Presenting ...
... a weekly letter of encouragement.
21 May, 1997 - Singapore
Good Morning!
"IS IT POSSIBLE TO LIVE A RIGHTEOUS LIFE IN A GODLESS
ENVIRONMENT?"
The answer of course is ""YES!" Daniel of the Old Testament is probably our best example of someone who did it with class.
You may remember that as a Jewish lad, Daniel, along with
his three compatriots, was taken captive into wicked Babylonia.
Throughout his life, he demonstrated God's faithfulness by CHOOSING
to live righteously amidst life-threatening pressures to conform
otherwise.
HERE'S THE BOTTOM LINE: DANIEL LIVED IN BABYLONIA, BUT
BABYLONIA DID NOT IN DANIEL.
FOUR OBSERVATIONS ON HOW DANIEL DID IT:
#1 - DETERMINATION - Daniel DETERMINED in his heart not
to eat the king's defiled food.+
QUESTION: Working as many of you do in the market place
where compromise is a daily occurrence, have you DETERMINED
in your heart to not take the first step toward defilement?
#2 - DELIVERANCE - Daniel chose to believe God for DELIVERANCE
amidst humanly impossible circumstances.
One example was Daniel's commitment to interpret the king's
dream before God guaranteed him the interpretation.
Failure would surely cost him his life. (2:1-23; Key: 2:16 [See
also 6:6-23])
QUESTION: Are you willing to take steps of faith (when
warranted) that could cost you an account, diminish your
production, or otherwise adversely affect your career?
#3 - DEPENDENCE - In times of crisis, Daniel chose to be
DEPENDENT upon his compatriots.
In the instances cited in #1 and #2 above, Daniel enlisted the
support or prayers of his three Jewish companions. (1:9-20; 2:17,
18)
QUESTION: Are you locked in with a team of friends whom
you look to for mutual moral and spiritual support? Or are you
choosing to tough it out alone? (Ecclesiastes 4:9, 10)
#4 - DECENCY - Daniel chose to live a life of un-compromising
DECENCY.
After interpreting the king's dream he chose not to yield
to the king's influence by accepting his gifts. (5:17; Consider
also Daniel 6:1-5)
QUESTION: Has your moral integrity been compromised
by receiving gifts or favors from those in positions of power
or authority? (Proverbs 23:1-3)
THE BIG QUESTION: "YOU ARE IN THE
WORLD, BUT IS THE WORLD IN YOU"? (John
17:13-19)
My prayer is that you are having a great week.
Dwight Hill
+Daniel 1:8; ++ Job 27:3-6
- 1 Coleman Street #02-34
The Adelphi - Singapore 0617 .
- Phone: 337 6498; Fax: 336 9913
(c) Copyright 1996 Dwight Hill. Unlimited permission to copy or use is hereby granted subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.
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