The Fire WithinSample

IDOLS AND VEGETABLES READ Daniel and his friends were young men brought into a foreign land, far from their families and social network. The Babylonians intended to teach them new learnings and desires that went against what they had received from God. More insidiously, the Babylonians tried to change their names and give them new identities. Their old names reflected their relationship with God (Daniel means “God is my Judge”) but the new names pointed to false gods (Belteshazzar contains the name “Bel” which was one of the Babylonian idols). In the same way, our sinful world system wants to stamp a false identity on God’s people. It tries to tell us who we are and how we are to live, alter our values, and say that sin is okay. Most of all, it attempts to minimize the greatness of our God. But like Daniel, we can resolve not to defile ourselves with the world. We can resist the world’s system because “the one who is in us is greater than the one in the world” (1 John 4:4, NIV). God defines our identity and no one else. REFLECT 1. What are some ways that the world’s system has tried to influence you and define your identity? What specific areas in your life are being targeted? 2. What does God’s Word say about those areas? Whose word is more powerful, the world’s or God’s? RESPOND 1. Daniel’s trust in God produced a specific action. What specific actions is God leading you to take in this area? Is there a temptation from the world to resist or an identity that you should reject? 2. Remember that every sin has been defeated when Jesus died on the cross. The next time you struggle with these areas, remember what Jesus did. Thank Him for the victory and live accordingly.