Watching for the Traps

Today we read Daniel 1 & 2 and Revelation 16. 

I have always been impressed with Daniel...I even like his name.   The kingdom put them on a special diet, but Daniel felt that he would be defiled by eating and drinking what they gave him and he refused to.  Daniel 1.8 states it this way: But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself withthe king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. 

Oh, that the people of God would determine not to be defiled by the traps of this world.  There are so many ways we can be defiled.  I think about three this morning:

1) Physical defilement.  I Cor. 6.19 reminds us that our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit and that we are not our own.  We need to glorify God with our body.  That includes the things we take in and the things that we participate in.  The standards of this world is very low.  The standards of our own culture and neighborhoods grow lower by the day.  Status quo is ungodly, wrong, and never justified. It may not be so much 'what would Jesus do', as it is, 'what am I going to do now that Jesus is within me.'  We need to try a little harder, folks. 

2) Spiritual defilement. Romans 12.2- Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.  What is your mind focused on?  That is where your heart is.   I believe you need to begin your day with the Word and prayer every day.  The battle is that intense.

3) Testimony defilement.  I have always been more impressed with those that walk steady for the Lord and speak freely for Jesus when given the opportunity, than those who bang a drum loudly for all to see their spiritual show.   Remember something:  If we are salt and light in our community, we are trying to live and speak in such a way to influence people to come to Christ as He speaks to them.  We are not trying to color our society to look like everyone is Christian, when so many are leaving this world without Jesus.  The faithful church has always beamed the brightest and stood the strongest when they were planted and growing in a society that did not agree with them.  Historically, the church has been the weakest when it tried to color a community without God as if God was that community's priority.  

Let's be real, folks.  People very close to us and that we know well need Jesus desperately.  Let's live our lives to stand strong without the traps of defilement in the world that God has planted us in.