FRIDAY, APRIL 6
Daniel 1:8
Psalm 27:5

“… in the secret of his
tabernacle shall he hide me …

OUR ACTIONS WITNESS TO OTHERS

Daniel and his companions, from the very start of their training programme in Babylon, settled upon one policy from which they would not deviate; namely, submission without compromise. Daniel did not drop the matter with a shrug of the shoulders when Ashpenaz refused to grant his request to be excused from eating the king’s food. He proceeded to the steward, asking for a temporary change of diet lasting a mere ten days. He believed God so explicitly that he fully expected their appearance to change within that short period! Later, he would request a permanent change of diet.

Daniel might have taken a compromising approach. He could have rationalized his way around the will of his God by asking, “We are to obey God’s law in ordinary circumstances, but this is utterly abnormal. Surely, God would not expect obedience to His law in a situation like this! Look at the advantages that can be ours if we follow the king’s directions! We can influence important people! God must be giving us this big opportunity! The Law isn’t all that important. Let’s act now!”

Thank God, Daniel acted on the basis of his convictions, and trusted Him to be faithful. He and his friends were not disappointed! “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not” (Jer 33:3). No one disobeys the revealed will of God without some kind of excuse. But our Lord is not interested in excuses. He requires obedience, even if we do not understand the rationality of His commandments at the time. In the Upper Room, Jesus said to His disciples: “What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter … If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them” (John 13:7, 17).

THOUGHT: Obedience to God and His Word produces several results. It gladdens the heart of God. It brings blessing to our own lives. It provides a witness and an encouragement to others, in order that they might do the same and receive God’s blessing.
PRAYER: O Lord God, may I trust Thee for help to stand by my convictions today, in the midst of temptation, for Thy glory.