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by
Chris Hodges
Read between
January 5 - February 13, 2018
Still today, our identities are the battleground for culture’s attack.
In part 2 we saw how Daniel and his friends were challenged on who and what they would a...
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Pride, culture’s greatest sin, was the subject of part 3. And now in part 4, I want to focus on what I believe to be culture’s greatest illusion—the t...
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Don’t forget that your days are numbered.
First, choose to live every day with a sense of purpose and urgency.
put first things first.
All throughout the Bible, we’re told to set our minds on things above and not on earthly things.
It is better to have less of what doesn’t matter and more of what does.
God’s Word makes it clear that it’s better to get the right things done, not more things done.
regularly take inventory.
Leading on Empty,
we must make tough decisions.
The key here is “elimination.” We all have things that don’t need to be in our lives.
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown.
But I do know that he included a crucial truth about the consequences of eliminating what we don’t need: if we learn to say no, we’ll trade popularity for respect.
Unless we set boundaries and say no to nonessentials, we will never be able to make our highest and best contributions to the things that matter most.
If it isn’t a clear yes, it’s a clear no.
Remember: evaluate, eliminate, execute. Finally, focus on things that will last.
fact, those things that will last generally come down to two categories: God and other people.
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well”
In other words, if you really want to focus on what matters, then you must be willing to get into real relationships with others.
Are the right people a priority in your life? Is your focus on things that will endure for eternity?
Because once we make our decisions about who we are in this culture and what we believe about this culture, we’re to be salt and light in it. God’s plan to bring light to the dark culture is us.
And after the fire came a gentle whisper.
listen to him.
Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are. —CHINESE PROVERB
God’s hope is for us to meet him and know him and love him. This way our relationship with him becomes the motivation for all that we do.
we must focus singularly on God and
our relationship with him, out of which will flow both a healthier daily life and a more rightly aligned heart of service.
When’s the last time you really experienced joy?
The faster you go, the less you’ll produce.
Real rest doesn’t come from simply resting; it comes when your soul is connected to God’s power.
I’m convinced that the only way to really make it in today’s culture is to be intentional.
What changes do you need to make? The only way to live a godly life in an ungodly culture is by remembering that your days are numbered, your life will be weighed, and your heart will be distracted and divided.
cannot antagonize and influence at the same time. —J. S. KNOX
First, this life is not about
People are ready for God, but they want hope, not a debate.
I was reminded that my purpose
as a follower of Jesus is to give...
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People are ready for God, but they want hope...
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As followers of Jesus, we have real hope. And we’re called to share it. But how we share it makes a difference.
Relating and connecting with people before we tell them about God precedes the early church and followers of Jesus sharing the gospel.
Instead of separating himself from his culture, he made an impact on it without compromising his beliefs. Through four different regimes, he gained influence and pointed people to God.
Daniel knew what we must remember in our interactions with others today: connect before we correct. Reaching people is our purpose.
His responses must have reflected respect, humility, and diplomacy without compromise.
From this, I infer that Darius not only respected Daniel but he trusted Daniel as well.
But apparently Daniel’s sincerity and authenticity erased any doubts in the king’s
Connect before we correct. Reaching people is our purpose.
Daniel knew that the way he represented God mattered. He understood that his character, attitude, and demeanor mattered just as much as his words and actions. Daniel became a person of influence in the pagan culture of Babylon because he maintained his convictions and exercised his faith in a manner that reflected honesty, openness, and curiosity.
Sharing your faith is all about relationship, not right answers or slick presentations.
