Purpose In Your Heart

"But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion
of the king's delicacies...."  Daniel 1:8

Daniel had been taken captive to the city of Babylon, and he was chosen with some other young men to be trained to serve in the king's court.  They were to be put into a three year assimilation program.  This program was designed to conform these young men into the ways of Babylon, it included learning the language, laws, religion and literature of their of new land, this even included a change in diet. 

The first step taken by the chief eunuch in charge of the young men was to take away their Hebrew names and give them Babylonian names.  The changing of their names was a powerful way of saying that they were going to begin the process of a change of identity.

The young man, Daniel, knew who he was in the Lord and was determined not to allow his identity as one of God's chosen to be taken from him.  Though under extreme pressure from the culture he was held captive in, he purposed in his heart to remain faithful to the ways of Jehovah.  Because of his determined faithfulness God was able to use Daniel powerfully as a prophet and he is one of our greatest examples of true faith.

We live in a culture where we find ourselves under constant pressure to conform, and the way things have been going, I don't believe this pressure will ease up any time soon.  I believe God wants to raise up men and women to be prophets in this age, and He is seeking those who would be Daniels, and would purpose in their hearts not to conform to Babylon.  I want to be a Daniel, how about you?

Potter And The Clay

Isaiah 29:16  Surely you have things turned around!  Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay; for shall the thing made say of him who made it, 'He did not make me?'  Or shall the thing formed say of him who formed it, 'He has no understanding?'

I found myself frustrated at panel of experts on one of the news stations again.  This time some professor was going on about the evolution of what is viewed as right and wrong, and the need to reform and update religious beliefs.  All who were sitting on this discussion panel with the professor seemed to nod in agreement and didn't question him at all.  In my frustration I began to question and argue with the man as if he could hear me through the television!  The segment ended with me wonder of how many people had heard this brief sound bite and took it for truth without even thinking about it.  I was frustrated, but I was also very hopeful.

Mankind surely has things turned around.  We are seeking wisdom and truth, right and wrong, but have removed God from the equation.  Man is looking for meaning in life, but will not seek the giver of life.  We who are created esteem ourselves as above the creator.  We see the fruit of our arrogance in a society whose foundations are being shaken, and that is what gives me hope.  I am hopeful because man has looked to man for the answers and has found no answers.  Perhaps we have come to the end of ourselves and will once again seek out God.  This is my hope and prayer, that we will see that we have things turned around and will repent and turn back to God!