Courageous Resolve

based on the LGG Study, Living Faithful in a Faithless Land, w2d1

Scripture, Our Road Map for the Journey: Daniel 1:8-21

But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the royal delicacies or the royal wine. He therefore asked the overseer of the court officials for permission not to defile himself. 

Daniel 1:8. NET

Observation and Application from the Journey

It would have undoubtedly been a great honor to be offered food and drink from the King’s table. So Daniel’s resolve not to partake in the food and drink is impressively courageous. The reality of his courage is made evident in the fear expressed by the King’s overseer. However, Daniel persisted, and God honored Daniel’s resolve not to defile himself with food from the King’s table. Some commentaries say the reasoning for Daniel’s concern was because the food would have been offered to the Babylonian god, and others say it was because the food would not have been kosher; whatever the case – Daniel knew something about the food and/or drink that he believed would defile him and the others if they ate/drank it, and he was resolved to remain faithful to God.

You have to admire the quietness with which Daniel handled his concerns. He didn’t make a loud protest, and there is no indication that he asked with a demanding or angry tone – but rather one of concern and faith in His God. The outcome from beginning to end bore witness to God’s fingerprints, as Scripture acknowledges that God was working behind the scenes on Daniel’s behalf, and the King acknowledges that he found Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah to be ten times better than any of the magicians and astrologers that were In his empire.

Faith in God was Daniel’s source of courage, strength, wisdom, and insight. As the old hymn says, “Faith is the victory …” 🦋

Let’s be honest; it isn’t easy to be different than the culture around us, and it isn’t always easy to follow the ways of God. I don’t know about you, but I’ve made some pretty bad decisions in my life in order to fit in or be included or simply because it was the easier choice. The good news is that it’s never too late to follow in Daniel’s footsteps and resolve to stand firm in our faith, choosing what would please God over what the world expects us to do. – These words of Joshua came to mind as I was writing that last sentence; “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. ¹⁵ And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

There are times when living for God causes us to be different or live differently from what is considered ‘normal.’ Pray for wisdom in knowing how to live faithfully and how to respond when something crosses into a compromise you can’t make. Let’s be wise in how we live in both the seemingly little things an the big things. LGG Journal entry, Living Faithful in a Faithless Land / p67

Prayer Response to the Journey

A portion of today’s prayer is borrowed and shared from today’s journal entry, p67

“Lord of All, it is so easy to be comfortable living like everyone else, and it is hard to be different. Give me strength and wisdom, Lord, to live your way.” Help me to be firm in my resolve to live faithfully and to know how to respond when compromising situations arise. To You be the glory and honor – Amen.

The More We Know

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