Nov 26 Daniel 1, Daniel 2:1-23 1 Peter 5 Psalm 134:1-3
Dan 1:12-13
“Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king’s food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see.”
We now start the book of Daniel. What a figure Daniel is! What an inspiration. He was taken from his home and was a prisoner in Babylon. It’s worth remembering that Daniel, Ezekiel and Jeremiah were all contemporaries. Not only that, but Daniel had read the writings of Jeremiah. that would probably include Jeremiah 29, which included a word from God to those who were taken into exile in Babylon.
And Daniel seems to have followed that advice, either knowingly or unknowingly.
He doesn’t moan about his situation, or pine for home… he settles down. He gets involved in this new place. He settles.
BUT he doesn’t compromise. He refuses to let himself be corrupted by their idolatry. Daniels’ fast wasn’t about showing off, or about looking for an answer to a question or for an answer to prayer even. It was about making a stand.
He chose to make a stand for God and Daniel showed that when we find ourselves in a culture that does not know God, when we take a stand we don’t just survive. We can thrive. They should have been weaker, but they were stronger.
They were the times better than those around them, both in health and wisdom.
Taking a stand for God is not settling for second best. When we trust God, we can do better that those who make compromises.
Take a stand. Don’t compromise. And let God do the rest.
1 Pet 5:2
shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly;
To church leaders who see it as just a career, or to those who are in ministry because it will lead to riches and fame… or to those who do it because they want to be appreciated or want to be needed or just love the platform… Please read this verse. Thank you.
1 Pet 5:5
Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
To those in the churches who don’t want to be led, who will not follow Godly authority – who refuse to be subject to anyone… to those Christians who want to do it alone, or just threaten to leave and go to another church if a matter of discipline or rebuke comes your way…. please read this verse. Thank you.
