Today's Readings - Daniel 1-2, Hebrews 12:18–13:19, Psalm 129, Proverbs 28:20–21
Devotional
Daniel is one of the truly great men of biblical history. He is one of the few characters in the Bible's story without a major flaw or a sinful failing. From his boyhood in captivity until his older years in the lion's den and through all the visions God gave him, he is an example of spiritual courage and moral excellence.
As we face life in a land that has abandoned and disdained our values, we can gain much from observing how Daniel and his friends took their stands.
On the one hand, they were uncompromising and firm in their beliefs, in Daniel 1 and in future events such as those that led his friends into a fiery furnace and him into a lion's den. Daniel and his friends were young men taken from their homes and families, likely teens who knew that their families were dead and their nation lay in ruins. They had every reason to "go along to get along." "When in Rome, do as the Romans." But they did not. They refused to compromise their convictions.
I am not sure why Daniel refused to eat the meat served to him - nothing in the Jewish law demanded vegetarianism. It is likely that the meats that they were served were "unclean" and not permitted under Jewish law. The point is that he refused to eat that which dishonored God. He lived by his convictions.
But he was not belligerent, insulting or confrontational about it. He spoke privately to his overseer and worked to strike a compromise, giving them 10 days to prove that they would be okay eating the food they desired to eat. He did not protest or call fire from heaven down on Ashpenaz, threatening him if he did not submit. He was pleasant and tactful, and Ashpenaz was favorable toward him.
Of course, there is a time when a Christian has to take a confrontational stand. John the Baptist was willing to lose his head. Stephen confronted the religious leaders of Israel in strong terms and was stoned to death for it. But when possible, the people of God should live in peace with those around us. We should seek to be more like Daniel and his friends.
Their actions demonstrated an enormous faith in God. They were going to obey God no matter what, believing that God would watch over them - in this situation, in a furnace, in a den with hungry lions - and God always did.
Our calling to be faithful and obedient to God in all things. We ought to do this tactfully as much as possible, without being obnoxious or unnecessarily confrontational. We must trust that the God of Heaven will bless and use our obedience with his mighty hand of power.
Father, help me to walk in humble obedience to you, to trust that your will is always best, your way is always right and your word is always true.
Think and Pray
Think of a time when you faced a difficult moral choice - a chance to either stand for God and for what is right or to compromise and to go along with the world. What did you do?
Do you stand in moral courage for what is right?
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