Each and every artist, whatever his style (cartoon,
abstract, impression) whether a doodler or sketcher, regardless of being a
beginner or one experienced in drawing, starts a new work in the same way- with
a single line. Then line goes on line,
here a little line there a little line.
That is the very way GOD teaches us. Isaiah 28;9,10 KJ So as I reread a favorite Bible story… GOD put another
line in place and deepened my appreciation of HIS work in my life. So here is the story- Sharon style.
Now several young good looking, highly educated
and quick to learn, socially adept teenage boys who had never known a moment of
dire need or deprived of any valid joy (for all were children of Jewish royalty
or leaders) were among those taken captive by the Babylonians. Can you even imagine their horror? They were in no way prepared for this
situation.
Because these teenagers were already trained in
many areas, the foundation was laid and
therefore they were selected to live in the king’s palace and put under teachers
to be taught for 3 years the learning and culture, writings, and language of the Chaldeans so they could stand
as counselors to the king. The King also
ordered that they be feed and given drink from the very best of his own table. Though the teens grieved the horrors they had
seen in Jerusalem and the struggle to survive during the travel to Babylon, can
you imagine the teens relief when they were selected and taken to the palace? What an opportunity, what an honor.
But one of the boys felt a check in his spirit… I
image a check very like you or I feel when placed in a situation and know you
shouldn’t do something although it seems there is no way out and even harmless
in itself. When in Rome should we not do
as the Romans do?
But not Daniel.
He knew the law of the LORD said that he was not to defile himself by eating
meat of an unbled animal or meat fried
with its fats when taken captive to another land. Leviticus 3:17 Hosea 9:3 But what could he do about it? He had no
options for he was a captive. Even though
he didn’t know how yet, he purposed in
his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s meat nor with
the wine. Daniel 1:8 Since his heart was in the right place, I believe GOD
placed a plan in his thoughts Proverbs
21:1, Philippians 2:13 He share this
idea with his 3 closest friends. They
agreed to join him.
So he bravely went to the one in charge and asked
to be allowed to eat only veggies and drink only water. (not that meat was
wrong in itself but the kings meat had not been bled so was unclean and it was
roasted with its fat and all fat belongs to the LORD plus animal fat harms the
human body.) The head guy was horrified at
such a request for he felt such action would lead to the 4 boys to wither away
and he knew without a doubt that if these 4 looked poorly to his master the
king who had assigned the meat and wine for the boys, he would be killed. So the teen asked that his plan be tested for
just 10 days, how much damage could happen in just 10 days? Since GOD had
already given this teen favor in the head honchos eyes, Daniel 1:9 he agreed to
test Daniel’s plan.
And what happened?
After the 10 days those 4 teens looked healthier and better nourished
than any of the young men who ate and drank the royal food. So the one in charge allowed Daniel and his
friend to continue on their diet of vegetables and water. And to those 4 GOD gave knowledge and
understanding, skill in all learning and wisdom above the other teen and gave
Daniel understanding in all visions and dreams.
Daniel 1:17
Why? Those 4 looked not on their own comfort but
on what GOD said was right.
We’ve sees Daniel’s desire to do right, to act as
prompted by GOD & we have seen his bravery to go to the one in charge and
change the King’s command. so let’s focus
now on GOD’s part in this familiar story:
- GOD created this teen in the womb of his mom and given him special abilities. Psalm 139:13
- Our Creator had a plan for Daniel Jeremiah 29:11
- The LORD placed him in a family of royalty or nobility Daniel 1:3,4
- The Almighty ONE nudged the king to make specific commands concerning the Jewish teens. Daniel 1:3-5
- The Holy SPIRIT nudged the teen by putting a check in his spirit reminding Daniel that what was expected was wrong. Perhaps HE did this by bringing a piece of Scripture to Daniel’s mind. I know that is often how HE speaks to me.
- The Designer of the universe placed within Daniel a plan and the desire to do what GOD wanted with the ability to do so. Philippians 2:13 He didn’t have to think up his own plan.
- GOD gave Daniel favor in the eyes of the one in charge. Daniel 1: 9 We see that so often in scripture how GOD opens doors through giving people favor with those in charge or in need.
- GOD blessed the choice and action to do right with physical health and vitality above the others Daniel 1:15
- GOD gave Daniel and his friends more in intellect, wisdom, understanding and skills plus special abilities because they used what they already had. Daniel 1:17
We must never lose sight of the fact that we have
nothing that has not 1st been given to us 1 Corinthians 4:7 &
that we are GOD’s workmanship (Greek=poem) Ephesians 2:10; then we will
remember that we have no reason to boast.
Hugs
Sharon
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