Sunday Review 8/16

Now that I have a blog of my own, I think it would be a cool thing to sort of look back in the rearview mirror as it were and review Sunday's sermon and activities. That way, anyone who missed church at Plum Creek Sunday morning, or for that matter, anyone who may be curious about what we talked about can get an idea of what went down. Plus, it will allow me one more opportunity to spend some time with those thoughts before moving on to crafting the new sermon for the coming week.

We've been working through a popular sermon series called The Story. A 31 week study that focuses on the main narrative of the Bible - the story of God's redeeming love for humanity. It tells how the story progresses all the way from Genesis 1's creation story to Revelation 22's "come, Lord Jesus."

This week, we were on chapter 18 of the story, which covers the events in the book of Daniel.

We looked at how Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego didn't try to fight the unfair circumstances in their lives, nor did they use them as an excuse to compromise their faith or integrity, but they accepted their situations and served God despite the opposition and despite the unfairness that surrounded them.

I think it's particularly difficult for us in 2015's America to adapt to "unfair" things that happen to us. Because, for the most part, we have life handed to us on a silver platter, even those who would consider themselves "poor."

We get upset when our internet reception is poor, when interstate traffic is backed up, or our sandwich is cooked improperly. We get mad when our favorite team misses an easy foul shot, when homework keeps us from being able to play with friends, or when we can't beat that boss in level 8 of Mario Bros.

When we don't like a certain movie, it's not enough for us to simply not like it, we take to YouTube or Twitter and trash it. If we don't like what's happening in politics, we threaten to stop voting. And heaven forbid the church makes a decision we don't like. A lot of times we use our tithes as a bargaining chip rather than as an offering to God.

If we don't like how we're being treated at work, we often quit before finding a new job. Evidently the thought that "They can't treat me that way!" is more important to us than "Hmm, I need to feed my children this week..." And if we do, actually do, commit some sort of error, we usually point the finger at someone else before we blame ourselves for the problem.

These are the things that make me think, as I say, that it's difficult for us in 2015's America to adapt to "unfair" things. But they happen. Each of us has had something unfair happen in our lives before. Remember that often times, how we choose to respond to the unfair thing determines whether or not God will be able to use our humble circumstances for his glory.

1 Corinthians 1:26-27

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

Paul reminds the Corinthians that their very weakness is what qualifies them! Daniel and company were placed in positions of leadership in Babylon, not because they were great, but because God had a job for them to do there. God was able to use their devotion, their integrity, and yes, even their weaknesses to do amazing things.

Read their story in Daniel chapters 1 - 6 and see what I'm talking about. See how they stood up to opposition, relied upon one another, and ultimately turned to God when there was no where else to go, and trusted him to use their humble circumstances for his glory.

In the end, not only the kings, but the whole nation's heart was turned to God. That was made possible all because of the work of four men and their willingness to stay faithful and their willingness to accept their humble position, even if it was "unfair".

In the passage above, Paul goes on to say the reason that God chooses to use lowly and humble resources (aka, you and me) is so that no one may boast before him. Paul closes chapter one in a way very similar to how I will close this blog entry:

Let me boast, not in myself, but in Christ. If anything is found in me to be of value, to be of worth, to be of interest, then let it be my devotion to my king.

Daniel and friends submitted to God even when life was unfair. They may have had the right to act differently, but they remembered that their commitment to God called them to be different. They humbled themselves and they patiently waited on the God they trusted to use their humble circumstances for his glory. May we do the same. And may we boast only in him who gives us our worth and our purpose.