Under God?Exemplo

Living Under God

A few years ago, one of the largest smart phone manufacturers released their newer, larger, thinner phone. Lines of people waited for hours to be the first to have something that everyone else would have a few weeks later. These early adopters noticed something. Their phones were taking on the shape of their legs. The frame of the larger, thinner, phone was giving in under the pressure of a tight, skinny-jeans pocket or the weight under a human rear end.

People do this too. We go under contract on a new house, and our finances change. We stand under a waterfall and get wet. We live under the flag of a country, and we talk like it, dress like it, and even eat like it. We go under the knife, and our bodies change. We go under the influence of alcohol, and just about anything could happen.

What we’re under changes us.

Daniel lived under God, and it wasn’t easy. In the early 600s BC, Babylon ruled over many nations including Daniel’s country, Judah. Instead of decimating those countries, Babylon’s King Nebuchadnezzar brought the people under exile to live amongst his people. Then, he culled the brightest to help him build his kingdom. He changed their education, location, diet, clothes, and even names. The names were important because their Israelite names would usually refer to their one true God. Nebuchadnezzar aimed to pull these young leaders out from under God and place them under Babylon, under Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar chose Daniel.

You know what Daniel did? He went, but he made up his mind to stay Daniel even when he was named Belteshazzar by the most powerful ruler in the world. He didn’t eat what everyone else ate. When he was challenged, he basically said, “Well, let’s see if my diet makes me less able than the others.” You know what happened? Scripture says God gave him the knowledge and skills that were needed to make him an influencer of the King. In fact, he became more influential than those who ate and lived like the King. God eventually used Daniel’s influence to literally bring nations under God.

Babylon and Nebuchadnezzar are still just as real as our one true God, and they want you. There is a battle for how you live your life. What are you under? What is shaping you? What are you doing to gain influence with friends, family, and at work? Is it making you bent out of shape like an underdeveloped phone upgrade? Or, is it pulling you Under God?

Ask: Am I trying to stand out for God or blend in for something else? How?