This is our second week preparing for the special Sight & Sound Theater production of Daniel over Labor Day weekend. It is an event specifically designed to help you and me share faith and disciple others. Daniel showcases this powerful story as hope—exactly what those around us need today.
Being ready to share Jesus with someone comes from being spiritually fit and strong personally. So how are you doing spiritually today? If you’ve been receiving, reflecting and responding to God’s Word four or more days a week, you are at the life transformational level of spiritual fitness.
If it has been a struggle to reach that number of days per week, don’t give up. Step up with this group in getting ready for the Daniel event. If you need some extra help and encouragement, download the GOtandem app to get daily Scripture tied exactly to your need. If you are getting the daily reminder emails to do the spiritual workouts, they can help you through a web-based experience. Either way, we’ve got you covered to get strengthened through God’s Word.
Here is today’s devotional from Sight & Sound Theater to keep us thinking about the story of Daniel and the help it will be to those we invite along Labor Day weekend.
BABYLON IS WHERE HEAVEN AND EARTH COLLIDE
Babylon’s origins can be found in the book of Genesis. There is a story about the people of the world coming together to build a great tower that would reach to the heavens. God comes down (clearly it wasn’t high enough) and confuses their speech so they can’t keep going on this project. The problem and the gift is that humans are created to have impact. Our work, our words, our choices all effect this world. That was the original design of Eden! We were supposed to be part of bringing God’s wholeness and goodness to the world.
The trouble began when people decided they wanted to be like God but without God. In the same way, the people of Babylon were trying to unite heaven and earth but they wanted to do it in their broken way. God had a plan that was going to lead to that reunion and this was not it. It wasn’t going to happen through a manmade structure, it was going to happen through a man: Jesus.
When we re-enter Babylon during the time of Daniel, not much has changed. Idols were buried under the buildings. There were over 200 temples in the city. Idols and symbols were on and beneath the roads. You literally couldn’t walk down the street without encountering god worship! Even people’s names represented the gods. Daniel’s name was changed to “Belteshazzar”, loosely translated as, “one of behalf of the god, Bel, who serves the King”. If you know the rest of Daniel’s story, this meaning is very ironic. Daniel’s response to this new life is incredibly simple and challenging. He chose to put his hope in the Lord and live faithfully.
The first example we get of Daniel and his friends being faced with a dilemma in Babylon is when they are presented with food from King Nebuchadnezzar’s table. This food is meant to be an honor and a luxury. There are several reasons this food would’ve been compromising for their worship. It could’ve been meat sacrificed to idols. It could’ve gone against their purity laws. Either way, by offering this food, King Nebuchadnezzar is saying that Babylon is their identity and provider. This meal would take their worship away from God. When they respectfully and firmly refused the food, God rewarded them with favor. Daniel and his friends would have to make a lot of difficult choices daily. They would have to pray, get creative and know God’s word intimately to work out the wisdom needed for such a tempting life in Babylon.
While there are big miracles in this story, those were pivotal moments in the steadily faithful life of Daniel. Through his faithful actions that were based in his hope in the Lord, Daniel was able to influence the direction of a current instead of being swept away by the tide. We are created to make an impact and share Eden, God’s Kingdom - the original design, with the rest of the world. We can do that if we daily live with hope in the Lord.
Scripture: Daniel 1:8-21, Philippians 4:11-13, Psalm 37-5-6, Joshua 1:7-8
Arnie is taking a well-deserved break in writing this month to concentrate on analyzing the research he’s been telling you about the last few weeks. Please remember to be praying for his work and insight.
I’m glad to step in and help you keep pushing forward on your own spiritual fitness. Be praying for those you want to invite to see Daniel in just a few weeks. I’m thankful for this special event to help us practice revealing how God is at work in our lives. Watch a trailer for Daniel and get tickets at Daniel: Live!
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