Daniel 1:8-16
“But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my Lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.” Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.”
Daniel 1:8-16 NIV
If we think health is only about diet and exercise we are kidding ourselves. Spiritual health, connecting with God, and emotional health, connecting with other people on the same journey, is every bit as important to our overall health.
What would you do if tomorrow your world was turned upside down? When a large storm comes through and knocks the power out, we sometimes do not know what to do. We become so comfortable to how things “should be”, at least how we think they should be, that when things do not go according to our plans, our world gets turned upside down.
Where would your faith and trust in God be if tomorrow you lost everything, your home, your car, your job, your family, and your friends? What would you do if tomorrow you found yourself living in a place run by a ruthless government that was hostile to your faith? Would you remain committed to Jesus Christ? Would you stay true to your convictions?
Many people follow Jesus, for a while. Many people are a part of His church, for a while. But, when something unexpected happens, or it becomes inconvenient, or worse, it becomes too costly for them to follow Christ, then their commitment is hard to find. When the unexpected happens, what will you do?
Everybody around Daniel is told to eat this way, drink this way, act, live this way. And Daniel trusts God. Daniel says, no, I’m going to follow my God. I’m going to live according to the commands and rules of my God. He basically asked for permission to not defile himself in the Old Testament picture by eating certain things, drinking certain things. And God gives favor to Daniel, as Daniel trusts in the word of God.
The world says that prosperity is found in living this way or that way, doing this or that. Even in indulging in this or that, and don’t you want your life to say, I’m not going to follow the ways of this world. I’m going to follow the word of God. I’m going to live trusting in the Word of God, that His Word is better than the ways of this world. God is pleased. God is honored when we live like that.
Like Daniel, this world is not our home. We are aliens and foreigners in a strange land. The church, to some extent, has forgotten that. Somehow, Christians have come to believe that this world is our home. An important lesson here in these verses, is how to live as faithful followers of Christ in a world that is hostile to our faith. Our world is fallen and as such, there is and will be much suffering until Jesus comes back.
Daniel acted faithfully, and God rewarded him with many blessings. God provided the protection and provision necessary for such righteousness. God gave him favor from the chief of the eunuchs. God also gave better health to the four young men who did not eat the better food.
Such care reminds us to act righteously and let God take care of the rest that is needed for his purposes to be fulfilled. Daniel may have been tempted to be unfaithful and to not follow his convictions. After all, he was nine hundred miles away from his parents. Yet, Daniel and his friends knew one very important fact. Other people might not know their actions, but God would know, and someday all of us will give an account of ourselves to Him.
Daniel was safer as a captive in a foreign land but within God’s will than he would have been in Jerusalem outside of God’s will. His fear of the Lord motivated him from fearing the king, which is a key to resisting temptation. It is safer and more rewarding to be in God’s will than to not be.
I just want you to think about your life today, your routines this week. How does the world tell you to live, and how does God’s word direct you to live? Really think about that. How does God’s word lead you to live differently than the world? I want to encourage you to make a conscious decision to live, not according to the ways of this world, but according to the word of God.
How does God’s word lead you to work differently? How does God lead you to lead your family differently or to live as a single differently? And how does God’s word lead you to speak differently? How does God’s word lead you to spend your money differently?
Live according to God’s Word and see what God does. Not that it will be easy by any means to go against the grain of this world, but it will be worth it. It will bring glory to God, and it will be good for you. You will never go wrong. I will never go wrong when I’m trusting, when you’re trusting the Word of God!!!
Heavenly Father thank You for this day and Your abundant blessings, as we reflect on Daniel and his three friends who refused to be brainwashed by the Babylonian culture into which they were forced, we see how Satan's plan continues to be the indoctrination of young people with worldly principles and ungodly practices. Protect the hearts and minds of children and students, especially those from Christian families and those who know the Lord as Saviour. Lord pour out Your wisdom and strength over parents, as they raise their children. Give them all courage to stand fast in the evil day, and help each one to discover Your strength is sufficient in every eventuality of life. Lord thank You that You are our God and may we never stray from the path of peace. Lord use my friend to be a bold witness of Your mercy and grace today. Be a blessing.
Father, we love You. Amen !
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