Daniel…Dare stand and "He" makes sure you stand firm.

Daniel, a young slave from a royal background, in an idolatrous nation, called to serve a heather king. He made choices which cast him different from others. Let’s check a few points from the first chapter:

1:8 Daniel purposed in his heart

1:9 God made Daniel to find kindness and compassion in the sight….

1:12 Test your servants

1:15 At the end of ten days their faces appeared fairer

1:17 God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom

1:19 among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah

1:20 ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters who were in his entire realm.

Let’s check the sequence of events:

1:8 - a Godly purpose, to live a life according to His call to be Holy. Determined to stand for the Lord and remain firm in His purposes.

1:9 – stand up for your divine call and God will make the resources available, He will set the path… The race is now set.

1:12 – Race is to be active, sweat it out. Involves streaming your body, mind, and spirit in one direction. Undergo the test, prove yourself, prove your faithfulness, Walk the talk.

1:15 – Endure the test, come out shining. God honors you when you walk/run that faithful Christian walk.

1:17 – When He sees your faithfulness, He honors it and gives you added blessings. You no longer are someone who can be crushed by the world, and can be ignored. You shine because He empowers you with His knowledge and you gain wisdom.

Here we surely can debate on what we need to learn (the choice of what to learn), but understand that these guys had to learn the culture, traditions, and knowledge of Babylon – which in no way could have been acceptable and holy.

3 Observation’s:

• You are supposed to keep away from such things which are hated by our Lord, keep ourselves within the framework of the doctrines of the word of God (as it is mentioned in His holy word).
• If at all God places you in such a situation, wherein your brain needs to imbibe this knowledge; see to it that this doesn't flow down to your spirit and heart. Wherever there would be clash of doctrines of God and Babylon, God’s doctrines get the veto power
•  Let the heart remain pure. God is interested in the heart. Actions may or may not give out the truth inside. Test the heart.

1:19, 20 – Ten times better??? Is it possible? Well, why not? We all want this to be true in our life, right? Then let us go about doing the previous steps.