Daniel is faithful in all he undertakes, and his faithfulness causes others to give him more responsibility.

But at the same time Daniel is so faithful that he’s willing to lose all that he has been given to maintain his integrity.

Daniel, in other words, has what he has because he is faithful, and because he’s faithful, he’s willing to lose what he has if that’s what faithfulness requires.

To put it another way, Daniel is prepared for lions.

Scripture: Daniel 6

References: Tortured for Christ, by Richard Wurmbrand www.persecution.com

Daniel is faithful in all he undertakes, and his faithfulness causes others to give him more responsibility.

But at the same time Daniel is so faithful that he’s willing to lose all that he has been given to maintain his integrity.

Daniel, in other words, has what he has because he is faithful, and because he’s faithful, he’s willing to lose what he has if that’s what faithfulness requires.

To put it another way, Daniel is prepared for lions.

Scripture: Daniel 6

References: Tortured for Christ, by Richard Wurmbrand www.persecution.com

Difficulty and conflict are guaranteed. Jesus tells his followers to be different—to be like salt.

But be prepared: if you are different, you will face difficulty and conflict because you are different.

In Babylon, we are constantly being asked to bow to false idols, and if we refuse—if we insist on being different, it will make things difficult for us.

Even with that threat, though, it is still possible to be faithful and actually thrive in Babylon….

Scripture: Daniel 3:1-28

Difficulty and conflict are guaranteed. Jesus tells his followers to be different—to be like salt.

But be prepared: if you are different, you will face difficulty and conflict because you are different.

In Babylon, we are constantly being asked to bow to false idols, and if we refuse—if we insist on being different, it will make things difficult for us.

Even with that threat, though, it is still possible to be faithful and actually thrive in Babylon….

Scripture: Daniel 3:1-28

We are an advanced society and we have lots of technology, but there are some things we don’t know, and some things we will NEVER know, unless someone tells us.

For example:

Fortunately, as Daniel tells the Babylonian king in this week’s passage, God has made certain mysteries known to us through the scriptures.

Scripture: Daniel 2:1-2a, 10-19, 27-35, 46-49

We are an advanced society and we have lots of technology, but there are some things we don’t know, and some things we will NEVER know, unless someone tells us.

For example:

Fortunately, as Daniel tells the Babylonian king in this week’s passage, God has made certain mysteries known to us through the scriptures.

Scripture: Daniel 2:1-2a, 10-19, 27-35, 46-49

Everybody knows things need to be different, but nobody wants to BE different.But if God’s people aren’t any different, what good are they?

Jesus calls his followers the “salt of the earth.” Salt is meant to preserve and to add flavor. But, if salt loses its saltiness, it’s useless. (Matthew 5:13).

Daniel knew that being different in the small things would set him up to be used by God in a big way.

It’s no different for us today.

In fact, there are 4 areas specifically in which I think God’s people need to be different in our place and time. Be warned: you won’t want to hear them.—Andrew ForrestToday’s scripture:Matthew 5:13Daniel 1:1-21References:Lumbersexual (look it up)Aesop’s fable of the Wind and the SunLe Chambon-sur-LignonAndré Trocmé

Everybody knows things need to be different, but nobody wants to BE different.
But if God’s people aren’t any different, what good are they?

Jesus calls his followers the “salt of the earth.” Salt is meant to preserve and to add flavor. But, if salt loses its saltiness, it’s useless. (Matthew 5:13).

Daniel knew that being different in the small things would set him up to be used by God in a big way.

It’s no different for us today.

In fact, there are 4 areas specifically in which I think God’s people need to be different in our place and time. Be warned: you won’t want to hear them.

—Andrew Forrest

Today’s scripture:
Matthew 5:13
Daniel 1:1-21

References:
Lumbersexual (look it up)
Aesop’s fable of the Wind and the Sun
Le Chambon-sur-Lignon
André Trocmé

Babylon is Plan B.

Plan B is when life isn't what you've want; it's a diagnosis or divorce you didn't ask for; it's unemployment; it's when life doesn't go according to plan.

Whether you're in Plan B as the new year begins, or whether you'll find yourself there at some point in 2016, either way, Plan B is where we often are.

Daniel and his friends found themselves in the ultimate Plan B in Babylon: deported from their homeland, forced to serve a foreign king and a foreign God. And yet Daniel and his friends learned to thrive in Babylon.

As we begin 2016 and our Daniel series, Andrew gives us 3 steps to put us in the position to thrive and Babylon as he reminds us that our Plan B is still part of God's Plan A.

Babylon is Plan B.

Plan B is when life isn't what you've want; it's a diagnosis or divorce you didn't ask for; it's unemployment; it's when life doesn't go according to plan.

Whether you're in Plan B as the new year begins, or whether you'll find yourself there at some point in 2016, either way, Plan B is where we often are.

Daniel and his friends found themselves in the ultimate Plan B in Babylon: deported from their homeland, forced to serve a foreign king and a foreign God. And yet Daniel and his friends learned to thrive in Babylon.

As we begin 2016 and our Daniel series, Andrew gives us 3 steps to put us in the position to thrive and Babylon as he reminds us that our Plan B is still part of God's Plan A.