(Daniel 1:1-6 NLT) … “Select only strong, healthy, and good-looking young men,” he said. “Make sure they are well versed in every branch of learning, are gifted with knowledge and good judgment, and are suited to serve in the royal palace. Train these young men in the language and literature of Babylon.” The king assigned them a daily ration of food and wine from his own kitchens. They were to be trained for three years, and then they would enter the royal service. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were four of the young men chosen, all from the tribe of Judah.
√ Change our IDENTITY.
(Daniel 1:7 NLT) The chief of staff renamed them with these Babylonian names: Daniel was called Belteshazzar. Hananiah was called Shadrach. Mishael was called Meshach. Azariah was called Abednego.
√ Compromise our STANDARDS.
(Daniel 1:8 NLT) But Daniel was 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.
√ Create a CONFRONTATION.
(Daniel 1:12-13 NLT) “Please test us for ten days on a diet of vegetables and water,. . . see how we look compared to the other young men who are eating the king’s food. Then make your decision in light of what you see.”
(John 1:14 NIV) The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
(John 17:17 NLT) Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.
(Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT) God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
√ Truth & Grace is MEDICINE.
√ Grace INVITES us to be free.
√ Truth SETS us free.