Daniel 1:8-10
But Daniel determined that he would not defile himself by eating the king’s food or drinking his wine, so he asked the head of the palace staff to exempt him from the royal diet. The head of the palace staff, by God’s grace, liked Daniel, but he warned him, “I’m afraid of what my master the king will do. He is the one who assigned this diet and if he sees that you are not as healthy as the rest, he’ll have my head!”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
When Timothy began to “wind up” and whirl around yesterday afternoon, squealing and yelling at a shrill high pitch, I knew that he was approaching “the wall” and needed a nap. As his “meltdown” ensued and we lay down on his bed, he kept pointing to the door and saying, “But I want to get up.” Timothy must have told me 2 dozen times that he wanted to get up… that he didn’t need to rest. But his body language and demeanor indicated otherwise. This was one time when I had to be the grownup and choose what was best for him. It’s not that his choice was necessarily wrong… it just was not in his best interest – or the best interest of anyone else in the household! In this passage from Daniel, things were the other way around…the king’s choice was not necessarily wrong… but it was not best for Daniel.
The king wanted even the prisoners to be fed exactly what he ate. Quite literally, they were to “eat like royalty” – the king’s idea of keeping everyone healthy and fit. But Daniel’s diet was not the same as the king’s… most likely for religious reasons. He told the steward that he wanted only vegetables and water. He probably did not eat meat – in particular, pork. Nonetheless, his choice was not wrong… just different. If you continue reading beyond verse 10, you will see that Daniel and the other captives were indeed served only vegetables and water for ten days. At the end of that time, they were still perfectly healthy. In fact, they were in better physical shape than others in the king’s court! The steward continued to feed only vegetables to Daniel and his fellow prisoners afterward. The scripture says that… “God gave these four young men knowledge and skill in both books and life.”
There were two decisions here: 1) Daniel’s choice not to eat what was served; and 2) the steward’s choice to allow Daniel a period of ten days to prove himself. Both were risky…both decisions involved a lot of faith and wisdom. And I believe both were orchestrated by God. There are times in our lives when we have options… many of which may have their merits. It would have been so easy for Daniel to say, “I’m in a bind here (quite literally), and I think I will just eat what is served and not complain.” It would have been understandable for the steward to say, “Look, I have to serve what the king tells me… and you have to eat it.” Both would have been plausible options.
There may be times when we feel as though it would be easier just to go along with the crowd… to make excuses or cover for a friend who isn’t exactly doing the right thing (but it isn’t necessarily so bad, either – think “Don’t tell So-and-so I’m here!”). We may opt to put up with the foul language from a co-worker, coach, teacher, parent, relative, friend or boss… to stand in silence when someone is saying or doing something we disagree with rather than make a scene… or to allow a 4-year-old to get back up and skip his much-needed nap. These choices don’t necessarily make us bad people.
But there are times when we have to listen to the voice of God nudging us to take a stand… to do the right thing… to speak up and out and say, “I must choose differently.” We have to trust that God will orchestrate the outcome… that He will make a way where none seems possible. We have to “stick to our [Spiritual] guns” and make the choices that God indicates to us are the right ones – those that honor and please Him. In my case, I had to wait out an overly-tired 4-year-old who said he didn’t need a nap and trust God to bring sweet sleep and much-needed rest… and He did!
If you read the book of Daniel, you see that he had an extraordinary relationship with God. But the neat thing is that we can have this relationship, too. We can cultivate a deep and abiding faith in hearing from our Heavenly Father… and trusting that He will work in ways we cannot even fathom. We can ask Him to guide every single one of our choices… and trust Him to know best how things should go in the end. There is a tremendous peace and confidence in this…as well as an opportunity to grow and cultivate our courage and “faith muscle.”
Are you ready to trust God in the choices you are making? Are you ready to stand up for what you decide… and believe that He will handle the outcome? Will you take the easy way out and go along with the crowd… or are you ready to let God speak through you – to make what can sometimes seem like very difficult – and unpopular - decisions? The choice is yours… how will you decide?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label standing up for Gods truth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label standing up for Gods truth. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for January 20, 2013
Matthew 5:11-12
“Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I once worked for someone who did not see eye to eye with me about some aspects of a particular project. Despite her best efforts to convince me that I was wrong and she was right, I finally told her that we would have to respectfully agree to disagree. She killed the project. I was momentarily wounded by her reaction. But in the long run, it didn’t hurt me as deeply as she had anticipated. In fact, a series of blessings followed that “course-changer,” and I’ve never looked back. There was a moral dilemma at play here… I could compromise my values and opinions – and my loyalty to my community at large - and fall into her camp, or I could “suffer the consequences.” I refused to budge.
Was this a hard decision? Maybe in some ways. Do I regret it? Not in the least! Have I seen the hand of God in many circumstances because of the choice I made? You betcha! Have I forgiven this person? Absolutely! To do anything else would be contrary to everything I believe and all that God teaches.
Here’s the deal…we are not the judge and jury. It’s not up to us to decide who is punished… or where or how. We are called to love others as we love ourselves… and that means to forgive them when they ridicule us or cause us pain in any form. Yes, your faith may cost you a job, a significant other, or any friends all. Yes, your allegiance to God could very well cost your very life. But what is the alternative? It’s certainly nothing I wish to consider… do you?
Read this scripture passage again… count your blessings every time people put you down, throw you out or speak lies about you because you are doing what God has told you to do. If you can, be glad when this happens. I know this is a tall order… but try to find joy in this “suffering.” And hear the applause of Heaven. Know that God is saying, “He/she passed the test with flying colors!” Realize that you are not the first… nor will you be the last… to be treated this way. And most importantly, your actions have pleased God. Isn’t that really all that matters?
Stand ready today to be who and what God called you to be… at all times… regardless of how others react or treat you. Be willing to step up and step out in His name, despite the cost. Prepare to hear the roar of Heaven as your grace, mercy, faithfulness and forgiveness in the name of Jesus are commended. Bask in the confidence that you have pleased the only One who really matters… His rewards blessings are the ultimate compensation.
©2013 Debbie Robus
“Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I once worked for someone who did not see eye to eye with me about some aspects of a particular project. Despite her best efforts to convince me that I was wrong and she was right, I finally told her that we would have to respectfully agree to disagree. She killed the project. I was momentarily wounded by her reaction. But in the long run, it didn’t hurt me as deeply as she had anticipated. In fact, a series of blessings followed that “course-changer,” and I’ve never looked back. There was a moral dilemma at play here… I could compromise my values and opinions – and my loyalty to my community at large - and fall into her camp, or I could “suffer the consequences.” I refused to budge.
Was this a hard decision? Maybe in some ways. Do I regret it? Not in the least! Have I seen the hand of God in many circumstances because of the choice I made? You betcha! Have I forgiven this person? Absolutely! To do anything else would be contrary to everything I believe and all that God teaches.
Here’s the deal…we are not the judge and jury. It’s not up to us to decide who is punished… or where or how. We are called to love others as we love ourselves… and that means to forgive them when they ridicule us or cause us pain in any form. Yes, your faith may cost you a job, a significant other, or any friends all. Yes, your allegiance to God could very well cost your very life. But what is the alternative? It’s certainly nothing I wish to consider… do you?
Read this scripture passage again… count your blessings every time people put you down, throw you out or speak lies about you because you are doing what God has told you to do. If you can, be glad when this happens. I know this is a tall order… but try to find joy in this “suffering.” And hear the applause of Heaven. Know that God is saying, “He/she passed the test with flying colors!” Realize that you are not the first… nor will you be the last… to be treated this way. And most importantly, your actions have pleased God. Isn’t that really all that matters?
Stand ready today to be who and what God called you to be… at all times… regardless of how others react or treat you. Be willing to step up and step out in His name, despite the cost. Prepare to hear the roar of Heaven as your grace, mercy, faithfulness and forgiveness in the name of Jesus are commended. Bask in the confidence that you have pleased the only One who really matters… His rewards blessings are the ultimate compensation.
©2013 Debbie Robus
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