Dare To Be A Daniel

Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank.

Daniel 1:8

A Roman emperor once said about the eloquent preacher John Chrysostom, “What in the world can you do with a man like that?” Chrysostom wouldn’t be silenced. He disregarded threats and kept preaching whether imprisoned, banished, bound, or free.

How like Daniel. As Daniel functioned in his culture, we don’t see him being a wild-eyed radical fundamentalist, as some call believers today. By outward appearances, he was as professional in that corporate culture as he could be. But inside, he was a radical subversive for the kingdom of God. His wisdom and integrity provoked envy and anger on the part of everyone around him.

Daniel performed his job with such excellence that he kept being promoted to the top. His critics followed him around, watching him everywhere he went, but they found no fault in him. Their only valid accusation was in his faithfulness to the law of his God.

Daniel’s life glorified God, vindicated his faith, and changed history. Dare to be the same. The world just doesn’t know what to do with people like that!