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A HEART OF PURPOSE (II)
THURSDAY, JUNE 3
Daniel 1:1-8

Hebrews 11:24-27

 

“…he would not defile himself…”

 

A HEART OF PURPOSE (II)
 
Rudely snatched from their homeland, Daniel and the other captives were taken to Babylon, where they would have been immediately exposed to the great splendour and luxury of the capital city of the Babylonian empire. In addition, Daniel was among those selected for special training who were identified as having “ability in them to stand in the king’s palace” (Dan 1:4). This would surely have been a powerful temptation for these “children of Israel” (v 3) ‒ on the one hand taken from their homeland, apparently forsaken by their God; and on the other hand brought to a city overflowing with riches, and promised a position of honour and wealth.
 
This indeed appears to have been Nebuchadnezzar’s design, and his deliberate policy. Daniel and his fellows were “appointed… a daily provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he drank,” for three years (v 5); and taught “the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans” (v 4); in order that they might forget their heritage, abandon their God, and effectively become Babylonian in their thinking and their loyalty.
 
Dear reader, is this not the enemy’s tactic today? If he would bring before Daniel the splendour of Babylon; and bring even before the Lord Himself “all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them” (Matt 4:8) ‒ will he not try the same with us? Does he not aim to entice us into renouncing the Lord, and dissolving our allegiance to Him?
 
How we need a heart of purpose, like Daniel’s! Whether in the midst of decadence, we must not be lured away from loving God and serving Him; whether in the midst of deprivation, we must not be tempted to despair or indignation against God. Satan may attempt first to incite resentment against God in our afflictions, and then turn resentment to rebellion by offering to exalt us. But Daniel was able both to “endure hardness” (2 Tim 2:3) and, like Moses, to esteem the reproach of Christ greater riches than all the earthly treasures around him (Heb 11:26). As Daniel did not falter (neither when torn from his home, nor when offered the choicest delicacies of a mighty empire), so also must we likewise strive to persevere in living a life consecrated to God.
 
THOUGHT: I am surrounded by temptations.

PRAYER: “Give me neither poverty nor riches…” (Prov 30:8)

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