Stand out
3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility—4 young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. 5 The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service. Dan 1:3-5
To be a Christian in 2022 you must be
6 Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 7 The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah,
Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego. Dan 1:6-7
Stripped of
Change names—all related to Yahweh/true God—Babylonian gods. Change diet—Eat food prepared for king—meat and wine dedicated pagan gods.
8 But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Daniel 1:8
Didn’t defend
would be
Predetermined resolution.
If you are going to stand out for God you will have to make some decisions ahead of time.
Looks like a one time event but it was a daily
12 “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” 14 So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. Dan 1:12-14
Daniel honors authority & creates a plan.
19 The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah… Daniel 1:19
Time and again—you will be lured to