✝ Daily Encouragement (1/22/24) "Uncompromising Convictions"

Published: Mon, 01/22/24

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Monday, January 22, 2024

During this time of snow and cold weather Anna Ruth has been taking the three youngest Lapp children to school on their horse-drawn sleigh. Since there was almost no snow at all last winter this recent snowfall has been extra fun for the children in our area, actually in many other states as well.

"Uncompromising Convictions"

Note: This week we will have a four part series based upon four characteristics demonstrated by Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.

Message summary: May our resolve be like that of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah to have uncompromising convictions no matter the setting, the culture, or the test put before us!

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"But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself" (Daniel 1:8).

When we made our marriage vows on May 8, 1976 we were expressing our uncompromising conviction to be faithful to one another in marriage. Thankfully by the grace of God we have kept those vows. We still tease each other which is a healthy aspect to marriage. This weekend we had an experience that to an onlooker may have been easily misinterpreted.

We had met at Costco and were in two different vehicles due to keeping two different schedules. After we were done shopping I told Brooksyne I would just load the van and she could go on home. As she was leaving a packed parking lot she rolled the window down as she drove to the spot where I was still loading up the van and said, "I have a new bedroom at my house if you have no where else to go and want to come over" (referring to our recently completed bedroom addition).

I chuckled inside even as I grimaced considering how that might be interpreted by someone over-hearing our playful exchange!

Our personal convictions are based upon Scriptural truth and applied to our individual lives. Convictions provide intentional boundaries to keep us on the paths of righteousness as we seek to live godly lives.

In the book of Daniel we have the record of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. These were their given Hebrew names but each was also given a Babylonian name. We best know Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, four Hebrew young men removed from their homeland during the exile and taken to Babylon.

One of our favorite funny church moments took place during a Sunday evening church service in Massachusetts about twenty-five years ago. I referenced Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and asked the congregation if anyone knew their Hebrew names. A little hand shot right up as he excitedly blurted out "Rach, Shak and Bennie." Now if you have kids or grandkids you're probably laughing right now as you might recognize these are their nicknames on a popular Veggie Tales story. I can understand why a child (or anyone) might assume these were the Hebrews names!

However Daniel, who was given the name Belteshazzar, is consistently self-identified as Daniel in the book bearing his name and the rest of Scripture, although the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, insisted on calling him Belteshazzar.

Early in the book of Daniel the three young men faced a test regarding their personal convictions they held while living in Judea. It concerned a special diet and specific details as to why this was an issue for them was not provided in the text. It likely had to do with foods prohibited in the Jewish law. However it was a "line in the sand" for them. Today's text should be memorized and applied to each dedicated Christian's life regarding keeping our personal convictions.

I find it helpful to study the text in various versions:

"But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself" (KJV)
"But Daniel resolved not to defile himself" (NIV)
"But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself" (NASB)

Here are three essential points in regard to developing and maintaining our personal convictions:

* Our convictions should be determined by Scripture, both explicit and from principles derived. By "explicit" we mean those commands and prohibitions that are forthright. For instance I don't have to pray regarding God's will in staying faithful to my wife. That's an explicit command. On the other hand we will develop many convictions from Scriptural principles. These are issues that may not be explicitly commanded or forbidden but we find Scriptural principles that guide us.
* Our strength in maintaining our convictions is developed from early, less significant choices. The stand that Daniel and the three Hebrew young men took in regard to the dietary issue gave them strength for a much greater test later on when they faced the fiery furnace when called to violate the 1st and 2nd commandments and later when Daniel faced the lion's den.
* Our convictions will always be tested. That's the nature of life! With our society's hastening slide into decadence true Christians will increasingly have their convictions tested.

May God give us resolve and strength like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah to have uncompromising convictions!

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, it was faithful Joshua who issued this challenge to the Israelites: "Choose this day whom you will serve." This passage serves as an example to those of us currently experiencing the results of a pluralistic society where God our Creator is being viewed as just one of the gods we might be devoted to. But we, with uncompromising conviction, hold steady to the words of Scripture, "that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no other." Like the followers in Scripture, "We want our hearts therefore to be wholly true to the Lord our God, walking in His statutes and keeping His commandments.” If it requires that we lay down our life we are assured that You bring great reward in our eternal dwelling. Keep us strong, faithful and unswerving in Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

I found these points regarding convictions online:

Biblical Convictions (Essential/Objective) Without these biblical truths, Christianity and the ability to glorify God no longer exists.

Biblical Beliefs (Non-essential/Objective) True believers in Christ may disagree on these theological beliefs or systems of belief.
Personal Convictions (Situational/Subjective) How does God want me to live in the gray areas of life that are not specifically spelled out in Scripture?
Personal preferences (Autonomous/Subjective) What do I like, and want, and choose?

Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"Psalm 103" Watch on YouTube Calvary Church Choir and Orchestra from yesterday's service

"No Compromise" Watch on YouTube by Keith Green This is a great song from an album featuring one of my all-time favorite album covers. Set in an Old Testament period the people are required to bow before the passing king. But one brave soul, true to his convictions, remains standing in obedient defiance. A soldier on a horse is pointing him out. We are left wondering what consequence he faced for doing the right thing in the eyes of the One True King.

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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.

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