Our Youth Pastor Josh taught yesterday. This series is coming from the book of Daniel.
The Israelites were not living for God like they should have been. God tried to speak to them through prophets, but they weren't listening.
The Babylonians captured them. Daniel and his friends were smart upstanding Jewish boys, so the King wanted to teach them his ways in order for them to rule over their own people his way.
What a culture shift this was for these boys. They were raised a certain way, doing certain things, and now this King wanted them to live his way.
They were being trained in a school for 3 years. The first thing Daniel refused to do was eat the King's food.
Josh said roads have guardrails on bridges, cliffs and sharp curves. Those are up to protect us from danger while driving. Our lives need guardrails too.
If Daniel had not already made up his mind to live for his God, the real God, then the King's food might have looked great when it was set in front of him.
He pre-determined not to defile his body with anything, and not to do anything that our harm his relationship with God.
We all need to do this. We need guardrails up.
Maybe you struggle with looking at the wrong things on the internet. http://x3watch.com/ has software to help and a whole program for that. Block your computer. Get an accountability partner. Make up your mind now that you will put up a guardrail in your life in this area.
Maybe you drink too much alcohol and want to stop. Put up a guardrail. Only get something when you are out to eat. Don't have it in your house. Or maybe just don't have any at all.
Maybe you are wanting to abstain from sex because you are waiting to be married or remarried. Put up a guardrail. Don't wait until you are alone with someone and tempted.
It's about making a decision to live life God's way in your heart, then putting it into place in your life. Only you know what you struggle with, so customize them to help yourself.
It's not a religious legalistic bunch of rules and regulations. God has ways for us to live that are GOOD for us. Things that He wants in our lives. Seek out His Word. Find out what it is He wants for you to do and what things aren't good.
Remember the fruit of the spirit? Galatians 5: "The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other."
If you need help with your guardrails, ask for it! I think this is an awesome idea to help us stay on track and to not be caught up in a culture that has nothing to do with God.
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