Tuesday's Blessing
March 1
Obeying God
Daniel 1:1-8
The story of Daniel illustrates some key elements of obedience. We see the wise young man doing what the Lord com-manded, in the right manner and timing.
Daniel knew that God's law prohibited eating food that had been offered to idols. But he was living in captivity in Babylon—a nation that worshiped false gods—and soon faced a hard decision. King Nebuchadnezzar had ordered that the choicest of foods be sent for Daniel's meals after first being presented to idols. Was it better to obey the Lord and risk angering the king—or to disobey God and please the ruler?
On the surface, the question for Daniel was about unacceptable food. But the underlying issue was allegiance to God. He could have rationalized breaking the divine command by telling himself he was a servant and had no choice. Instead, Daniel resolved not to eat the royal food and sought a way through the dilemma that would honor the Lord and keep His law.
Today, many things that our world finds acceptable are outside God's protective boundaries for His children. Some are not good for us while others do not honor Him. Our desire as Christians is to obey the Lord, but our fleshly side wants to please ourselves and others. Yet denying self and obeying God is always the right choice.
To become like Daniel, we must make a wholehearted commitment to follow the Lord and consistently apply Scripture to our decision making. Then, when challenges come, we'll have the courage to obey God's commands. Our Father is pleased when we choose a lifestyle of obedience like Daniel's.
Albert Schweitzer
Now, in America, we don't have the pressure to eat food sacrificed to idols, at least not the kind of idols that this story is talking about. But, recently, I have been challenged to look at the idols in my life. An idol is anything that I allow in my life to take the place of God, and my devotion to Him.
I include alcohol and drugs in my list of idols. But, is sugar an idol to me? In recent years, after my year of being sugar free, post op, it has once again, become one. Is fried food an idol to me? Again, after my year of being free of it post-op it has been once again. I must confess and repent of that behavior, and abstain from them once again, just as I did with the drugs and alcohol. God gave me His strength and grace to do it for that year post-op, and He continues to prove Himself faithful to me in my year of being clean and sober from the drugs and alcohol. He will continue to do just that again.
What food idols have you been able to see in your diet? Whose wrath are we willing to face in our desire to be obedient to the Lord with our diet?
Hugs,
Trish
Albert Schweitzer
Stacy B. · 8 replies · 961 views
