WE LIVE in the days when our leaders are fighting one another and sowing the seeds of discord.
We live in a time when we need a visionary leader to take the lead and make a difference.
AT A TIME, the people of Judah needed to hear the voice of God. They wanted to know the future.
And God said to Jeremiah, "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, and before you were born, I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations." (Jeremiah 1:5)
I'm so young," he replied.
Many of us respond to the call the same way.
We make excuses—we turn to our inadequacies and pushback. We also forget that every believer has a pulpit. (Romans 8:30)
But we must understand that – we are not random notes on the keyboard of life's circumstances. We were chosen before we were born and stepped into history as we were called. We are part of God's divine calling – Chuck R. Swindoll.
The Narrative
WHEN NEBUCHADNEZZAR invaded Judah, he chose the best people and took them to his home country. (Daniel 1:1-4)
Daniel, Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego were among the deportees.
Reach out in the spirit of a servant
THE KING assigned a portion of the food and wine from his table to his eunuchs. But Daniel resolved that he will not defile himself with the food or drink from the king's table.
They had to live in Babylon, but they'll rather not be absorbed into the culture.
Every bite of the food reminds them that they are the people of God.
Daniel reached out in the spirit of a servant and asked the chief of eunuchs for permission not to defile himself. He requested for a diet consistent with God's dietary laws.
And God granted him favour before his boss.
When you love God, and you're faithful to Him, you will find favour and good success in the sight of God and man. (Proverbs 3:4)
God will only allow things into your life that will bring glory to His name
No silent witnesses
THE FOUR of them understood that there was no place for silent witnesses.
And Daniel said, "Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king's food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see." (Daniel 1:12-13)
At the end of the ten days, when the chief of the eunuchs found that they were better in appearance and fatter in the flesh, he took away the food and the wine and gave them vegetables.
God has profound sovereignty. He would only allow things into your life that will bring glory to His name.
Walk in Obedience
THEY KNEW that they had a divine call over their lives, and they walked in obedience.
Obedience is like the missing sock in the dryer you're looking for and can't find it—you can only choose it.
Whenever you take a stand for God, you're advancing His Kingdom.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)
Wisdom is paramount
IN THE KING'S second year, he had a disturbing dream, and he couldn't sleep. His usual advisors couldn't tell him the dream and the meaning.
The king was angry. He issued a decree that all the wise men, including Daniel, be executed.
But when the chief royal guard saw Daniel, Daniel responded to the soldier wisely and shrewdly.
Whenever you understand your situation and respond to it properly, you walk in wisdom.
He knew how to get past the gatekeepers to the king. And Daniel asked the king for a little more time. (Daniel 2:1-12)
He returned home and told his friends to plead for mercy that the Lord will reveal the mystery.
If you want to make a difference, you must be a person of prayer—and you'll be a person of His Presence.
Be the Light
ONE NIGHT, the Lord revealed the dream to Daniel.
And he said to the king, "I am here today, not because I have greater wisdom than any other in the land, but because God in His wisdom has revealed this mystery to me. God plans that the king knows the meaning of this dream and understands the thoughts that raced through your mind." (Daniel 1:30)
Daniel did not take credit for the dream. He pointed the king to God. He became the light to the king's darkness.
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. (Matthew 5:14)
BRINGING IT TOGETHER
NOTHING SETS a Christian out of the devil's reach, like obedience to God.
Daniel took the lead. His journey began in a place where he didn't belong, but it was his fruitful place.
God has invested Himself in you. Step out this week and invest yourself in Him.
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