Commitment to Convictions

COMMITMENT TO CONVICTIONS

Daniel 1:1-21

The Message vv. 15-16: “At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.”

Does Shakira realize that her life is on display? Keith is watching her very closely. He wondered what had gotten into him to accept her invitation to attend Sunday school—(see Remodeling Keith devotion)—but he’s glad he did. Believers don’t usually pay attention to how people view us, but others do notice. Whether at home, school, or just out in the world, believers are front-and-center.

Daniel didn’t try to impress anyone, either. But something about him affected everyone with whom he came in contact. He impacted servants, his own friends, or peers, and even kings. What made him stand out? Daniel was different from everybody else because he remained steady, committed to his convictions. He believed that Scripture is real, alive, and true. His request could have gotten him—or his guard killed. Why did Daniel dare to make his request to eat only vegetables and drink only water?

The Israelites were exiled to Babylon, and Daniel found himself surrounded by strangers, in a foreign land. Chosen from a royal family because he had no defects or flaws, and proven to be smart, Daniel was treated very well. But he knew these people worshipped idols. It was weird that a young man would resist the food and wine from the royal table. But since Mosaic Law forbade eating food offered to idols, Daniel wanted to obey. Daniel’s request to be fed only vegetables and drink only water proved commitment to his convictions.

Daniel stood firm on his convictions, regardless of his environment, regardless of the outcome. His behavior paid off very well for him, and for his companions. (See Daniel, chapter 3, for the lion’s den story).

Shakira knows well, as we do, that our world offers many compromises (KOM-pro-MISE-es means give-and take choices) to righteous living. But when believers stand firm on what’s the right thing to do, we obey God—regardless of the results.

“So you took Keith to Sunday school?” a few of Shakira’s classmates teased. “What are you—a Nun?”

“No way” Shakira confessed. “I’m not that cool!”

If Shakira would have denied taking Keith, or got mad about being teased, her witness for Jesus would have been trashed.

Take Home Nugget

Conviction about God’s truth is like an anchor that keeps us steady. Commitment to our convictions prevents our powerful witness of Christ from damage.

Point out to me the souls lost in sin

Help me to love, and bring the wandering in.

J.D. Griffith

Click here for an Interactive-Online-Lesson for Commitment to Convictions

A personal, private lesson experience with our staff Written for http://www.biblestudyforkids.com/ For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.

Does Shakira realize that her life is on display? Keith is watching her very closely. He wondered what had gotten into him to accept her invitation to attend Sunday school—(see Remodeling Keith devotion)—but he’s glad he did. Believers don’t usually pay attention to how people view us, but others do notice. Whether at home, school, or just out in the world, believers are front-and-center.

Daniel didn’t try to impress anyone, either. But something about him affected everyone with whom he came in contact. He impacted servants, his own friends, or peers, and even kings. What made him stand out? Daniel was different from everybody else because he remained steady, committed to his convictions. He believed that Scripture is real, alive, and true. His request could have gotten him--or his guard killed--but that was beside the point of doing the right thing.

The Israelites were exiled to Babylon, and Daniel found himself surrounded by strangers, in a foreign land. Chosen from a royal family because he had no defects or flaws, and proven to be smart, he was treated very well. But he knew these people worshipped idols, and begged for fresh vegetables to eat and only water to drink. It was weird that a young man would resist the food and wine from the royal table. But since Mosaic Law forbade eating food offered to idols, Daniel wanted to obey. Knowing that royal food was first offered to idols, his request proved commitment to his convictions.

Daniel stood firm on his convictions, regardless of his environment, regardless of the outcome. His behavior paid off very well for him, and for his companions. (See Daniel, chapter 3, for the lion’s den story).

Shakira knows well, as we do, that our world offers many compromises (KOM-pro-mise-es means give-and-take choices) to righteous living. But when believers stand firm on what’s the right thing to do, we obey God—regardless of the results.

“So you took Keith to Sunday school?” a few of Shakira’s classmates teased. “What are you—a Nun?”

“No way” Shakira confessed. “I’m not that cool!”

If Shakira would have denied taking Keith, or got mad about being teased, her witness for Jesus would have been trashed.

Take Home Nugget

Conviction about God’s truth is like an anchor that keeps us steady. Commitment to our convictions prevents our powerful witness of Christ from damage.

Point out to me the souls lost in sin Help me to love, and bring the wandering in.

J.D. Griffith

Click here for an Interactive-Online-Lesson for Commitment to Convictions A personal, private lesson experience with our staff Written for http://www.biblestudyforkids.com/ For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.