PURPOSEFUL LIVING

"BUT Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods."
Daniel 1:8 (NLT)

• Christian living requires discipline, and the determination to stand for God.

• Daniel made up his mind, resolved not to defile himself. You also as a Believer in Christ Jesus would have to be determined in your mind not to defile yourself—be resolute to live holy (Colossians 3:5,6; 1 Peter 1:15,16).
• Daniel refused to defile himself with King's food and wine (Daniel 1:8). There are things you should not get yourself involved in, things that could defile you as a believer in Christ Jesus: "ABSTAIN FROM EVERY FORM OF EVIL" (1 Thessalonians 5:22 NKJV).
• If some Believers were to be in Daniel's shoes, they would throw caution to the wind and go ahead to eat the food and drink the wine given to them.
• Remember, one of the reasons why Daniel would not want to take the food and drinks was, the food and drinks in question were not in line with Jewish dietary laws.
  ALSO, the meat was that of the animals sacrificed to the idols.
• Instead, Daniel did ask the permission of the chief of staff, to eat other things—vegetable and water (Daniel 1:11,12).

• Choice to live Right.

• Living right is a personal choice you had to make as a Believer in Christ Jesus.
• God is watching you in every decision you make in life. He allowed or permitted some things to come your way, in order to test your heart—to know the heart you have for Him.
  AND to know the type of decision you would make If nobody was there to put a check on you.
• Daniel and his colleagues were in a strange land, and If they ate any forbidden food, nobody would know; but God would know and see it—that would determine their stand before God.
• Every act, action or deed, of yours, matters to God. What you may consider insignificant or unimportant, could be considered an important thing in the sight of God.
• Eating that food, King's food, And the drinking of the wine, might be seen by some Believers as non-issue, a less important matter; but in God's sight, that mattered and very important.
• If you were walking with God, you had to understand what He likes and what He does not.
• Daniel and his friends knew what God wanted—what He does like and dislike.
  In your relationship with God, you must get deeper and cordial with Him, to the point that you know what God is expected of you without being sentimental.
• If you are walking with God, you have to understand how He relates with you as an individual Believer.

• Daniel understands God and knows what He does like and dislike—what He would want from him, as a child of His.

• Daniel refused, made up his mind not, to be defiled. He remembered who he was, where he was coming From.
  HE knew that being a Jew, there were certain things that should not be done by him, according to God's laws or commandments.
• He knows that he was in a relationship with God, not with man, and God is present everywhere. That, even If other people, Jewish leaders were not there, he should not compromise his faith.
• He wanted to honour God with his life, even in a strange land, where idolatry is reigning.

• The truth is: God would allow you to be alone in some places, and situations, in order to test your stand—your faithfulness.

• In such situations, you may not have any Believer around who can curb or caution you not to do what is not right.
• You would be allowed to find yourself in a situation to make a decision for God; either to live Right, holy or not, or to defile yourself.
• Who you are is known through the decision you made at such a situation, and that determines your rating in God's Kingdom on earth.
• The reality of your faith is known through what would be done by you, when no one is watching you.
• If you found it difficult to stand for God, when you were confronted or tempted with Sin, or had the opportunity to compromise your faith or stand in God. HE might not commit any important thing to your hand as a result of it, Because, it shows that your reliability strength is low.
• God would not allow you, give you an access into certain places, If you had compromised your faith in the previous tests. It does mean you cannot represent Him well!

• Promotion
"The king talked with them, and no one impressed him as much as Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they entered the royal service" (Daniel 1:19 NLT).

• God would not have allowed Daniel to be considered for national assignment,
  If he had defiled himself.
• When you compromised your stand, God may not talk, but it will affect your ratings and promotions in the Kingdom.
• What God has in plan might not be released, it might be delayed or given to another person who has PROVEN himself or herself more faithful and loyal.

• Any number of Christians remain on the same spot spiritually and physically because of compromise—inability to take their stand for God when such a decision is demanded.

• Check your life: Are you not compromising your stand regarding your stand for Christ among your relatives? In other words, Do you want to please your extended family?
• Do you still participate in the things done in your families which are contrary to the Word of God? Even when it is known to you that such things are not right biblically—you are afraid of what your people would say or do.
• Until you are able to stand for God, tell the people to their faces, that what they were doing is not biblical thus you cannot be part of it; God will not be able to promote you and trust you.
• You must be able to stand your ground for God, defend your faith, the truth of the Word of God you know; either in the office where you work, or in the family, or the School you attend, or the neighbourhood where you live, or wherever you may find yourself.
• God counts on what you do, Whenever you find yourself among the unbelievers.

• You will not fail in Jesus' name.

• Whatever is not planted by God in your system, that is working against your health; such is cursed and uprooted in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
• You will live in health all the days of your life in Jesus' name.
  Peace!