DEFINING MOMENTS

Good Friday to You, 
This weekend, I have the privilege of teaching what might be my favorite Old Testament story. I hesitate making this statement because of the countless stories of God working in the lives of His people. I add this disclaimer because the Old Testament is actually THE Story of God preparing to send Jesus to save His people. But the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego is so inspiring. 
Here’s the punchline of their following our Lord: 
“Our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up!” Daniel 3:17-18 
They were bold, courageous, and unwavering! I read these two verses and I feel boldness and courage! I read these two verses and I want the opportunity to stand unwavering for our Lord! It’s the bravado we feel when watching a great movie showcasing the hero saving others from disaster, regardless the personal sacrifice.
I want to be THAT kind of Christ-follower. 
I want to be THAT kind of husband. 
I want to be THAT kind of father. 
I want to be THAT kind of neighbor. 
What prepared these three men for this once-in-a-lifetime event? Was this their defining moment? Or, when we really begin to look at their life story, was their defining moment much less dramatic? 
We are tempted to look at our lives and view the “big” decisions as the defining moments. You have a list of those. I have a list of those. The list typically includes vocation, spouse, children, house, town, etc. You know…all of those decisions that impact our daily lives…for the rest of our lives. 
But what if saying “I do” wasn’t really the defining moment? What if it was more the culmination of several defining moments? What if taking that job was also more the result of the way you had already been defining your life? What if that one decision or event that seemed to have come out of nowhere had actually been a long time in the making? And if so, how can we recognize these “making” moments? 
We’re gonna have a blast this weekend as we take a look at this story. I would recommend you get a head start by reading the first three chapters of Daniel (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+1-3&version=ESV). It is an amazing story of God’s grace and presence. This story has provided much insight into many events in my life. I am absolutely convinced God may use this story to dramatically change your life. Let’s take a look together! 
Hope to see you this weekend, 
Pastor Michael