A Call To CommunityПримерок

Daniel: Improving His Community  

A young man torn from his family and country, and enslaved in a faraway land, Daniel didn’t have much control over his circumstances. Some would say he was lucky, since he’d been picked to serve the king. But Daniel knew in his heart that he had to take a stand. Could he be faithful to God while serving an unbelieving king? 

Daniel was a young man from Judah brought to Babylon against his will. He hadn’t chosen to go, and he had no hope of return. But God had a plan for Daniel. 

King Nebuchadnezzar’s court and country were very much a culture in opposition to his beliefs, but Daniel chose to excel without compromise. He served the king with respect, but he put God first, even when it conflicted with the king’s decrees. 

He stood up for his faith throughout his years of service—whether by refusing to eat foods deemed unclean by Jewish laws, by refusing to bow before the king’s gold statue or by refusing to pray only to the king himself. 

No matter what the potential punishment was for disobeying the king, Daniel chose to instead esteem his God more than man. And each time, God blessed him by providing greater favor with Nebuchadnezzar and the kings that followed after. Ultimately, the whole kingdom came to recognize Daniel’s God (Dan. 6:26-27). 

Daniel respected the new culture and customs of the country he lived in, as well as the rulers that he served, but he respected God more. As a result, he was able to assimilate to his new home while still upholding the laws and customs of his people. Daniel demonstrated that choosing to faithfully obey God can help those around you see God’s might and power for themselves. 

Points to Ponder:

• Do you live or work in a community opposed to your beliefs? Are you willing to obey God no matter what, even if it means facing ridicule or isolation from your peers?  
• Think of a time when you have been a faithful witness to a specific individual or group of people. Have you seen others turn toward God as a result? Pray that God would use you to plant seeds in other people’s lives.

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