Daniel 1

We belong to God's Kingdom, but we must live for Him in another kingdom.

Thought School

Understand the world wants you to think their way.

read verses 1-7

I read an article this morning about some teachers saying that distance learning will be a problem because parents will be able to hear what the teachers are teaching their kids and disagree with it.

Our culture tells everyone how they should think. It usually tells Christians that we are wrong.

1 John 2:15 HCSB

Do not love the world or the things that belong to the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him.

We should be very clear with the world...

We belong to God’s Kingdom

Christians belong to God and our thoughts and actions should be directed by his word.

read verses 8-16

Mike and I went to an FCA event in Union City where Josh Dobbs was speaking. We actually got to meet him before he spoke. We got a Tennessee football and he signed it. Mike made me get in the picture with him. I wasn’t going to get in the picture, but Mike told me it wasn’t an option. But! I did not touch that football!

Side note: There were very few clips from Alabama games in his highlight reel.

Daniel finds a way to make a declaration that they belong first to the Lord.

We must declare to the world that we belong to the Lord. In the way we talk, spend our money, spend our time, interact with other people...

Romans 12:2 HCSB

Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

It’s always better to honor the Lord.

True wisdom is found in and blessed by God.

read verses 17-21

The four young men who sought to live according to the ways of God were the ones who were noticed by the king. They were learning true wisdom.

1 Corinthians 1:25 HCSB

because God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.

This doesn’t mean everyone will think you’re great or a genius or that you’ll have no problems, but trust that God’s wisdom will do better for you.

Daniel and his friends lived for God in a foreign land. That’s what we’re trying to do every day we live on this Earth. It’s not easy and we have to be intentional about it like Daniel and his friends were.

Be intentional about living for God. Let the world see and hear that you belong first to God and you value his culture more than the worlds.