Among LionsEgzanp

CONTEXT: Daniel and his friends are faced with a demand that they eat Babylonian food. This is their first big test.

How do you live in a culture where your values are constantly being challenged? How do you hold onto God when everything around you is pulling you in the opposite direction?

Throughout the Bible, we see examples of Godly men and women who lived within cultures that resisted God and his ways. Joseph, Lot, Ruth, and Elijah lived within cultures that didn’t worship God but that didn’t sway their own personal commitment. It didn’t sway Daniel’s either.

In verse 8, we see Daniel and his friends make their first public decision to follow God. Until this point, their resolutions had been internal commitments. But now they were being served “royal food and wine.” What’s so bad about that? Israelites (Daniel’s people) lived under God’s law, which had specific dietary restrictions. Perhaps the king’s food violated these laws. Or maybe Daniel and his friends didn’t want to show any loyalty to the king. Either way, they committed to eating only vegetables and water.

As we’ve seen over the past three days, Daniel and his friends had already determined to be faithful to God. While resisting temptation is easier when you know your convictions, you still need God’s help to overcome them.

God gave Daniel both wisdom and protection as he negotiated with the king’s official. He didn’t raise his fist in rebellion and shout, “No! I won’t eat your food!” Nor did he demand everyone follow his convictions and values. He calmly offered an alternative, which gained him credibility and, more importantly, honored God. Like Daniel, we, too, can negotiate without compromising our values. Daniel approached the situation with respect, humility, and an alternative solution. With God’s help, Daniel and his friends were able to be both respectful and uncompromising…and so can we.

CONSIDER THIS:

1. Where are you currently tempted to violate your values?

2. When have you been able to negotiate a situation with another person without compromising your values?

3. Write a prayer asking God for His wisdom, help, and grace as you stand firm in your faith.