God Says “No”: Do We Listen?
In the book of Daniel, we read about Daniel, along with many other of the strongest and brightest from Israel, that had been taken into exile in Babylon.
These particular ones were taken because the king of Babylon knew that if he could incorporate these younger, stronger, brighter guys into the life and culture of the Babylonians, everyone else would follow. Daniel knew that they would be leaving the life devoted to, believing in, and worshipping the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Daniel refused to do that. (See Daniel 1:8.) For Daniel, saying “yes” to the king’s food was saying “no” to God.
What response do you give when the world knocks on your heart offering something that God has said “no” to? Here are some possible responses:
Some say: Why not? And dive right in to all of the carnality, decadence, and ungodliness that the world has. For some, there are no moral restraints at all and everything is free game.
Some say: I shouldn’t but… and give in. For these, there is a moral compass that wrestles with the wrong, but there is not the faith enough to believe God at His word. Neither the consequences of the bad nor the sacrificing of God’s best is enough to curtail the behavior and walk in the obedience.
Some say: I won’t because I know that the place where that ends up is not a place I want to be. For these, the negative effects that wrong choices have are frightening and are best avoided. This motivation is a good motivation and sometimes will protect us from experiencing some of the heartbreaks and destructions that ungodly choices bring.
Some say: I will pursue God because I want to be with Him. For these, the way in which the things of the world pull us away from the fellowship with the Lord is enough to say “no way.” I love being with God so much that I won’t participate in those things that draw me away from Him.
The first response comes from a heart that is hardened to the presence and voice of God. The second response comes from one who bows to the lies of the world and gives in to the temptation. The third response is a response of obedience for wanting to avoid the negatives. The fourth response is a response of obedience for wanting to experience all of who God is and choosing to do nothing that would cause any distance in that relationship.
When the world entices, how do you respond? When temptation comes, what is your first thought? Do you obey? If you obey, why do you obey? There are good reasons to obey. But, there even may be better reasons to obey. When God said “no,” Daniel chose to not defile himself. What do you do when God says “no” to something you are doing or want to do?
(Responses/Questions: jeff.perkins@mbclife.org.)