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Ring of Truth provides 366 daily ‘proofs’ that the Bible is consistent throughout from Genesis to Revelation, and relevant for our lives today!
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Daniel 1:6
Among these were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.
God’s judgement had come.
Jerusalem had been besieged and the king of Judah, Jehoiakim, and many Israelites had been carried off into Exile in Babylon at the hands of King Nebuchadnezzar.
However, Nebuchadnezzar ordered that some of the young men who had been captured from the Israeli royal family and nobility be brought to his royal court to be instructed in their culture. They would also be fed from the Royal banqueting table.
You need to remember their names, because they were each given Babylonian names. Daniel, we always remember as Daniel, although he was called Belteshazzar, whereas the others are better known as “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego” (v 7). (Not as shown above.)
They were all captives – in exile - away from home, family, friends and familiarity. They could have become bitter and depressed or could have indulged in self-pity. But no – these guys had a sound attitude. They decided they were children of Israel, with all that meant.
They were offered the best food and wine of Babylonia, yet decided to keep kosher. Their officer was afraid in case they became the weaklings of the group and he would be killed. But was he in for a surprise? These young men thrived because God was with them.
Notice they stood up for what they believed right from the start – it is much easier that way. So often people leave it until the last minute to admit they are Christians – some never do it. I shall never forget going to a neighbour’s funeral only to find out she was a Christian. We had lived opposite for about 5 years and yet we didn’t know. (She would have known I was and yet had not admitted that she was to me.)
I’m not saying that we have to ram it down everyone’s throats but every time I have been put in a position like Daniel and his friends, I have confessed my allegiance to God and found that it has been a tremendous release. That always happens. It may not be popular but it is releasing because you no longer have to be ashamed, scared or bashful about your Christian lifestyle.
For Daniel and his three friends, it didn’t stop there, but the ‘die had been cast’ and they were to prove that they had a cause worth dying for, because their God was the Creator of the World and most worthy of serving.
Have you got a cause worth dying for?
If not, consider Daniel – His cause can become yours too.
As the bumper sticker reads,
“If you were arrested for being a Christian,
would there be enough evidence to convict you?”
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