“But everyone’s doing it…” “It’s not cool…”
“But my friends will laugh at me…”
“My parents will never know…”
Have you ever thought or said any of these things? It can be hard to stand up and be different for our own convictions. It is much easier to conform to the people around us in the way we conduct ourselves, than to be transformed as the Bible says in Romans 12:2. Transformed means “a continual change from the inside out.” We always need to be growing in our walk with the Lord, taking a stand for what is right in God’s eyes and not letting others around us pull us down.
I’ve been studying in the book of Daniel by reading the sermon notes from a family friend. There are several things that I’ve learned that I thought would go along with this issue’s theme. Just to brief you with a background of Daniel: Daniel was a young man, probably in his teen years when he was captured and taken to Babylon along with others, including his three friends. Daniel and his friends were Jews who feared the Lord, and trusted Him to protect them in a strange land. Daniel had several encounters where he had choices to make as you may recall. I’d like to focus in on Daniel’s character in chapter one of Daniel.
“But Daniel purposed in his heart…” Daniel 1:8
The first thing I want to define in this verse is a conviction versus belief. Many people have beliefs and knowledge of what’s right, but beliefs alone do not make us stand up for Christ—A belief is in the head, and a conviction is from the heart. As we look around us in the world, we see that a lot of people ‘believe’ in God. They go to church, and say all the right things in front of other Christians, but when it comes to making choices of what is right in God’s eyes, versus what they want to do, they fail. Those people have the ‘head knowledge’ of Christ but not the heart knowledge. A conviction makes us stand up for what’s right when no one else is around.
What was Daniel’s conviction?
“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.” Daniel 1:8 Daniel and his friends were ordered to be on the same diet as the king (verse 5). The food had undoubtedly been first offered to the idols of the Babylonians and eating the meat, in this way, would cause them to participate in the worship with these false gods. Also, this meat would not have abided by or been prepared according to the Jewish law which Daniel and his friends obeyed. Okay, we probably will not be required to eat food that has been offered to idols, but we have all been in Daniel’s shoes at one time or another. What about the TV we watch, the music we listen to, or how we act around our friends—drawing attention to ourselves by talking too much, laughing loudly, or flirting, and my list could go on. Do we please God in all we say and do by acting differently from what others are doing?
Now, I want to point out some things in Daniel’s response…the prince of the eunuchs, Melzar, refused Daniel’s request of not eating the meat and wine, because he was afraid that the king would have him killed if he allowed it. Daniel replied in chapter 1:12-13: “Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse [vegetables] to eat and water to drink. Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenances of the children that eat of the portion of the king’s meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.” What I’d like to point out here is Daniel’s attitude in his response to Melzar. It was kind, and not judgmental. If Daniel has responded with, “No, I can’t eat that meat!” I’m sure that he would not have gotten very far. Rather, Daniel tried to understand Melzar’s point of view, (he was afraid of being executed, verse 10) and kindly asked him for a trial period of 10 days. Daniel’s response to Melzar is a good example that we need to take note of. Quietly respond to other’s questions, instructions, etc. kindly, gracefully, and without judging them. “When a man’s ways please the Lord, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.” Proverbs 16:7
Lastly, I’d like to mention that no matter what we may face, if we stand up for what’s right in God’s eyes, He will protect us and reward us openly. As we all know this was the first of quite a few trials Daniel and his friends had to face while in Babylon (the fiery furnace, the lion’s den). Yet, in this account we just looked at, in verses 17-20 we read that the Lord blessed Daniel and his friends for standing up for what’s right, and obeying His word. “Because straight is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:14 “Today, mankind wants to take true Biblical faith and dilute it—cheapen it to make it conform to their standards instead of having to conform to God’s standards.”
I’d like to encourage you who are reading this to be different—stand up for the convictions God has laid upon your heart in every situation that arises. “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Jesus Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.” Colossians 3: 23-25