The Best Way - Stand Firm
Daniel 1:8 But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods. 9 Now God had given the chief of staff both respect and affection for Daniel. 10 But he responded, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has ordered that you eat this food and wine. If you become pale and thin compared to the other youths your age, I am afraid the king will have me beheaded.” 11 Daniel spoke with the attendant who had been appointed by the chief of staff to look after Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 12 “Please test us for ten days on a diet of vegetables and water,” Daniel said. 13 “At the end of the ten days, see how we look compared to the other young men who are eating the king’s food. Then make your decision in light of what you see.” 14 The attendant agreed to Daniel’s suggestion and tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king.16 So after that, the attendant fed them only vegetables instead of the food and wine provided for the others.
The convictions we have about how we live and how much the world sways those convictions is an ongoing process. Scripture says we are aliens here on the this earth and only here for a short while. While we walk this earth and breathe the air and live our lives we are forced to make firm decisions about who we will follow and how that will affect us. As born again believers we have our guidebook, which is the Bible, and it shows clearly the good, the bad, and the ugly. But the decision stills remains with us and the questions come to mind quite often. "Who am I going to follow?" Daniel and the other young Hebrew men were selected by Ashpenaz, the royal chief of staff of Nebuchadnezzar. He was to choose only strong, healthy, and good-looking young men to train in the ways of Babylon. He even chose their diet so they could progress physically into the men he wanted them to be. A choice had to be made by these men about whether they would follow God or King Nebuchadnezzar.
Daniel made his choice and he decided he would not defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. Daniel was taking a stand and there were going to be repercussions. So Daniel asked for permission not to eat the unacceptable foods he was supposed to eat. Instead of immediately raining down on Daniel the chief of staff gave him a voice and listened to him. The chief of staff respected Daniel and allowed Daniel to share his convictions openly. So Daniel was able to make a deal with the attendant assigned to him by the chief of staff. They let him continue to eat the food he wanted and the others ate the food and wine ordered by the King. At the end of ten days Daniel and the other young Hebrew men were healthier looking than the others and they continued to feed them only vegetables, instead of the food and wine ordered for the others. God came through.
God is our Lord and His ways are the best, not only for us, but for all. Our Christians convictions, if built on the Word of God, make a difference in the world we live in. This world will try to get us to compromise, but like Daniel our witness should be so good and strong that it will stand even when challenged by a lost and dying world. We may face opposition, but we are not alone. Our God is with us all along the way. Look at what Paul wrote to the church at Phillipi. Phillipians 1:7 Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News.28 Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself.
This stand for Christ is not only going to affect us, but everyone we meet as we proclaim that Christ is the Lord of our lives. God will do the rest!! Daniel set the witness for each of us and Peter puts the nail in it in 1 Peter 2:12 Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world. This is God's Way which is THE BEST WAY. STAND FIRM!!!!
The Pilgrimage continues......
David Warren