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1 Corinthians 15:33-34, Bad Companions Corrupt..., Daniel 1:8, Daniel 3:15-19, Daniel 3:28, Defiled or corrupt?, Defiled or Divine?, devoted and holy., Devotion has a price tag?, Don't settle for less than God's best!, Ephesians 4:25-31, Mahatma Ghandi Quote, Mindset matters., Pure, Who are you serving?, Who are you traveling with.
Mindset Matters??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #261
“But Daniel
purposed in his heart
that he would not defile himself
with the portion of the king’s meat,
nor with the wine which he drank:
therefore he requested
of the prince of the eunuchs
that he might not defile himself.” Daniel 1:8
Our mindset matters, because as a quote from Mahatma Ghandi (among others who made similar statements, he seems to have been one of the first) says:
“Watch your thoughts,
they become words;
watch your words,
they become actions;
watch your actions,
they become habits;
watch your habits,
they become character;
watch your character,
for it becomes your destiny.”
Daniel had made up his mind because his heart was purposed on God’s Word and His ways! Yet, Daniel and his friends were never arrogant or demanding, they had respect and worked through the powers that were over them. And they could do that because ultimately their confidence was in their God—chapter three confirms this as Daniel’s three friends face the fiery furnace. For you see, they had made their mind up long before this incident—in verse 8 of chapter 1!
“Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear
the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery,
and dulcimer,
and all kinds of musick,
ye fall down and worship the image
which I have made; well:
but if ye worship not,
ye shall be cast the same hour
into the midst of a burning fiery furnace;
and who is that God
that shall deliver you out of my hands?
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered
and said to the king,
O Nebuchadnezzar,
we are not careful to answer thee
in this matter.
17 If it be so, our God
whom we serve
is able to deliver us
from the burning fiery furnace,
and he will deliver us out of thine hand,
O king.
18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king,
that we will not serve thy gods,
nor worship the golden image
which thou hast set up.
19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury,
and the form of his visage was changed
against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego:
therefore he spake,
and commanded that they should heat the furnace
one seven times more
than it was wont to be heated.” Daniel 3:15-19
The result of their faithful commitment to their God was not only miraculous but gave glory to their God! Yet the glory only came when they were willing to trust their God to bring them through the fire, or out of it on the other side! What are you trusting God with? Or are you trying to do everything yourself? Even this furious king saw what their God could do, when they were delivered “in the fire”!
“Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said,
Blessed be the God
of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,
who hath sent his angel,
and delivered his servants
that trusted in him,
and have changed the king’s word,
and yielded their bodies,
that they might not
serve
nor worship
any god,
except their own God.” Daniel 3:28
What are you worshipping? Where are your time, energies and devotion going? What does your speech and actions reveal about you and your “god”?
Paul had some very wise counsel for us, and I find it worthy of continual consideration. May it speak to us today and may each of us draw nearer to our God rather than this world. May we consider the things that Paul reminds us of and choose wisely in our daily walk. May we be found to be devoted to the God we claim to love and serve?
“Wherefore putting away lying,
speak every man truth with his neighbour:
for we are members one of another.
26 Be ye angry, and sin not:
let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
27 Neither give place to the devil.
28 Let him that stole
steal no more:
but rather let him labour,
working with his hands the thing which is good,
that he may have to give to him that needeth.
29 Let no corrupt communication
proceed out of your mouth,
but that which is good
to the use of edifying,
that it may minister grace
unto the hearers.
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God,
whereby ye are sealed
unto the day of redemption.
31 Let all
bitterness,
and wrath,
and anger,
and clamour,
and evil speaking,
be put away from you,
with all malice:” Ephesians 4:25-31
Oh, that our speech and behavior would reflect the power of God that saves and keeps us! This flesh is a constant pull against the things of God, we must be like Daniel and make up our mind and our heart to “not defile” ourselves! Others may throw mud, but we must remain faithful to our God who is ever working to make us into the “image of His Son”! (See Romans 8:28-29)
May we be faithful testaments of the transforming grace and salvation that Jesus bought with His own blood! That we would spread holiness, joy and peace not corruption!
“Be not deceived:
evil communications
corrupt good manners.
34 Awake to righteousness,
and sin not;” 1 Corinthians 15:33-34a
Let’s follow Daniel’s and his friend’s example and keep a holy mindset rather than a worldly one! It shows! It matters!!!
Amen and Amen!!!
Bible Ballistics 