But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Daniel 1:8
Daniel was a man of conviction. The Babylonians tried changing his name, but they could not change his heart. No matter what they called him, he remained an Israelite at heart. Like the rest of the young men training to serve in the king’s palace, Daniel would study and do his best to master the tongue of the Chaldeans. However, he resolved that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, or with the wine which he drank. This was not done out of sullenness or a spirit of contradiction, but from a principle of conviction. Here is a great example of how we should live our lives in this world. Like Daniel, we should apply ourselves to study hard in school, excel in our career and business, and be the best that we can be without compromising or diluting our godly values, lifestyles and beliefs.
Like Daniel, Jesus was ridiculed and called different names by the people. They called Him “Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons” (Matt. 12:24) while others regarded Him only as “the carpenter, the son of Mary” (Mark 6:3). But Jesus knew exactly who He was and He never compromised on His purpose, calling or lifestyle. Jesus said that we are “in the world” (John 17:11), but “not of the world” (15:19). He declared, “I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me” (14:30).
Temptation is a manipulation which attempts to challenge our convictions about who God is and who we are in Him. It attempts to silence the voice of the Spirit and the conscience of the believer. Whether in lifestyle or worship, Daniel stood strong on the convictions of his Jewish teachings. As a result, he became a light that shined in the midst of the idolatrous Babylonian empire, declaring the revelation and standard of God in his generation. Two thousand years ago,
Jesus was the ultimate light of the world (9:5). He came and revealed God in that generation. But when He ascended to heaven, He could no longer be the light of the world. The responsibility to shine has now been given to the Church. “Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are” (17:11).
As such, apostle Paul commanded the Philippians, “Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain” (Phil. 2:14-16).
Daniel was a man of conviction. The Babylonians tried changing his name, but they could not change his heart. No matter what they called him, he remained an Israelite at heart. Like the rest of the young men training to serve in the king’s palace, Daniel would study and do his best to master the tongue of the Chaldeans. However, he resolved that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, or with the wine which he drank. This was not done out of sullenness or a spirit of contradiction, but from a principle of conviction. Here is a great example of how we should live our lives in this world. Like Daniel, we should apply ourselves to study hard in school, excel in our career and business, and be the best that we can be without compromising or diluting our godly values, lifestyles and beliefs.
Like Daniel, Jesus was ridiculed and called different names by the people. They called Him “Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons” (Matt. 12:24) while others regarded Him only as “the carpenter, the son of Mary” (Mark 6:3). But Jesus knew exactly who He was and He never compromised on His purpose, calling or lifestyle. Jesus said that we are “in the world” (John 17:11), but “not of the world” (15:19). He declared, “I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me” (14:30).
Temptation is a manipulation which attempts to challenge our convictions about who God is and who we are in Him. It attempts to silence the voice of the Spirit and the conscience of the believer. Whether in lifestyle or worship, Daniel stood strong on the convictions of his Jewish teachings. As a result, he became a light that shined in the midst of the idolatrous Babylonian empire, declaring the revelation and standard of God in his generation. Two thousand years ago,
Jesus was the ultimate light of the world (9:5). He came and revealed God in that generation. But when He ascended to heaven, He could no longer be the light of the world. The responsibility to shine has now been given to the Church. “Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are” (17:11).
As such, apostle Paul commanded the Philippians, “Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain” (Phil. 2:14-16).
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