Tag: godly character
The ‘wine’ of Pride
Scripture reading for August 31: Daniel 4-6
Alcohol has been around for many years. Alcohol impairs judgment and often brings delusional thinking and uninhibited lewd behavior. (Proverbs 23:29-35) These effects of alcohol are also a picture of the effect of sin on the body, soul, and mind of a person made in God’s image for His glory!
King Belshazzar of Babylon had a party for a thousand of his nobles where they drank wine. After drinking for a while, the king ordered that the golden goblets that his grandfather had taken from the Temple of God in Israel be brought out. They were filled with wine and toasts were offered to the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood and stone. These idols of Babylon were thought to bring protection and power to the King of Babylon. As they were toasting, boasting and celebrating, there appeared what looked like human fingers that held a writing instrument and wrote upon the wall. (Daniel 5:1-6) This sight was so deeply sobering that the king’s knees began to knock with fear and his legs gave way.
The king called all his wise men and astrologers to read the writing but no one could tell him what it said. Then the queen, very possibly his own mother or grandmother, told him about Daniel, probably in his 80’s. He was not among those drinking in the palace because of his life of prayer and consecration to the one true God. (Daniel 5:10-12) It was the Spirit of God in him that made the difference.
Daniel spoke plainly to Belshazzar about God’s dealings with his father Nebuchadnezzar. He then told Belshazzar that he had failed to honor the God who held his life in His hands. (Daniel 5:22-24) Belshazzar had mocked God and angered Him by his refusal to humble himself and by drinking wine from the sacred goblets. Now the decree of God on the wall stated that God was sending judgment and Belshazzar’s kingdom would fall that very night and be given to the Medes and Persians. (Daniel 5:25-31)
What can we learn from this incident? It is easy to become drunk on the wine of this world and put what is profane in our holy goblets (our bodies and souls). Only those who are consecrated to God have insight and ability to read the handwriting on the wall because they truly know God and His Word! Daniel had read God’s Word in Jeremiah 51:39 and could understand what was happening. Let’s apply the lessons taught by Daniel and stay alert to speak prophetically to those drunk on this world system.
The Blessing of Godly Character
Scripture reading for August 30: Daniel 1-3
Have you ever moved into a strange neighborhood and different culture where you didn’t even speak the language of the people around you? Have you gone on a mission trip and lived for a short time out of your culture? These kinds of experiences would help us to understand what Daniel and his three young friends experienced in their 800 mile trip across deserts from Jerusalem to Babylon. They were probably teenagers and were the best and brightest of the Jewish people of God. They were taken into the culture to be re-programed to think “Babylonian” by being placed in the prestigious “University of Babylon” and given a rich diet from the king of Babylon’s personal chef. (Daniel 1:1-6)
But these young men had had good training in their home and church community. They would have memorized the Pentateuch (Books of Moses) by the time they were thirteen. They would have read the prophets and would have begun an apprenticeship for a trade at that time. Their character was shaped by the Law of God in the ten commandments and through Moses’ writings. They also had dietary laws that were given to keep them healthy and set them apart so that they might be a testimony to the nations. As they were taken into captivity and placed in a foreign culture, their godly character helped them to walk with integrity and reap God’s blessing and favor.
Daniel and his friends resolved not to become defiled with food that was not allowed by God’s law. They appealed to the one in authority to have a different diet. Notice that they didn’t demand their rights! (Daniel 1:6-14) Daniel listened and was understanding and agreeable and respectful to the one in authority. These wise ways resulted in God’s blessing and favor. (Psalm 5:11-12) They looked better with the diet of vegetables and water than the rest who had the rich food and wine! (Daniel 1:15-16) God gave them wisdom and understanding in all kinds of literature and learning in this wicked university. They were “10 times better” than all the others in the kingdom. (Daniel 1:18-20)
Godly character brings wisdom to live wisely in a wicked culture. It gives us guidance so we might enjoy God’s favor and blessing. Take time today and allow God to show you how to live separated lives in this culture. What things should you purpose not to defile yourselves with? What should you be “eating”? How should you treat those in authority? Remember the blessings of godly character and living by faith!
Godly Character Shines!
Scripture reading for September 1st: Daniel 1-3
Have you ever moved into a strange neighborhood and different culture where you didn’t speak the language of the people around you? Have you gone on a mission trip and lived outside of your comfortable culture? These experiences would help us to understand what Daniel and his three young friends experienced in their 800 mile trip across deserts from Jerusalem to Babylon. They were the best and brightest of the Jewish people of God. They were re-trained to think “Babylonian” by being placed in the prestigious “University of Babylon” and given a rich diet from the king of Babylon’s personal chef. (Daniel 1:1-6)
These men had good training in their home and church community. As young men, they would have memorized the Pentateuch (Books of Moses) by the time they were thirteen. They would have read the prophets and would have begun an apprenticeship for a trade. Their character was shaped by the Law of God in the ten commandments and through Moses’ writings. They also had dietary laws that were given to keep them healthy and set them apart. Their godly character helped them to walk with integrity and reap God’s blessing and favor.
Daniel resolved not to defile himself with food that was not allowed by God’s law. He appealed to the one in authority over him for a different diet. (Daniel 1:6-14) Daniel listened and was respectful to the one in authority. These wise ways came from godly character through the Word of God. They looked better with the diet of vegetables and water than the rest who had the rich food and wine! (Daniel 1:15-16)
Honoring God brought these men lots of additional blessings. God gave them wisdom and understanding in all kinds of literature and learning in this ‘secular’ university. They excelled above all others and no equals were found! They were “10 times better” than all the others in the kingdom. (Daniel 1:18-20)
It pays to live a godly life and to purpose to honor God and not defile yourself with things God forbids! Godly character brings wisdom to live wisely in a wicked culture. Take time today and allow God to show you how to live separated lives in this culture. What things should you purpose not to defile yourselves with? You will shine for Him too!
The blessings of godly Character!
Scripture reading for August 30th: Daniel 1-3
Have you ever moved into a strange neighborhood or gone on a mission trip and lived for a short time out of your comfortable culture with people who spoke another language? These kinds of experiences would help us to understand what Daniel and his three young friends experienced in their 800 mile trip across deserts from Jerusalem to Babylon. They were probably teenagers and were the best and brightest of the Jewish people of God. They were taken into the culture to be re-programed in the prestigious “University of Babylon” and given a rich diet from the king’s personal chef. (Daniel 1:1-6)
As young men, they would have memorized the Pentateuch (Books of Moses) by the time they were thirteen. They would have read the prophets and would have begun an apprenticeship for a trade. They also had dietary laws that were given to keep them healthy and set them apart so they might be a testimony to the nations. As they were taken into captivity their godly character helped them to walk with integrity and reap God’s blessing.
Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the food that was not allowed by God’s law. He appealed to the one in authority over him to have a different diet. Notice that he didn’t demand his rights ! (Daniel 1:6-14) These wise ways came from godly character through the Word of God. The result was God’s blessing and favor. (Psalm 5:11-12) They looked better with the diet of vegetables and water than the rest who had the rich food and wine! (Daniel 1:15-16) God gave them wisdom and understanding in all kinds of literature and learning in this wicked university. They excelled above all others and no equals were found! They were “10 times better” than all the others in the kingdom. (Daniel 1:18-20)
It pays to live a godly life and not defile yourself with things God forbids! We see that those who enjoyed the temporary pleasures of the rich food and wine did not profit as did the Jews who ate according to God’s instructions. Take time today and allow God to show you how to live separated lives in this culture. Remember the blessings of godly character and living by faith! The righteous live by their faith!
Blessings of godly character!
Scripture reading for September 1st: Daniel 1-3
Have you ever moved into a strange neighborhood and different culture where you didn’t even speak the language of the people around you? Have you gone on a mission trip and lived for a short time out of your comfortable culture? These kinds of experiences would help us to understand what Daniel and his three young friends experienced in their 800 mile trip across deserts from Jerusalem to Babylon for a relocation and re-education. They were probably teenagers and were the best and brightest of the Jewish people of God. They were taken into the culture to be re-programed to think “Babylonian” by being placed in the prestigious “University of Babylon” and given a rich diet from the king of Babylon’s personal chef. (Daniel 1:1-6)
These young men had had good training in their home and church community. As young men, they would have memorized the Pentateuch (Books of Moses) by the time they were thirteen. They would have read the prophets and would have begun an apprenticeship for a trade at that time. Their character was shaped by the Law of God in the ten commandments and through Moses’ writings. They also had dietary laws that were given to keep them healthy and set them apart from the nations so that they might be a testimony to the nations. As they were taken into captivity and placed in a foreign culture, this godly character helped them to walk with integrity and reap God’s blessing and favor.
We see Daniel resolving not to defile himself with the food that was not allowed by God’s law. He appealed to the one in authority over him to have a different diet. Notice that he didn’t demand his rights! (Daniel 1:6-14) Daniel listened and was understanding and agreeable and respectful to the one in authority. These wise ways came from godly character through the Word of God. The result was God’s blessing and favor. (Psalm 5:11-12) They looked better with the diet of vegetables and water than the rest who had the rich food and wine! (Daniel 1:15-16)
Honoring God brought these men lots of additional blessings. God gave them wisdom and understanding in all kinds of literature and learning in this wicked university. They excelled above all others and no equals were found! They were “10 times better” than all the others in the kingdom. (Daniel 1:18-20)
It pays to live a godly life and to purpose to honor God and not defile yourself with things God forbids! Godly character brings wisdom to live wisely in a wicked culture. It gives us guidance so we might enjoy God’s favor and blessing. We see that those who enjoyed the temporary pleasures of the rich food and wine did not profit as did the obedient Jews who ate according to God’s instructions by faith in His Word. Take time today and allow God to show you how to live separated lives in this culture. What things should you purpose not to defile yourselves with? What should you be “eating”? Remember the blessings of godly character and living by faith!