Living for God in a Godless Society Part 1Sample

CHOOSING YOUR KINGDOM

When you follow Jesus, it doesn’t take long to realize you’re called to be different. Jesus described this in John 17:16 as being “not of the world.” In his first letter (2:11), Peter calls the followers of Jesus “sojourners and exiles.” But what does this mean in everyday life? From the beginning, from creation, God was calling people to follow Him and to be holy or set apart--to do counterintuitive things like loving your enemies and forgiving those who wrong you.

Centuries before Jesus came, a teenager named Daniel determined to follow God even when it meant being different and even if it cost his life. Daniel was part of a group of Jewish exiles taken to Babylon and chosen for the king’s indoctrination program. As we study Daniel’s choices, we can learn principles to guide us as we navigate living a holy life of spiritual resolve in an unholy culture. The first step always comes down to making a choice. Daniel 1:8 tells us, “Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or with the wine that he drank.” This teenager had to decide where to draw the line and take a stand. For him, that meant keeping the dietary laws he was taught from God’s word. It also meant exercising self-discipline to not indulge in even permissible luxury food or drink that could lead to dependence on those pleasures. As we’ll read, God both strengthen and honors Daniel in this choice and as he continues to choose God’s ways above the ways of the culture around him.

Ask Yourself:

-How has following Jesus changed the way you live?

-What difference do you see in how you relate to difficult co-workers, interact on social media, or use God’s name?

-Are you unsure how Jesus has changed your life? Why is that?

Pause to Pray: Jesus, I want to stand for you. Help me see what that means in my daily life and give me the strength to make the right choices. Holy Spirit, search my life; show me ways you want to change me to make me more like Jesus, and help me cooperate with you in those changes. Amen.

Take a Next Step: As you sit here, are you convicted of a behavior or attitude that is not Christ-like? Trust that God will help you change and take the first step today. That might be confessing it to a trusted friend and asking for accountability. Or it might mean removing yourself from a compromising conversation. What step will you take to live with spiritual resolve?