" Parenting in an Ungodly World "

Daniel 1:8; 3:10-12   " But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. " 

" Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image: and whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou has set up. "

     As our world grows alarmingly ungodly, we often express concern about the impact of an increasingly depraved society upon our young people. This concern is valid (James 4:4; 1st.John 2:15-17). As we expend energy defensively protecting our children from the evils of our day, we often forget that it is also important to build within them a positive offensive attitude toward the time in history in which the LORD has called them to live. Some of the most dramatic examples in Scripture of dynamic godly youth were birthed in times of spiritual darkness similar to our own.

     As a youth, Daniel lived in a spiritually deteriorating world. Though Scripture says nothing of Daniel's parentage, it is obvious that they must have applied the truth of Proverbs 22:6. Those days were treacherous and alarming for families in Judah, yet Daniel not only survived but even excelled in godly virtues. Daniel was probably only thirteen or fourteen years old when ungodly Jehoiachin ascended the throne in Jerusalem. The priests were corrupting the temple, bringing pagan idols into the holy courtyard, and their reprobate minds, in time, caused them literally to turn their backs on the holy place and worship the rising sun (Ezekiel 8). As the WORD of GOD from the prophet Jeremiah was read to the king, he scornfully cut it into pieces and threw GOD's warning into the flames with which he warmed himself. Amazingly, out of those evil days came godly Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. The dark days in which we live should prompt godly parents to defensively protect their children from evil and also to offensively train their youth to rise up as spiritual leaders and examples. JMC

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

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