Mon.’s Devo - Daniel’s First Test

Read: Daniel 1:1-2:23; 1 Peter 3:8-4:6; Psalm 119:65-80; Proverbs 28:14 During the third year of King Jehoiakim’s rule over Judah, Nebuchadnezzar from Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. He took some of the holy articles from the Temple and put them in his treasure house. *** He ordered that some of the strong and exceptional young men from the noble’s families be brought back to Babylon and put in his service. He had them put in his schools to learn their language and their customs. He ordered them to eat his food. *** Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were chosen from the tribe of Judah. They were renamed Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Daniel asked their attendant if they could not eat the king’s food since it was not koshier, and eat only vegetables and water. The attendant was afraid for his life if he didn’t obey the king’s orders, but Daniel asked him to give them a test for 10 days and see if at the end of the ten days, they didn’t look healthier than the others who ate the king’s diet. He agreed and at the end of the 10 days, they looked healthier than the other boys, so they were able to stay on their diet of veggies and water. *** Daniel was given the gift of interpreting the meanings of visions and dreams. At the end of their training, Daniel, Hannah, Mishael and Azariah impressed the king. They were wiser and had more balanced judgment and ten times more capable than any of the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom. Daniel served him until Cyrus came to reign. *** One night the king had a dream and was so frightened by it, he called for all his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers and demanded that they tell him his dream and what it meant. If they didn’t tell him both, they would be killed as imposters. None could tell him, so when the soldiers came to kill Daniel and his friends, Daniel asked why they were being killed. When he found out he went to the king to ask for an extension so he could inquire of God. He told his friends to pray that God would give them the dream and its interpretation. The king gave him the extension and God gave Daniel the dream and its interpretation that night. Daniel praised the Lord who controls the course of world events and removes kings and sets up other kings. He praised God for revealing to him the secret and mysterious things that are hidden and giving him what the king had demanded. *** Peter gives us practical advice in having right attitudes towards each other. He reminds us that the eyes of the Lord are watching what people do and his ears are listening to our prayers. But, he turns his face against those who do evil. *** Our testimony is only as good as our actions that prove what we say is true. If we suffer, it is better to suffer for doing good. Jesus suffered doing good and was raise to life. He then went and preached to those in prison who had disobeyed God when Noah was building the ark. Only eight people were saved while the whole earth was being cleansed. God saves us and cleanses our conscience. *** Christ went to heaven and is now seated at the right hand of God and all the angels and authorities and powers accept his authority. When we suffer, we must have the same attitude that Christ had when he suffered. When we turn from our past sinful lifestyle and begin to live for Christ, others won’t understand and will slander us. We must keep in mind we will all have to face God who will judge our deeds. Those who accepted the Good News will live forever with God in the Spirit. Lord, help us to have the same attitude that Jesus did when he was being persecuted and misunderstood. May we stand in your presence with a clean conscience and a pure heart.