Daniel: A Faithful Young ProfessionalSample

What is Daniel’s secret? He is able to serve the King of Babylon with all his talents and capacities, without denying himself or his faith. He can make a difference because of his high position in this empire. He comes to rule over the most important part of the country and is also appointed as chief over all advisers and wise men in the country (Dan. 2: 48-49). And, at a later stage, he is appointed to a top position of the government and considered as the governor over the entire kingdom, together with two other imperial magistrates (Dan. 6:3).

This secret stems from his heart (Dan. 1:8): "But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank" (NKJV). This choice, anchored deeply in his heart, is Daniel’s secret. The heart is the place where everything is born, and it is the source of life (Proverbs 4:23). It is there that he decides to serve God. The heart is the place inside of us where everything comes together - our desires, our emotions, and our balance. It is the place where a person makes his choices. In the heart, our destination is born. For the heart harbors our deepest longings, and it directs our thoughts and mind. The mind is the place where we deliberate and determine what we are going to do. What we do determines our destination. Your destination, therefore, is ultimately determined by your heart. If your heart is not pure, if your desires are not pure, your destination is not good. This is why it is important to decide in advance what you will allow in your heart and what you will not. What do you want to read, what do you not? What are you looking at, and who do you give access to influence your heart? "When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness"(Luke 11:34). Daniel’s secret is that he decided in advance in his heart to serve God. This opens a way for God to work in and through him. This is Daniel’s secret!

For Daniel, his conviction is not just a theory, he also acts on it. His challenge is not in achieving successes and/or victories in the way his environment defines these, but in keeping his heart pure, following God "whatever it takes". Within the context of his work, we see he wants to be available to God, to proclaim His great deeds, as described by Peter in 1 Peter 2:1-10. This is not easy and makes Daniel an extraordinary person.

Question for the day:
What are your desires, and what is your heart directed towards?