Stand for Truth Like Daniel and His Friendsਨਮੂਨਾ

Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian king, believed that the gods of his nation were greater than Israel's God, the God Daniel served, and the God who calls us by name.

But just because Judah fell to Babylon doesn't mean that God was powerless to stop it. It meant that He allowed it to happen.

For nothing is outside of God's control.

When Nebuchadnezzar commanded that all the vessels from the temple and all the nobility be brought to Babylon, it was a power move. He was asserting his dominance over everyone. He sought to re-educate Daniel, his friends, and the young princes from all the other nations he conquered. He wanted to remake them in his own image.

He took the best and decided he would make them better. Or so he thought.

It was politically savvy. By making the best and brightest from all the other nations forget their homelands and give them the resources and pleasures of Babylon, they'd forget their homelands and have no desire to return. As a result, Nebuchadnezzar's power would last. That was the plan.

But he'd never met someone like Daniel, or his friends Hananiah, Mishael, or Azariah, before.

Daniel and his friends resolved not to defile themselves. They refused the royal rations of food and wine, rejecting the meat offered to idols (and its protein-infused nutrition). They opted for a simple diet of vegetables and water.

The secret to their success and elevation wasn't a meal plan or a fitness routine, however. It was faithfulness and trust in God.

God advanced them. God saw their act of faith and humility to honor Him. And God responded.

Today's passage highlights that God allowed Daniel and his friends to receive favor and compassion from the master of the palace. Their act of resistance could have ended their lives on the spot. But they were given time to be tested and, as a result, show God's power.

They stood for the truth. They stood firm in their belief that there is one God and He alone should be honored, no matter what.

Reflection

Are there any messages or beliefs that are being pushed on me by others that don't reflect who God says I am or line up with what He has asked me to do?

How can I stand for truth in this area today?

Prayer

Thank you, God of heaven and earth, that You are in control. I trust You where I am. I trust that I am in Your will. I choose to honor You and ask for Your favor in my circumstances. Give me courage to stand for truth and to be faithful to You today.