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ON GETTING SQUEEZED

Dear Church Family,

The life of Daniel is filled with important lessons for us as learner/followers of Jesus Christ. One cannot help but be impressed by the level of commitment to God that the prophet demonstrated while still in his teens. After being taken captive by the Babylonians, we read in verse 8 of Daniel, chapter one, that "…Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine…" That is, he refused to participate in an activity that would have violated the will of God. The Lord, via the Old Testament law, had laid down dietary laws, which his people were expected to observe. Partaking of the king's food and wine would have put Daniel at odds with God. Thus, he chose to honor the Lord - despite circumstances that would have led a person of lesser character to give in to the pressure. He chose to live by his convictions.

No doubt this week will present each of us with opportunities to conform to the ungodly ways of the world around us or to be a part of transforming the world in which we live by means of our actions, attitudes and words. As Christ-followers we are called to offer light in the midst of the culture's spiritual darkness.

I like the way J.B. Phillips rendered the first two verses of Romans, chapter 12. He put it like this:

With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to him and acceptable by him. Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity.

Let's not get squeezed this week! May we live by our convictions and bear a winsome witness for Jesus each day.

May the Lord bless you!

Pastor Mark