Learning from the Leaders -- Daniel

Learning from the Leaders--Daniel

Daniel went to Babylon as an exile from Israel. He anticipated being nothing more than a slave. God had other plans for him. He was selected early on to serve in the king's palace. Almost from the beginning, he faced challenges. His keepers wanted him to eat the same thing all the other trainees ate-the "king's delicacies." In the words of Scripture, he "purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself . . . ." (Dan. 1:8)

COMMITMENT stands out as part of Daniel's life. We can learn from Him. On any given day, we will experience challenges that will enhance or detract from our walk with the Lord. Daniel's commitment to the God of Israel took precedence in all his decisions. Commitment made hard decisions easier; he already knew the boundaries.

Daniel's success in Babylon is huge. He kept "climbing the ladder," even though that was not his goal or intent. His goal remained steady throughout his life. He wanted to honor God in everything he did. Some of the king's advisors (natives of Babylon) got jealous and wanted to get rid of him. It is interesting to note that they knew only one area of vulnerability-his walk with God. (See Daniel 6:3-5) They fooled the king into making a foolish decree that required all the inhabitants of the kingdom to pray only to him for thirty days.

Daniel's COURAGE prompted him to honor his ongoing COMMITMENT to the God of Israel. As was his custom, he went to his room and knelt in front of open window to pray while facing Israel. He knew his enemies were watching. He knew he would pay the price. As soon as the king's advisors tattled on Daniel, the king knew he had been duped. Try as he might to get out of it, he had no choice but to put Daniel in the lion's den. (Daniel 6:10-23)

Daniel did not know what would happen, but his CONVICTION that the God of Israel warranted the best he had to offer left him no choice. He had to go to that window and pray, even though he knew the consequences. He lived out his CONVICTION with COURAGE and COMMITMENT. God honored all of that and spared his life. He went on to higher levels of authority in the kingdom, and many turned to the true and living God through his witness.

Every Freedom Fighter faces challenges to our convictions about our Lord and His Word. If our convictions are valid and rest on a biblical foundation, then a life-long commitment to them is only reasonable. Choosing to live out those commitments requires courage that only comes from God's Spirit at work in us. Each of us can learn from Daniel, a leader of leaders. -- John Strain is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Toms River

God's WORD for YOU: Psalm 113-115; Proverbs 23; 1 Corinthians 6

Great Quote: It is a common temptation of Satan to make us give up the reading of the Word and prayer when our enjoyment is gone; as if it were of no use to read the Scriptures when we do not enjoy them, and as if it were no use to pray when we have no spirit of prayer. The truth is that in order to enjoy the Word, we ought to continue to read it, and the way to obtain a spirit of prayer is to continue praying. The less we read the Word of God, the less we desire to read it, and the less we pray, the less we desire to pray. -- George Muller