Perryn Rice: Associate Pastor - Cookeville First Cumberland Presbyterian Church
Story Published:
Aug 26, 2010 at 8:36 AM CST
Story Updated:
Aug 26, 2010 at 8:36 AM CST
“Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed.” Daniel 3:19
Many folks don’t understand what you’re about or what you’re doing. There are enough times when you feel as if you don’t fit in – like this world was created without you in mind.
There are challenges to being a chosen generation. Many times those around you don’t think you’re “chosen” at all. And if you’re not careful, they can make you think that you’re not chosen but cursed.
There are challenges to being a royal priesthood – those who have been called out of darkness and placed in God’s marvelous light. That means there are still those who are living in darkness, and they cannot fathom the light you now exist in. This was the issue with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
They were living in a place and time where their faith and beliefs were extremely different from most of those in their lives. King Nebuchadnezzar liked them at one time, but when they refused to worship an idol he made and had the “nerve” to tell him to his face that they would never worship it, “his attitude toward them changed.”
If you are living a life that is pleasing to the Lord, there will be many whose attitudes toward you change.
Many people from the neighborhood you grew up in; many people you’re related to; perhaps even some folks you live with – their attitudes toward you will change. I want to use this example to encourage you today. If you find that folks you used to hang out with no longer want to hang out with you – you’re on the right track.
If you discover that former romantic interests are no longer interesting – you’re on the right track. If you look up one day and realize that the things you used to buy that only furthered your destruction and the destruction of those in your group are no longer on your shopping list – you’re on the right track.
There are challenges to being peculiar, a chosen generation, and a royal priesthood; but the benefit outweighs the challenges. The benefit of being a child of God makes those challenges worthwhile.
So, go on and be peculiar with your peculiar life as you continue to serve a peculiar God who makes all things better…including peculiarity.
