What Have You Purposed in Your Heart to Not Do?

O. T. #1968  "What Have You Purposed in Your Heart to Not Do?"

June 22, 2021

Daniel 1-Part 3

LET IT GLOW

The LORD reigneth, He is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith He hath girded Himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved. Thy throne is established of old: Thou art from everlasting. (Psalm 93:1-2)

Our God is a majestic King. We see the strength of Him in creation that He made and sustains. Our God is eternal and everlasting. That is why we call Him LORD, which means Self-Existent or Eternal. so no matter what happens to human rulers on earth, the throne in heaven is safe and secure. No matter what is happening around us, we can trust the God, looking by faith to the throne of grace above us and the Word of God before us. Truth is not found on tv or internet news, but in the Word. It still stand true.

Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh  Thine house, O LORD, for ever. (verse 5)

LET IT GROW

God sustained the remnant of Jewish captives in Babylon those 70 years. He used Zerubbabel the governor, Joshua the high priest, and prophet Haggai and Zechariah to labor, sacrifice, to complete the replaced Temple in Jerusalem. Ezra and Nehemiah also led Jews back to Judah. We have read about that earlier as we studied those books.

Verse 8 says, But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

After Daniel determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king, he asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods. (God had given this eunuch respect and affection for Daniel.) In other words, what was there not to like about Daniel?

this was Daniel's first opportunity to follow God in the midst of a pagan culture. He did not want to violate the law of Moses regarding the foods the Jews were not to eat. Exodus 34:15 said they were not to eat food offered to idols. Most important to Daniel was to obey God, not a pagan king. He knew that to make his life useful to God he must be obedient in all things. So Daniel refused to compromise what he knew God required of him.

Is our life making a significant difference of Kingdom work? Esther was strategically placed in a king's court at a crucial time when she could save the lives of God's people, and she came through. (Esther 4:13)

Will we be a Daniel or an Esther in our world, to this generation? What have we purposed in our heart to not do so we serve God faithfully? I for one will not drink liquor, nor commit adultery.

 

LET IT GO

In Jesus' name there is our sins are washed away; we are rescued, we are saved.

In Jesus' name there is freedom for the broken, beauty for the hopeless.

Are you resting in Jesus today?

How will we honor Him this day?