Day 2 – Do you have the courage to just say no?

Read: Daniel 1: 9 – 21

There are many parallels in the lives of Daniel and an earlier patriarch of the faith named Joseph. Both were young men when forcefully taken to another country. Yet they were both faithful, and God blessed them and gave them opportunities of leadership in a foreign land. In both stories, it is clear that God is sovereign over all nations, and uses circumstances that appear to be catastrophic to accomplish his own purposes. Daniel accepts many of the changes that were forced on him without complaint – he had no choice over his name change or the kind of schedule he had to lead, or the education he would receive. However, he drew the line at his diet because it represented a non-negotiable violation of his commitment to his God. He is a model of wisdom and discernment in the variety of ways he copes.

Bottom line, God’s laws are intended to guide people toward what is best for them, which at the same time glorifies God for who he is. They are reminders of our need to depend on God, to trust him, and to be identified with him. They also demonstrate to the rest of the world how God protects and provides for his people. Daniel’s trust in God was evident, reflecting the spirit of God’s laws.

Living in a multicultural nation means that we are surrounded by different world views and practices that pressure and challenge us to live in ways other than what we may have been raised to believe. Making the correct decisions that honor God can only occur if we constantly seek God’s will and wisdom about when to compromise or when to stand firm. Remember: Our ultimate goal is to make Jesus make sense to others.

Q1: Daniel wanted to live above the level of temptation. What would this mean in your life? What would you do differently? How would it improve your relationships with God and other people?

Q2: The results of Daniel’s uncompromising life were courage, convictions, courtesy, confidence, and consistency. Which of these results are most evident in your life? Which do you most desire in your life? How could you begin to build this into your life?

Q3: Daniel experienced certain rewards which can be directly traced to living an uncompromising life, such as good health and influence. Do you see any of these same rewards in your life? What “rewards” can you attribute to God in your life?

Final thought: There is a phrase in Daniel that is not repeated about anybody else in the Bible. Three times in the book, he is referred to as a “man greatly beloved.” That is the power of an uncompromising life governed by integrity, discipline, and wisdom.