Everywhere we are placed we have an opportunity to show God what’s in our heart. One thing He looks for is our dedication to Him. It might mean forgoing some good, pleasant and pleasurable things to avoid compromising our morals, conscience and integrity. Truly, though, in our dedication to God we will find our greatest peace and joy in Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.
RELEVANCE
The stories in the Bible about Daniel and his friends reveal a lot about how man’s faith and courage meets God’s grace and faithfulness. It’s also a story of survival. Daniels’s friends survived the fiery furnace, and Daniel survived the lion’s den. They cultivated courage through their uncompromising dedication to God. That’s where God richly nurtures us; in the place of dedication and devotion to Him.
They were brought to the palace of the king of Babylon. There they were offered the king’s delicacies to eat and wine to drink, but they wouldn’t compromise God’s instruction and defile themselves. Instead they asked for vegetables to eat and water to drink. After ten days their features appeared better than all the rest of the young men who ate the portion of the king’s delicacies.
At a later date, when the king had decreed that worship of any other god but him be prohibited, Daniel maintained his custom of praying to God three a day—even with the windows open! What was with Daniel? The Bible says he had an excellent spirit. No error was found in him. Pretty incredible! God honored his faith and faithfulness. What a role model to follow after.
REFLECT AND RELATE
Daniel certainly set the bar pretty high! But in Christ, there is amazing GRACE. It’s ours for the taking.
Search deep inside, though. What thoughts do you typically have in places where your dedication is tested? What pulls of the world entice you? What purposes may God have in testing you? What may God be looking for to prepare you for?
REFERENCES
Daniel 2:16-49