Think Differently

This past Sunday was awesome! If you were able to join us at Lakeside Christian Church then you got to participate in a very exciting service as we saw three young men publicly share their testimony and get baptized. (Click Here to watch it on video) At the end of the Service, Pastor Petar challenged the guys with the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego of Daniel 3. Not everyone will be excited and supportive, and some may test you. May your profession stay “strong and sure” when it feels that you are alone and opposed.

I love how God works, because that is the passage for our youth group tonight, Daniel 3. As we continue in our lesson series, Reverse, and learn how to live counter-culturally as we follow Christ, there are many lessons we can learn from Daniel 3.

As followers of Christ, we are called to die to self and think differently then the world does (Romans 12:1-2). We are constantly bombarded by a world system that is anti-God. Sometimes we don’t even realize that they way we think is not consistent with the Bible. This is why it is so necessary for us to get into the Word of God daily, to be faithful to our church and youth groups so we can begin to live and think differently.

Here are some take aways from Daniel 3:

STAY GOD-FOCUSED AND STAND FIRM – trust in God’s goodness and His way is best for you.

TAKE IT FOR GRANTED THAT SOME WILL BE DISPLEASED because you are standing up for Jesus.

ANTICIPATE BLOWBACK in the form of uncomfortable consequences (rejection, rumors, loss of popularity)

NEVER DOUBT GOD’S PRESENCE WITH YOU! Lean in to your relationship with God and you’ll find He is with you in the midst of your uncomfortable situation.

DEPEND ON GOD AND THEN GIVE HIM THE GLORY! Those watching will see your faith and your God.

You will see STAND in the above acrostic. When we think differently we will live in Reverse by Standing when others Bow. We don’t want to bow down to idols, but worship the one true God. We don’t want to go along with the flow, but live in such a way that points to Jesus. It begins with choosingto have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. When you trust Him you will want to please Him with the way you live.