daniel 1:17-20)
So, what can we learn from this?
Is it that a vegetarian diet leads to divine enablement?
no.
Is it that God will always move non-believers in our direction, if we step out in faith?
no, although He often will.
Is it that I will be given the ability to interpret dreams if I go on a 'Daniel Fast'?
Nope.
So, what?
Simply this: If you and I refuse to compromise...no matter how great the pressure around us, God will notice, and God will bless us.
He will be faithful!
There may be specific times, within His sovereign will, that He does not deliver us, but even then, He's at work (see Joseph's story in Genesis).
Bank on it: If You 'Step out' in faith, God Will 'Step In' to the situation!
He will be your "Strong Tower", in the midst of the trials!
Showing posts with label Faith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Faith. Show all posts
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Daniel 1: REFUSE to compromise!
What defines YOU?
When others think of you, what comes to mind? Are there principles, beliefs, or values which are 'foundational' to the way you live?
I don't know about you, but when my life is nearing the end, I want to look back and know that I lived in such a way that everyone who knew me was clear on what I was 'about'.
For me, the number one thing--above all--is my relationship with God, through Jesus Christ.
What about you? What are you living for?
In the Old Testament, we read about Daniel, a great man of God, who lived and uncompromsing and faithful life, even as the world around him changed dramatically.
The story starts out when Daniel is a teenager. The Babylonians come in and conquer Israel and Judah. They strategically take some of the best and brightest of the young people and take them away from home, family, everything they know. They take these teens and deport them to Babylon. There they begin to systematically re-program them. They change their names. They change their education. They try to change their diets.
"{the king's servant}was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians.The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service." (Daniel 1:4-5)
Interesting thing about a name: Even though names are important, they can't really define you. I had lots of 'nicknames' as a kid: the Captain, Root, Cheese, (all strange, I know)...but the nicknames didn't change me. They couldn't change who I was internally.
Daniel's name is changed to a Babylonian name: Belteshazzar. His friends are also given Babylonian names--each one at least partly representing a Babylonian god.
"Among these were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego." (Daniel 1:6-7)
But the name couldn't change who they were on the inside.
Daniel and his friends were also given Babylonian education. They were to be indoctrinated into the philosophy, mindset and values of Babylon. The 4 friends apparently went along with the education, but--again--it didn't 'define' them.
(Important principle: If we teach our young people at a young age the truths about God, His Word, and faith, and IF they internalize it, then being exposed to other philosophies does not have to undermine it--they can be strong!)
The third way that Daniel and his friends were to be 'indoctrinated' into Babylon--and changed at thier core--was through their diet. This is where they drew the line...and I'll write about that next time.
In the meantime, take a step back, and think about these guys. Teenagers--perhaps 14 or 15. Their parents may've been killed, they were kidnapped and transported to a hostile land. They are threatened with death at any time if they misplease the king, or step too far out of line.
Everyone on earth would 'understand' if they went along. "What choice did they have?", we'd say. "They couldn't risk dying for it!"
Yet, they did!
These 4 young men risked everything, in a hostile environment, with all the odds 'stacked against them', they did not compromise.
They stood up for what they believed in. More specifically, they stood up for WHO they believed in--the God of their ancestors, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob...they God their parents had (apparently) taught them about. The God THEY believed in.
They literally put their lives on the line in order to stand for this God.
...and how did it go for them?
You can read about it in Daniel 1, or you can 'tune in next time'!
In the meantime, consider: What "defines" you?
Will you follow Him, and REFUSE to compromise--like they did?
When others think of you, what comes to mind? Are there principles, beliefs, or values which are 'foundational' to the way you live?
I don't know about you, but when my life is nearing the end, I want to look back and know that I lived in such a way that everyone who knew me was clear on what I was 'about'.
For me, the number one thing--above all--is my relationship with God, through Jesus Christ.
What about you? What are you living for?
In the Old Testament, we read about Daniel, a great man of God, who lived and uncompromsing and faithful life, even as the world around him changed dramatically.
The story starts out when Daniel is a teenager. The Babylonians come in and conquer Israel and Judah. They strategically take some of the best and brightest of the young people and take them away from home, family, everything they know. They take these teens and deport them to Babylon. There they begin to systematically re-program them. They change their names. They change their education. They try to change their diets.
"{the king's servant}was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians.The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service." (Daniel 1:4-5)
Interesting thing about a name: Even though names are important, they can't really define you. I had lots of 'nicknames' as a kid: the Captain, Root, Cheese, (all strange, I know)...but the nicknames didn't change me. They couldn't change who I was internally.
Daniel's name is changed to a Babylonian name: Belteshazzar. His friends are also given Babylonian names--each one at least partly representing a Babylonian god.
"Among these were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego." (Daniel 1:6-7)
But the name couldn't change who they were on the inside.
Daniel and his friends were also given Babylonian education. They were to be indoctrinated into the philosophy, mindset and values of Babylon. The 4 friends apparently went along with the education, but--again--it didn't 'define' them.
(Important principle: If we teach our young people at a young age the truths about God, His Word, and faith, and IF they internalize it, then being exposed to other philosophies does not have to undermine it--they can be strong!)
The third way that Daniel and his friends were to be 'indoctrinated' into Babylon--and changed at thier core--was through their diet. This is where they drew the line...and I'll write about that next time.
In the meantime, take a step back, and think about these guys. Teenagers--perhaps 14 or 15. Their parents may've been killed, they were kidnapped and transported to a hostile land. They are threatened with death at any time if they misplease the king, or step too far out of line.
Everyone on earth would 'understand' if they went along. "What choice did they have?", we'd say. "They couldn't risk dying for it!"
Yet, they did!
These 4 young men risked everything, in a hostile environment, with all the odds 'stacked against them', they did not compromise.
They stood up for what they believed in. More specifically, they stood up for WHO they believed in--the God of their ancestors, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob...they God their parents had (apparently) taught them about. The God THEY believed in.
They literally put their lives on the line in order to stand for this God.
...and how did it go for them?
You can read about it in Daniel 1, or you can 'tune in next time'!
In the meantime, consider: What "defines" you?
Will you follow Him, and REFUSE to compromise--like they did?
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Don't Hate!--a note to young people everywhere.
Well, it's happened again.
A young student, with much of life to live, walked into his own High School and shot several fellow students, killing 3, wounding at least 2 more.
We're still finding out 'why', but the theories are coming out: He spent some time in "Goth" mode, being anti-social. He was bullied and teased by other students. One of the victims may have been a current boyfriend of his ex-girlfriend. Eventually, I'm sure we'll know the exact reason that he 'went off', but there are lessons to learn, no matter what.
Certainly there are lessons about unsecured guns, bullies, and so on.
...but I want to focus on the shooter--not only this one, but so many others.
What is the one thing they have in common?
Many of them have had hard lives...but not all. Many have been picked on...but not all. Many are 'social outcasts'...but not all. Some have intense, violent video game obsessions...but not all.
I would say there is one thing that each of them have in common, though--and it's something we all tend toward doing.
They let other peoples' opinions of them determine what they think of themselves. They let other people's behaviors determine thier own behavior--even to the point of killing. They fear others' rejection of them so much that they give in to their rudeness. (Proverbs 29:25)
I don't know about you, but I was bullied at times as a kid; I had some very negative things go on in my life; I was teased at times, and at times, a 'social outcast'. There were many times I was hurt by others' words and actions--cut to the core.
...and that's the problem.
We all let other people 'define' us--whether we're 'good' or not, 'cool' or not, 'good looking' or not, 'popular' or not and 'secure' or not.
We let them determine what we think inside our own brains about ourselves!
Why do we give them that kind of power?
There is ONE who's opinions you should care about--and ONLY One!
Your God--your Creator, Lord, and Keeper--is the One who has the absolutely accurate opinion of you...(and, by the way, He loves you like crazy!)
He loved you enough, He sacrificed His 'pride and joy'--His one and only Son--so that you can live! (John 3:16-17)
He knows you--your insecurities, your fears, and He loves you anyway. (Psalm 139:1-4, 13-16)
He knows what you've been through--your hurts, your painful memories, your embarassments, and He loves you anyway. (Psalm 56)
He knows your deepest, darkest secrets--your sins, your addictions, your frequent failures...and He loves you anyway. (Romans 7:18-25)
In fact, there's NOTHING you can do to stop Him from loving you. You didn't earn His love, so you can't 'un-earn' it. His love is secure, keeping you secure when the storms of life are raging around you. (Romans 8:31-39)
He's got plans--BIG plans--for you. He will lead you into blessing, if you let Him lead, and if you follow Him. (Jeremiah 29:11)
In the meantime, there will be others who will try to convince you that you're nothing; that the world would be better without you; that you are--and always will be--a failure. "Epic fail" they mutter when you pass. They'll point out every imperfection you have. That acne, that lisp, that eyebrow. They'll make fun of your height (or the lack thereof), your weight, and your personality.
They'll try to ruin your own opinion of you.
And they can be brutal.
..but don't let them.
Instead of letting them define you, get your definition from the One who made you and loves you...and remember: He's the One who made them too, and He loves them.
Don't lash out. Don't give in to the anger and hate. (Romans 12:14-21)
Instead, lean on God's love for you. Pray for them. Rise above their smallness, and be one of the 'vessels' God uses to turn things around.
Don't let them sidetrack you from the blessings He has for you.
Commit yourself to the Lord. Let Him define you. Let Him love you.
...the future will continue to be bright!
God loves you, and so do I.
Pastor Dave
Ps: If this was helpful to you, PLEASE go back and look up the Scripture references. Don't have a Bible? Go here: www.biblegateway.com
...and WATCH THIS VIDEO!
A young student, with much of life to live, walked into his own High School and shot several fellow students, killing 3, wounding at least 2 more.
We're still finding out 'why', but the theories are coming out: He spent some time in "Goth" mode, being anti-social. He was bullied and teased by other students. One of the victims may have been a current boyfriend of his ex-girlfriend. Eventually, I'm sure we'll know the exact reason that he 'went off', but there are lessons to learn, no matter what.
Certainly there are lessons about unsecured guns, bullies, and so on.
...but I want to focus on the shooter--not only this one, but so many others.
What is the one thing they have in common?
Many of them have had hard lives...but not all. Many have been picked on...but not all. Many are 'social outcasts'...but not all. Some have intense, violent video game obsessions...but not all.
I would say there is one thing that each of them have in common, though--and it's something we all tend toward doing.
They let other peoples' opinions of them determine what they think of themselves. They let other people's behaviors determine thier own behavior--even to the point of killing. They fear others' rejection of them so much that they give in to their rudeness. (Proverbs 29:25)
I don't know about you, but I was bullied at times as a kid; I had some very negative things go on in my life; I was teased at times, and at times, a 'social outcast'. There were many times I was hurt by others' words and actions--cut to the core.
...and that's the problem.
We all let other people 'define' us--whether we're 'good' or not, 'cool' or not, 'good looking' or not, 'popular' or not and 'secure' or not.
We let them determine what we think inside our own brains about ourselves!
Why do we give them that kind of power?
There is ONE who's opinions you should care about--and ONLY One!
Your God--your Creator, Lord, and Keeper--is the One who has the absolutely accurate opinion of you...(and, by the way, He loves you like crazy!)
He loved you enough, He sacrificed His 'pride and joy'--His one and only Son--so that you can live! (John 3:16-17)
He knows you--your insecurities, your fears, and He loves you anyway. (Psalm 139:1-4, 13-16)
He knows what you've been through--your hurts, your painful memories, your embarassments, and He loves you anyway. (Psalm 56)
He knows your deepest, darkest secrets--your sins, your addictions, your frequent failures...and He loves you anyway. (Romans 7:18-25)
In fact, there's NOTHING you can do to stop Him from loving you. You didn't earn His love, so you can't 'un-earn' it. His love is secure, keeping you secure when the storms of life are raging around you. (Romans 8:31-39)
He's got plans--BIG plans--for you. He will lead you into blessing, if you let Him lead, and if you follow Him. (Jeremiah 29:11)
In the meantime, there will be others who will try to convince you that you're nothing; that the world would be better without you; that you are--and always will be--a failure. "Epic fail" they mutter when you pass. They'll point out every imperfection you have. That acne, that lisp, that eyebrow. They'll make fun of your height (or the lack thereof), your weight, and your personality.
They'll try to ruin your own opinion of you.
And they can be brutal.
..but don't let them.
Instead of letting them define you, get your definition from the One who made you and loves you...and remember: He's the One who made them too, and He loves them.
Don't lash out. Don't give in to the anger and hate. (Romans 12:14-21)
Instead, lean on God's love for you. Pray for them. Rise above their smallness, and be one of the 'vessels' God uses to turn things around.
Don't let them sidetrack you from the blessings He has for you.
Commit yourself to the Lord. Let Him define you. Let Him love you.
...the future will continue to be bright!
God loves you, and so do I.
Pastor Dave
Ps: If this was helpful to you, PLEASE go back and look up the Scripture references. Don't have a Bible? Go here: www.biblegateway.com
...and WATCH THIS VIDEO!
Friday, November 4, 2011
Generosity...the Better Way!
If you read my blog yesterday , You know that I believe it's possible to be self-centered from both sides of the 'have vs have-not' spectrum.
Selfishness leads us to excuse our own bad behavior while seeing others' quite clearly. We can justify our selfishness by saying we 'deserve' what we can get...but if we are followers of Jesus Christ, He calls us to a much Better Way!
He calls us to be generous!
To be willing to give away our money...but also our time, our talents, and so on.
He calls us to rise to new heights of behavior, motivated by a new kind of love...God's love...for others.
Remember that Jesus, when challenged about the 'Greatest of the Commandments', said "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind"--this is the first and greatest commandment; and the second is like it: "You must love your neigbor as yourself"." (Matthew 22:37-39)
He said that the "Entire Law and the (teaching of the) prophets are fulfilled in these 2 commandments" (Matthew 22:40)
In other words, if we want to please God, then our Top Priorities are to love Him above all else, and love others as ourselves.
That means (among many other things), being generous!
Generosity is not only the opposite of selfishness, it's also the antidote to it!
If we can rise above our self-centeredness and learn to give--even when times are tough; even when it seems as though others are getting ahead (even if by unfair practises); even when we feel justified in making demands--we can experience that blessing of God working through us!
If we will focus on being God's "conduit of love" in practical ways--such as generosity--I believe He will notice. What's more, I believe He will bless us for doing so!
Jesus said "Seek first His Kingdom, and His righeousness, and all these things (ie, your needs) will be given to you." (Matthew 6:34).
We also read in the Scripture that "You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others." (2 Corinthians 9:7-8)
How cool would it be if God's people...Christ followers...would live this out consistently! How amazed would the rest of this world be if we rose above the clamor of the current 'I want what you have' mindset and became generous agents of blessing in this world!
God could do something pretty powerful in our hearts...and through our lives...if we were willing to do that. That's what He did in the early Church (see Acts 2, 4), and that's part of the reason that it changed the world--through love, faith...and generosity!
May God give us that spirit again today!
May the "song" of our lives sing--for HIS glory!
Selfishness leads us to excuse our own bad behavior while seeing others' quite clearly. We can justify our selfishness by saying we 'deserve' what we can get...but if we are followers of Jesus Christ, He calls us to a much Better Way!
He calls us to be generous!
To be willing to give away our money...but also our time, our talents, and so on.
He calls us to rise to new heights of behavior, motivated by a new kind of love...God's love...for others.
Remember that Jesus, when challenged about the 'Greatest of the Commandments', said "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind"--this is the first and greatest commandment; and the second is like it: "You must love your neigbor as yourself"." (Matthew 22:37-39)
He said that the "Entire Law and the (teaching of the) prophets are fulfilled in these 2 commandments" (Matthew 22:40)
In other words, if we want to please God, then our Top Priorities are to love Him above all else, and love others as ourselves.
That means (among many other things), being generous!
Generosity is not only the opposite of selfishness, it's also the antidote to it!
If we can rise above our self-centeredness and learn to give--even when times are tough; even when it seems as though others are getting ahead (even if by unfair practises); even when we feel justified in making demands--we can experience that blessing of God working through us!
If we will focus on being God's "conduit of love" in practical ways--such as generosity--I believe He will notice. What's more, I believe He will bless us for doing so!
Jesus said "Seek first His Kingdom, and His righeousness, and all these things (ie, your needs) will be given to you." (Matthew 6:34).
We also read in the Scripture that "You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others." (2 Corinthians 9:7-8)
How cool would it be if God's people...Christ followers...would live this out consistently! How amazed would the rest of this world be if we rose above the clamor of the current 'I want what you have' mindset and became generous agents of blessing in this world!
God could do something pretty powerful in our hearts...and through our lives...if we were willing to do that. That's what He did in the early Church (see Acts 2, 4), and that's part of the reason that it changed the world--through love, faith...and generosity!
May God give us that spirit again today!
May the "song" of our lives sing--for HIS glory!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Why won't God show up?
Ever wondered why God moves sometimes, while other times He seems to remain silent?
Why He seems to be 'at work' in some people's lives...but not in others?
There could be many reasons for this, but I want you to consider this one:
Maybe God doesn't "show Himself" because...we don't need Him to!Our 'faith' doesn't require us to depend on Him, on a day-to-day basis, at all!
He says in His word that "The righteous will live by FAITH" (Romans 1:17)
Maybe we've created a life of faith that is so safe, so secure, so predictable that we don't NEED God to 'DO' anything!
Don't get me wrong--I'm not saying that God isn't there--just that He's not called upon in any real way, so He doesn't act.
It's not because His power is limited...not because He doesn't care...just because we have made our faith so 'sterile' and bland that He moves somewhere else.
One of my favorite verses is 2 Chronicles 16:9: "The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth, seeking to strongly support those who's hearts are fully committed to Him".
To be sure, God is STILL searching...
He is STILL interested in "strongly supporting us", but we have to ask ourselves:
Are our hearts--is YOUR heart "fully committed to Him"?
I still believe God has big things to do. I still believe He wants to 'show up'. I believe He wants to encourage those who step out in faith to serve Him, willing to move into whatever adventure He calls us to.
The question is, 'Will we have the courage to step out'?
Will we act on faith?
Are we...are YOU...willing to step into the adventure He's been calling you to, knowing that 'If He doesn't catch me, I crash'?
Are you willing to NEED God?
If so, have faith! Be of good courage! He WILL strongly support you!
Why He seems to be 'at work' in some people's lives...but not in others?
There could be many reasons for this, but I want you to consider this one:
Maybe God doesn't "show Himself" because...we don't need Him to!Our 'faith' doesn't require us to depend on Him, on a day-to-day basis, at all!
He says in His word that "The righteous will live by FAITH" (Romans 1:17)
Maybe we've created a life of faith that is so safe, so secure, so predictable that we don't NEED God to 'DO' anything!
Don't get me wrong--I'm not saying that God isn't there--just that He's not called upon in any real way, so He doesn't act.
It's not because His power is limited...not because He doesn't care...just because we have made our faith so 'sterile' and bland that He moves somewhere else.
One of my favorite verses is 2 Chronicles 16:9: "The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth, seeking to strongly support those who's hearts are fully committed to Him".
To be sure, God is STILL searching...
He is STILL interested in "strongly supporting us", but we have to ask ourselves:
Are our hearts--is YOUR heart "fully committed to Him"?
I still believe God has big things to do. I still believe He wants to 'show up'. I believe He wants to encourage those who step out in faith to serve Him, willing to move into whatever adventure He calls us to.
The question is, 'Will we have the courage to step out'?
Will we act on faith?
Are we...are YOU...willing to step into the adventure He's been calling you to, knowing that 'If He doesn't catch me, I crash'?
Are you willing to NEED God?
If so, have faith! Be of good courage! He WILL strongly support you!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)