Boldness

But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the royal rations of food and wine; so he asked the palace master to allow him not to defile himself. (Daniel 1:8)

Picture this, Israel has been taken captive by King Nebuchadnezzar as a result of their continued disobedience; they are now exiles in Babylon. Babylon is nothing like Jerusalem, here they worship idols. The culture is different, the food is different, and everything is different. Now enter the four Hebrew boys led by Daniel into the King’s palace to be ‘fattened’ and groomed for service. Teren teren . . . What will these four boys do? Idol worship surrounds them, everything that goes against the worship of YHWH the Only True God.

Then Daniel makes a bold move, first inside his heart – he resolved not to defile himself with the king’s food. And secondly, with his mouth – he approaches Ashpenaz the palace master and asks that he allows him not to defile himself. Do you think it was an easy decision to make? Daniel could have lost everything, the position of being chosen to be in the palace and maybe even his life! But God gave him favor and his request was granted.

We live in a fallen world. Sin abounds and the worship of idols surrounds us and our children. We need to teach and model to our children to boldly stand up and declare their stand of worship to Only One God – YHWH. We must pray for that boldness to grow in them, and when their time to make a choice comes they will resolve not to defile themselves with the things of this world.

Question of the Day: How can you practically teach your child/ren to boldly stand up for God in their daily life?

PRAYER:

Father, boldness is a character quality we ask from you this day for our children. We also ask this quality for ourselves. Help us Father to cultivate and encourage boldness to stand up for you in our children. Help us to model such kind of boldness in our day to day living. Father, may we and our children be counted on your side when it matters most. In Jesus Name we ask, Amen.