dare to be a daniel (pt. 2)

 

Daniel chapter one ends with a sentence that is very easy to pass over. After Daniel’s radical choice (“Daniel resolved not defile himself with the royal food and wine”, verse 8) and its favourable outcome we read, “And Daniel remained there (in the king’s palace) until the first year of King Cyrus” (verse 21). A statement of fact? Yes! But dig a little and you discover that this meant he held a position in the royal court for nearly 70 years under the reign of four kings and likely saw the exiles begin their long journey back to the Israel. Dig deeper still and you discover that Daniel remained faithful to God over these seven decades.  

Around the age of 20 I was asked by my youth leader, Ian Wallace, to join him in leading a church service in Stenhousemuir. At the end of the service an elderly lady shook my hand and said, “Keep going, son, and that will make two of us.” I was deeply touched by that comment and by God’s grace I’ve continued to do just that for 40 years now. 

What do we need to build into our lives to be like Daniel and the elderly lady from Stenhousemuir and remain faithful and true to God?

I believe we need:

1. The Word of God in our mind 

God has given his word as a beacon to guide us.
The Bible is the most precious physical possession we have in life. Therefore, treasure it, read it and live by it.

With little or no access to the Hebrew Scriptures, Daniel chapter 9 informs us that Daniel “understood from the Scriptures…that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years” (verse 2). What an example of a man who invested time in reading and meditating on Scripture.
We ought to follow the advice of Paul to Timothy: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). 

2. The Holy Spirit in our heart

As believers we are promised the presence of the Spirit in our hearts. “Having believed in him you were marked with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession” (Ephesians 1:13). 

The Holy Spirit helps us in two key areas. 

Firstly, he takes God’s Word in our mind and plants it in our heart in order that it would grow and bear fruit (Galatians 5:22). 

And secondly, he helps us to pray perhaps when our spirits are flagging. Over several decades, Daniel committed himself to praying three times a day. ”Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, JUST AS HE HAD DONE BEFORE” (6:10).

3. Bread and wine in our hand 

Daniel was cut off from regular temple worship. However, we have the great privilege of being part of regular communion services in the local church. And just as food nourishes and strengthens our body so the Lord’s Supper nourishes and feeds our soul. 

4. Fellow believers by our side 

Daniel had three close friends who stood with him, encouraged and supported him. Together they formed a strong partnership and over the years they know doubt spurred one another on to be loyal servants of God.  

Let’s be a community that encourages and supports each other. “Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters” (Romans 12:10). 

Understanding these four realities will help us to set a steady pace and enable us to keep going over the long haul.

Dare to be a Daniel.

Dare to…stay the course. 

(picture - Dumgoyne, Campsie Fells)