One of the most exciting journeys I’ve ever embarked on was relocating to the United States as a teenager. I was anxious to experience everything the US had to offer, but also nervous about fitting in at my new school. Although not everything went according to plan, I eventually settled in and began a new phase of my life.
After King Nebuchadnezzar besieged and controlled Jerusalem, he ordered his chief of staff to select healthy and handsome young men from Judah’s royal family “to serve in the royal palace” (Daniel 1:4). Even though Daniel and his friends made the list, they probably experienced a wide range of emotions during their trip. The young men were to be “ ‘[trained] in the language and literature of Babylon.’ . . . [And] assigned . . . a daily ration of food and wine from [the king’s] kitchens. . . . [After] three years, . . . they would enter the royal service” (Daniel 1:4-5). They even received new names in the process (Daniel 1:6-7).
All of this immersion should have caused the trainees to forget their culture and God, but Daniel purposed in his heart not to be defiled by the temptations Babylon had to offer (Daniel 1:8). In essence, he and his friends fixed their hearts and minds on honoring the one true God.
This decision charted the course for the remarkable lives these young men went on to live. Their unwavering faith caused not only King Nebuchadnezzar to proclaim the reality of Israel’s God (Daniel 3:28-29), but—due to Daniel’s testimony—King Darius as well (Daniel 6:26-27). Because they stood firm in their choice to honor God, an uncertain beginning was transformed into a glorious legacy.
By God’s power and strength, may we also create legacies of faith that point all around us to Him!
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Deuteronomy 34:1-12
More:
Read Isaiah 43:19 and consider what happens when God does something new.
Next:
What new thing is happening in your life that’s giving you the opportunity to honor God and point others to Him? How has God equipped you to follow Him even when others don’t?
Gary Shultz on February 26, 2017 at 6:43 am
Hi Remi: Many that come to this country respecting the legal path, are found to be good citizens. In most cases someone who inspires us by their joy of what we take for granted. In some cases it is the same story with their faith. Freedom is an amazing thing, bought with a high price…..To me answered prayer, prayer that was over a period of years, when answered is always a new thing. It open a path that was previously untraveled. So the joy for me as a friend finally, by God’s grace, is getting the ship sailing straight. Another young man announced that he and his wife are going to be parents. God is always doing new things, if we but let Him. Each day in life’s cycle is a new thing, little and big “new things”. I think that is the way they are given out, little by little, each step and sometimes we turn a corner a big thing is waiting for us. Some times new things come in very sad packages, as we see in Daniel’s life, times of turmoil and deep resolve brought new things. Daniel never got to return to his land; however, he grew where he was planted and God allowed him to become a might force in world history. Not many will be Daniels, but no one else will be “us”. We have things to do, grace to show others, a God to love and serve and people to meet and help start “New Beginnings
remioyedele2015 on February 26, 2017 at 2:44 pm
Hello Gary,
Thank you for that beautiful analysis!! Indeed, God does bring newness into our lives all the time; we just too often don’t realize or appreciate it. The uniqueness of our stories ensures that we each experience new things in very different ways, just as God designed. May we all approach our new beginnings with a our eyes kept firmly on God and what He may be doing in the circumstance.
Be blessed,
R
Gary Shultz on February 26, 2017 at 6:49 am
Sorry, the “Thanks Remi” got chopped off, truncated.