Mission Venture Ministries

“But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way… Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink.” (Daniel 1:8 and 12) 

Daniel’s decision constitutes a basic part of genuine integrity and the uncompromising life. If the truth of God’s Word opposes the world’s wisdom on a certain issue, we must align ourselves with God’s Word.

The more you read about and analyze the life of Daniel, the more clearly his personal integrity comes into focus. His uncompromising lifestyle stands in sharp contrast to the way many believers live out their convictions. Many Christians tend to waver and offer ambiguous explanations for abstaining from certain secular activities, but that wasn’t how Daniel approached the opportunity to affirm his convictions. 

There inevitably come those times in the life of a Christian when he, for conscience sake in the light of the Word of God, must take a stand against some worldly practice. Daniel has given us a striking example of how to do this, not only courageously, but graciously and effectively. 

As one of “the princes” of Israel, “of the king’s seed” (Daniel 1:3), he realized that he had the responsibility of maintaining a godly standard as a testimony for the true God when he was asked “to stand in the king’s palace” (Daniel 1:4) after he and his friends had been carried into captivity. Daniel knew that the king’s wine would surely be harmful were he to partake of it. Also, the king’s meat would certainly include pork and would be cooked with blood, which would be unlawful for him, as a good Jew, to eat (Leviticus 11:7-8; 17:10-14). He determined in his heart to take a stand against it. 

Note, however, his stand was not confrontational or self-righteous but courteous and sensible. The Babylonians thought they were doing him and his friends a great favor, however, Daniel suggested a test: “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink” (Daniel 1:12). 

God honored Daniel’s graciousness and his courageous faithfulness, and so will He do for us. Both are essential ingredients of a fruitful Christian testimony in a non-Christian world. We must “be ready always to give an answer,” but this should be done, not in arrogance, but “with meekness” (1 Peter 3:15). 

The Bible shows Christians how to stand up for God even while being mocked or persecuted by people at school, work, or in your own family. 

Another powerful moment in the Bible occurs when Mordecai appeals to his cousin Esther to save the Jewish people. Esther is the queen of Persia, but also secretly a Jew. Mordecai begs her to reveal her identity to the king, and ask for help in sparing her people. Esther hesitates and Mordecai delivers these famous words: “Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14). 

Esther realizes the gravity of the situation and resolves to go before the king and appeal for her people’s rescue. And God, without being named in the narrative, delivers her and the Jewish people. 

These are some of many examples in the Bible of people taking a stand for God in the midst of persecution, mockery, and oppression. These examples teach us some important truths that Christians must be familiar with. 

For Christians in the Bible and throughout much of human history, persecution and oppression have been a reality. This isn’t a surprise. Jesus, in some of His most challenging words to His disciples, warned us about the reality of persecution. “If the world hates you, remember that it hated Me first” (John 15:18). 

Many Christians have found themselves in situations where people were hostile to their Christianity. They in turn responded with wisdom and God’s truth, and for the most part they don’t know how they did it. It was the Holy Spirit who empowered them and gave them the ability to express God’s truth. 

Christians should not be intimidated to identify themselves with Christ, they should not be afraid to say NO to friends when their plans, actions and decisions are bad and do not glorify God. Obedience and faithfulness to God are what will make us victorious in life. 

Daniel loved and feared God and did not want to sin or do anything that would offend God.  Therefore, because he and his three close friends honored God with their decisions, God also honored them by making them wise, intelligent, fearless and above all gave Daniel and his friends great positions in the land of Babylon to be witnesses of Him. 

So the question is how do we take a stand for God? Here are some Scriptural guidelines for how to proceed: 

• Commit every decision to God by asking Him to show us how to move forward.
• Search and study the Scriptures so that we can gain wisdom from God.
• Exercise courage in all your decisions so that they honor and glorify God.
• Pray about every decision and seek directions from God.
• Seek counsel and guidance from your pastor and godly Christian friends so that you can gain a better perspective on the decisions and actions you are about to take.
• Trust and have faith in God to carry out your decisions and plans for the honor and glory of our Lord. 

Remember, that when we seek God’s wisdom, He leads us to decisions that are right, just, honest and good not only for us personally, but for everyone involved. 

We pray that God will fill our hearts with godly fear and wisdom as we seek to honor and glorify Him through our decisions and actions every day. 

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 1:24-25) 

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