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But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up. Daniel 3:18
In a world where it’s becoming increasingly dangerous to have an opinion, it’s easy to shy away from stating your beliefs.
I have to admit I’ve hesitated to take a stand on volatile social issues even though I have strong convictions regarding them. It’s easy to rationalize my lack of response as ‘trying to be graceful’ or ‘waiting until we were in private for a conversation’ or convincing myself I wasn’t qualified to respond because I may do more harm than good to God.
Imagine what it must have been like for Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to refuse to bow to the king’s statue. They were in a foreign land. They were looked down on by many. They were refugees, aliens in a foreign land. And here they were refusing to follow the commands of the king. Three men of minority status standing when everyone else was kneeling.
Yet in the face of attack, in the face of death they refused to compromise their standards. They didn’t know if God would deliver them physically, but physical protection wasn’t as important to them as being true to God.
How strong is your faith? What are you willing to risk for God? The closer we get to Jesus’ return the more we will be called to stand confidently for what we know is true, even in the face of death.
So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world Lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them.” Mark 10:42
We are a society that celebrates power. Strength is worshiped, weakness is looked down upon. Nothing has really changed from when Jesus walked on earth. He points out that worldly leaders ‘lord’ it over those under them.
To ‘lord’ it over others really means that we show them no value. The leader who ‘lords’ it over others sends a message that they are far more valuable than anyone else.
Not only do they show they don’t value others, but they aren’t shy about it! They use every opportunity to show everyone that THEY are in charge. They flaunt their position like a huge banner for everyone to see.
Worldly leaders claim the decisions they make on ‘our behalf’ will help us. Yet, it seems like their promises rarely come true or benefit us in the way we hope. Every political season we hear the promises of better times ahead and we rarely see results.
When Jesus says there is power in service it means that the decisions of a servant-leader always make decisions that benefit us. We may not see it at first, but time proves purpose. Jesus can use the bad we experience to bring about good things.
“…may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen. Hebrews 13:21
We like to be in control. Adam and Eve chose the fruit so they could be like God (control). Throughout history mankind has sought to be in control through politics, financial gain, racial and gender identity and docile influence.
Jesus has a different way. He provides the power. He provides the strength. But in order to access His great power he asks for control.
We like to think we can control our health, our relationships, even the climate and environment. Yet His Word makes it clear all life is under His control.
It’s His power not mine. He does the equipping not me. He is in control not science. He gives true comfort not the fickle comfort of culture.
When we give up control we see His glory not mine. And when He is glorified we find value and power.
One more strange dichotomy of the Christian life: to gain power and value give up control to Jesus.
So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:18
It seems like every day we’re met with more and more troubles. Racial tension. Conspiracy theories. Political unrest. Natural disasters. Pandemics. Climate change. Inflation.
When you start to look around, it can really be pretty depressing. It’s no wonder fear and worry and anger and frustration and hatred seem to be rampant.
The apostle Paul encourages us to place our gaze on the things that last forever. All of the struggles we see now will someday go away. But there are some things that we can’t see that will last forever.
The love of God is new every morning. The forgiveness of our sins. The promise of eternal life. A peace the passes all understanding. The presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives as believers in Jesus. What are some other things that will last forever?
Focusing on the things that will last forever makes it easier to endure the things we struggle with that surround us. The things we see are temporary, but the promises of God are eternal.
Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Ephesians 5:2
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but up here in the north country, fall is soon to be among us. While I’m not happy about what comes after fall, there are many things I love about fall.
The crisp air. The colorful leaves. The woodsy smell of a campfire or walking through the forest. Our lives are centered around aromas and smells, that’s one of the reasons why the candle industry is so huge. We all love those pleasing aroma’s.
Jesus’s life was a pleasing aroma to the Father. That’s how God saw Jesus. He looked down from heaven, and saw his son and the marvelous things that his son did for his creation. The love Jesus showed for God’s people made God happy.
Not only is Jesus, a pleasing aroma to God, That’s how he sees us when we live in his love. The next time you smell something that just makes you feel good, think about the fact that you smell good to God!
