Thank you for your feedback and taking the time to do the Repurposing Our Lives survey last week. That was the largest response we’ve ever had from this group. I am so grateful.
Now through August, I’ll be analyzing your responses along with the results of the U.S. general population study we’ve launched. I hope it will help us all to be more effective Christ Followers and disciple makers. My goal is to help people reignite their passion for Jesus by repurposing their life—even though the calendar and clock may read “retirement age.”
Today and through August is the start of a special opportunity that begins on August 30. Many find sharing Jesus intimidating, pushing us out of our comfort zones. But with practice, it can become a natural part of our lives. Late next month, Back to the Bible and Sight & Sound Theater are partnering to offer you a unique opportunity to share your faith. Labor Day weekend Sight & Sound Theater will be broadcasting their brand-new stage production "DANIEL" live from their theater in Lancaster, PA into over 1,000 movie theaters nationwide. Invite someone to join you and create a chance for discipleship.
If you aren’t familiar with their ministry, Sight & Sound Theater has been bringing the Bible to life on stage for nearly 50 years, sharing our mission of engaging people with God's Word. "DANIEL" is a powerful story of hope, and it's a perfect way to touch lives for Christ.
To help us prepare, Sight & Sound Theater has created a series of devotionals on the story of Daniel. We’re going to be sharing these each week in the month of August to help us embrace the truths in this portion of Scripture and the hope needed by so many.
“Jeremiah said that God has plans for us. Plans to give us a hope and a future.”
The book of Daniel is nothing short of epic and mysterious. Some people have studied it intensely for many years while others may only know about the lion’s den. Wherever you are on that spectrum, you can be sure that a beautiful theme throughout the book of Daniel is HOPE.
The story of Daniel begins when he and some of his peers (most likely members of his family) Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, are taken from their home in Jerusalem and brought to the empire of Babylon. King Nebuchadnezzar has just conquered Assyria and now he is demanding loyalty and service from the surrounding territories, including Judah. This group of young men were the best and the brightest. They were in the royal family and were most likely being trained to serve as counselors to the current King of Judah, King Jehoiakim. The artifacts and vessels of worship for the Lord were also taken from the Temple. Nebuchadnezzar was making a statement not only for himself but for his gods: Babylon rules the world now.
Leading up to Babylon’s invasion, the people of Israel had been increasingly rejecting the Lord. They were openly and actively worshipping other gods in violent and perverse ways. The call of the Hebrews was to represent God’s heart and laws to the other nations. This idolatry and disobedience not only separated God’s people from Him, it misrepresented the Lord to the world. For about 400 years, God sent prophets to remind His people of His word and warn them about the coming judgment. When the day of reckoning came, many of the Hebrews were killed or taken captive. The temple of the Lord was burned to the ground. In their devastation and grief, the word that the Lord gave to Jeremiah held a glimmer of promise: ‘For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ Jeremiah 29:11
Even in the face of His people’s rebellion and Babylon’s invasion, God is offering hope. A hope that defies our sin and circumstances.
Daniel’s temptation to despair must have been very intense. He not only lost his home, he lost his name, his faith practices, his community, his occupation, his dreams. How would you react in the face of such loss? While we don’t know for certain what he felt, we know what he chose: Hope. He knew God’s word and God’s character. He knew His promises.
Remember, when it looks like evil has won - God holds the victory. He has a redemptive plan and He always makes a way for salvation to come. Whether you’re living in the wake of your own mistakes or someone else’s, there is always hope available to you in the Lord.
Scripture: Daniel 1:1-7, Isaiah 39:5-7, Jeremiah 29:11-13, Deuteronomy 4:29-31
For more information on theaters in your area and to get tickets visit: https://bit.ly/4dexjJ4
I’m looking forward to seeing how God uses this opportunity to impact lives as we step out in faith to disciple others!
-Arnie
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