FANatic

No Big Deal?

 

A few years before Babylon tried to conquer Judah/Jerusalem, Assyria tried, but failed.  Archeologists found 26,000 tablets in the palace of Ashurbanipal, who took Israel captive in 722 B.C.   Several of these records confirm the Bible’s accuracy.  Every reference in the Old Testament to an Assyrian king has proven correct!  THIS BOOK, GOD’S WORD, THE BIBLE, IS TRUE.  This is just one example of how archeology supports the historical accuracy of God’s Word.

 

Back to King Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylon Empire.  Daniel and his 3 friends, now renamed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego face a seemingly simple decision.

 

PRAYER:  God, show me more of who you are today.

 

GRAB YOUR BIBLE:  Daniel 1:5, 8-21.

The king assigned them a daily ration of food and wine from his own kitchens. They were to be trained for three years, and then they would enter the royal service.

But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods. 9Now God had given the chief of staff both respect and affection for Daniel. 10But he responded, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has ordered that you eat this food and wine. If you become pale and thin compared to the other youths your age, I am afraid the king will have me beheaded.”

11Daniel spoke with the attendant who had been appointed by the chief of staff to look after Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 12“Please test us for ten days on a diet of vegetables and water,” Daniel said. 13“At the end of the ten days, see how we look compared to the other young men who are eating the king’s food. Then make your decision in light of what you see.”14The attendant agreed to Daniel’s suggestion and tested them for ten days.

15At the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king. 16So after that, the attendant fed them only vegetables instead of the food and wine provided for the others.

17God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams.

18When the training period ordered by the king was completed, the chief of staff brought all the young men to King Nebuchadnezzar. 19The king talked with them, and no one impressed him as much as Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they entered the royal service. 20Whenever the king consulted them in any matter requiring wisdom and balanced judgment, he found them ten times more capable than any of the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom.

21Daniel remained in the royal service until the first year of the reign of King Cyrus.d

 

Ok, this seems like no big thing.  The king’s chief of staff offers food, but Daniel and his 3 friends, want a healthier diet.  To me and you, that might mean, a Wendy’s 4 for 4, versus a salad for dinner.  A little thing.  A little choice.

Notice the word in verse 9.  DETERMINED.  Another version says Daniel was RESOLVED.

 

Hey guys, many of you are in new schools.  All of you in new grades and classes.  Your DETERMINATION to follow God WILL be tested.  People will tell you something wrong is “No big deal.”

 

If you remain in the small things, you will be faithful in the big things.  And we will see this play out with Daniel and his 3 friends.

 

So consider, the little things, your language, music, movies you watch, and other “small” things.

 

DON’T LET THE WORLD DETERMINE YOUR CHOICES.  FOLLOW GOD.  STAY DETERMINED, RESOLVED!

 

PRAYER:  God, I love You!  God, please give me the courage to follow you in even the small things.  Jesus, be my strength, be my resolve.