Against the Flow: Holiness in a Hostile WorldSample

Day 2: Against All Odds

As a believer, have you ever felt that the odds are stacked against you? It seems impossible to live out your faith and succeed in the workplace when people are employing questionable means to get ahead. It feels impossible to stand up to your family and relatives when they scold you for not participating in traditional rituals because of your faith.

Daniel and his friends also had the odds stacked against them. They were already captives in a foreign land hostile to their beliefs. Yet, they chose not to eat the royal food and wine, potentially inviting more trouble for themselves. Although there were Jewish dietary laws, and the was food being offered to idols, it's likely the rejection was also to demonstrate God’s power. After all, nobody would expect them to still be healthy and highly skilled after such a simple diet of vegetables and water. In the end, we see how Daniel and his friends were unrivaled in wisdom and understanding among all in the Babylonian empire (v20).

Interestingly, Daniel navigated the whole situation in a quiet and diplomatic way. He did not compromise in silence. Nor did he fight for his rights in a hostile manner. He asked the right people for permission and initiated a test. Daniel teaches us that the struggle is not to make the culture Christian, but how a Christian can find ways to live right before God in a hostile culture.

Throughout history, Christians have lived in cultural contexts that vary in terms of their receptivity and hostility towards the Gospel message. Whichever the case, we have to respond in context to our surroundings and the issues we encounter. Daniel shows us that there are multiple ways to remain in Christ in an unbelieving world depending on the situation. We do not always have to fight or advocate for issues in the public square. Yet there will be times we cannot afford to remain silent in things that matter. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. In fact, how we proclaim our faith in different areas of our life may look different.

Against the seemingly overwhelming odds, this passage encourages and emboldens us to live out our faith with courage. As we resolve to not be defiled By the things of the world, God can bless us and lift us up for His glory, just as He did with Daniel. As we proclaim our faith in difficult areas of our life, we remember the God who is on our side.

Prayer points:

• How do you proclaim your faith in the different areas of your life? Ask the Lord for wisdom to engage people in a relevant and effective way so as to glorify God’s name.
• Is there a particular area in your life where you feel it is impossible to live out your faith? Pray that the Lord will give you courage and resolve like Daniel.