Today's Decisions
READ: Daniel 6:9-10, 16-23
"If you want in, you have to do it!" Those are words that every teenager hears at least once in their lifetime. Our responses to those few words are what separate the leaders from the followers. Which one are you, a leader or a follower?
Almost everyone gives into peer pressure at least once in their life, and because of their sinful nature may give in many more times. How do you practice your faith? Do you witness openly? Do you pray only when your friends aren't around, or do you pray when they are around?
During the time of Daniel, people were not persecuted for their religion, until the jealousy of just a few took over. Daniel was a model of honesty and purity, which made many of the Babylonian leaders under Daniel mad. They decided to get him by having the king issue a decree saying that the people were to only worship the king. Daniel knew that this was not right, so instead of following everyone else, he kept worshipping the true God. When everyone else found out, Daniel was thrown into a den of hungry lions. But Daniel kept praying to his true God, even though he faced his death by the lions.
Today's Christians can learn from Daniel, who faced certain death but kept his faith. By keeping his faith, the Lord saved him from the lions.
But even if God had allowed the lions to devour Daniel, Daniel knew the Lord would stay with him. Today we have God's promise in I Corinthians 10:13 that He will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear. Daniel knew that the Lord would never leave him. We know that, too, and can trust that he will see us through whatever trials we face. He will help us make decisions that glorify him and share his love clearly with others.
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT: What are ways that we show our faith? How can we deal with problems that are faced by today's teenagers?
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS: Pray that God will help people deal with choices in life and about their religion. Thank God for fine examples like Daniel to follow.