The holiday season is filled with tradition for many of us. In my case Thanksgiving and Christmas was spent at my mother’s parents farm in Albany, Missouri. Whether it was Thanksgiving where I would inevitably find myself gorged on turkey, stuffing, and my mother’s cinnamon rolls, or Christmas where I would be bombarded with gifts from the family, much of my childhood revolved around those experiences. This is what I knew and what was the expected thing for us to do. It wasn’t until I met a special lady in my life that I had to make a choice about going to my grandparents for the holidays.
I married my wife, Sheila, in May of 2007 and had a few months to put aside the decision of where we would spend the holiday season, my parents or hers. I enjoy both sets of parents that I now have and wouldn’t give them up for the world, but each side of my family has different traditions. On my wife’s side they have a family history of traveling gospel groups, singing carols around a piano at night, and a talent show for grandma Nofziger. As far as my family goes, we were always told that if you can’t sing then sing loud. So when we decided to spend Christmas with my wife’s family, it found me screaming Whitney Houston’s “I will always love you” into a karaoke machine. Did I fit in? Not exactly, but I feel like I made the best of the situation. Even though it was tough not being a part of the traditions and what I was used to with my family I was still able to experience a great holiday with my new family.
I wonder how Daniel felt when he was taken away from the culture, family, and traditions that he knew. Taken captive to Babylon. How did he respond when it came time to celebrate the Passover feast and the culture he was surrounded by had no clue what it meant or even what it was? I wonder if Daniel ever got homesick for the people he grew up celebrating the traditions with. My example bears no weight compared to Daniel’s trial, but in a way I can understand what it means to be placed in an uneasy situation apart from what I knew. I was taken out of my comfort zone, from everything that I knew and understood, to a different system and culture.
Where in your life are you forced to be outside of your comfort zone in your walk with Christ? Is it when you walk through the doors at school? Is it when you walk into the locker room? Is it when you leave the K-Life house? Daniel was taken away from all he knew and those who encouraged him to live for God to a culture that had no reverence toward The Almighty. While so many other young men who were also captive fell away from following the Lord, why was it only 4 young men who stood firm? Would you be one of the few? Are you able to stand firm when you’re surrounded by those who disagree with your beliefs and challenge your character?
“But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king's choice food or with the wine which he drank; so he sought {permission} from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself.” Daniel 1:8
Daniel made up his mind that he would stand firm in a culture that went against his beliefs. I would venture to guess that Daniel’s mind was made up long before he was challenged to go against the will of God. Now is your time to stand firm for the Lord. Whether it is playing sports, attending school, hanging with friends, in all your relationships and all you do, is your mind made up?
JH 12/1 SH 12/3: Daniel
Where are you challenged to live out your Christ-like character the most? In what ways?
Where is it easy for you to give in to the culture around you? How will you combat those challenges in the future?
Do you have Christian friends to surround yourself with and keep you accountable during challenging times? How are you a Christian friend to someone else?
JH 12/8 SH 12/10: Esther
How do you risk your popularity by living for Christ? What are the benefits of doing so?
How have you seen God provide through tough times in your life?
How are you able to remain respectful and humble, even in difficult, if not humanly impossible, circumstances? What are the benefits of doing so?
