Daniel 1 -- What In The World Is Happening In My Life?

God’s people were now in captivity in Babylon.  Jerusalem was in ruins.  Did that mean that God wasn’t still on His throne?  No!

 

“So wise and powerful is our God that He can permit men and women to make personal choices and still accomplish His purposes in this world.  When He isn’t permitted to rule, He will overrule, but His will shall ultimately be done and His name glorified,” my commentary said.

 

Four Jewish teenage boys – all friends and probably 15-16 years old – found themselves on the doorstep of the royal palace in Babylon, handpicked for training in government service because they looked handsome, were athletic, and appeared to be very intelligent.  Instead of the food the other prisoners of war were being served, they had access to the same food as the king!

 

But God had not called them to be conformers, but transformers, my commentary noted.  Their lives weren’t being controlled by pressure from without, but by power from within – God was right in the middle of what was happening.

 

They didn’t try to be radical.  They first gave themselves wholly to the Lord, then they acted graciously toward those in authority.  My commentary says, “Throughout Scripture you will find courageous people who had to defy authority in order to obey God, and in every case, they took the wise and gentle approach.”

 

“When it comes to solving the problems of life, we must ask God for the courage to face the problem humbly and honestly, the wisdom to understand it, the strength to do what He tells us to do, and the faith to trust God to do the rest.  Our motive must be the glory of God and not finding a way of escape,” my commentary said.

 

Father, I feel like I’m in one of these situations now.  It’s new territory for me, and I need Your wisdom and discernment.  Enable me to see the forest for the trees, and glorify Yourself as You walk me through it in faith.

 

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford