Be different

July 16, 2019

Selina Soule is a high school athlete who was competing at the New England High School tournament. She missed out on the chance for a spot in the state regionals when the first two spots in the 55-meter event were taken by two transgender male athletes. How can you compare the strength and the speed of a boy with a girl’s? This makes no sense. But the world wants to say the opposite. Because of this she decided to take legal action with Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) to uphold her rights under the federal law that provides equal rights to women in education. “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness” (Isaiah 5:20 NIV). This is the new norm in the world. Yet Christians can never compromise their principles.

Let’s look at Daniel

He was a Hebrew boy.
He served the God of Israel.
He was from the lineage of David.
When he was about 17 years old all of Israel was taken under captivity under the Babylonian empire.

There were several things that the Babylonians wanted to do with Daniel and his friends when they were taken into the palace.

The indoctrination of the Babylonians

“Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s “young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians” (Daniel 1:4 NIV).

The Babylonians’ agenda was for Daniel and his friends to completely forget about God. They wanted them to learn their language and to start behaving in their ways. There was a big push for indoctrination. He had to fit into that ungodly culture. Him and his friends were forced to live under that environment. The whole point was to teach them to follow the Babylonian gods and for them to forget about the Hebrew Law (Mosaic Law).

Daniel means God is my judge but it was changed to Belteshazzar – which is a name after a Babylonian god. His friends ́ names were also changed to names of Babylonian gods (Shadrac, Mesach and Abednego).

Do you feel this type of pressure in your environment?

YOU can choose to be different

“But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king” (Daniel 1:8 NLT)

Even though he lived in an ungodly culture. He was the head of the magicians and astrologers. He never compromised his values. How do you achieve this? By choosing to be different.

Choose your friends
No one is forcing you to have the friends you have right now. If you know that they are people who don’t have your principles, you can choose to stay away from them, even if it means to stay with no friends.

Choose your habits
When you become a new creation, your biggest change is inside of you. You are a child of God, therefore you have the habits of a child of God. Do you have any of these habits?

Choose your mentors
Who are you listening to? Are you accepting what your atheist college or school professor is teaching you? You decide your sources. Even for business, there are a lot of Christian people who can mentor you in these areas.

You can choose to be happy.
You can choose to forgive.
You can choose to quit your vices.
You can choose to start eating healthy.
You can choose to love your family.
You can choose to stop complaining.

This year I added two new habits to my life. I listen to an audiobook a week, and I say a daily declaration of who I am in Christ. I say this declaration everyday after I do my Bible study and before I pray.

MY DAILY DECLARATION

Jesus is first, my priorities are in order
I am a leader, it’s not something I do, it’s who I am
I honor others to honor God
I love my family and I live to serve them
I am disciplined, God helps me to finish everything I start
Because Christ lives in mi I have a balanced life
I am creative, innovative and focused because the Holy Spirit renews my mind everyday
I am example in everything because I live to fulfill God’s mission on earth
I wake up with purpose, direction and meaning

My prayer is that you will decide to be different just like Daniel was. He was willing to give his life for God. How willing are you to give your life for Christ?

LISTEN TO THIS MESSAGE HERE