Have you decided not to defile?

But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Daniel 1:8

There are very interesting stories of Daniel and his three countrymen in the time of exile in the land of Babylon. But all those stories are started with a simple truth of making decisions not to defile with the royal treatment. The King Nebuchadnezzar chose Daniel and other young men among the captives and ordered his chief to train them so that they can serve in the king’s palace. In Daniel 1: 4 it says the selected are “young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified” and then special treatment of food and training was given to them verse 5.

But Daniel made a decision and also had as unshakable faith in God so he decided not to eat the royal food and asked only for a vegetable to eat and drink only water. Even he told to the Chief to compare them with the others after ten days (Daniel 1:11-14). What the king arranged and Daniel’s decision are quiet opposite. A lot can be said by comparing the two. But the main point here is about Daniel’s decision, and faith. In our day-to-day life, how do we make decisions. Especially in these days that only how we look on the outside, how much money we have in the bank, what kind of car or house we have, in general the material possessions we have are considered as success. If our eyes are on those then we do whatever it takes to get them. Sin easily get its way in us; sins like selfishness, lie, bribe, greed, cheating,... etc. To get what the world thinks best it is easy to defile ourselves. When our goal is hanging only on how we look and how much we have, then we are easily found ourselves chasing those in a wrong way. But, if we decided like Daniel not to defile ourselves, the result will be different. We might be considered as fools, stupids and even old-fashioned. But at the end we will save ourselves form the great disaster every day and on the final day. It might take time to see the result of our decision not to defile but we will be rewarded indeed at the right time. The main way to get the whole inward and outward success is waiting on the Lord. After 10 days Daniel and the other three young men looked healthier and more nourished (Daniel 1:15). Have you decided not to defile and not to take the shortcut to get rich or famous? When God’s time comes you will look better than the others who took the shortcut, wait in the Lord. At the end, Daniel served in prominent positions in the governments of several Babylonian and Medo-Persian rulers, including Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius and Cyrus. Daniel’s wonderful and interesting successes were the result of his firm decision at the very beginning not to defile himself with the royal food and wine. Have you decided? 

“Son of man, if a country sins against me by being unfaithful and I stretch out my hand against it to cut off its food supply and send famine upon it and kill its people and their animals, even if these three men—Noah, Daniel and Job—were in it, they could save only themselves by their righteousness, declares the Sovereign Lord.” Ezekiel 14:13-14

Forgiven a lot loves a lot

Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Luke 7 : 47 - 50

Whenever I think of myself in terms of being worthy to be a Child of God, I think of the woman who weep at Jesus' feet and wet his feet with her tears, then wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. Luke 7:35-50

If it were by performance I wouldn’t be here writing these blogs, and thanks to God it is by grace, not only we are saved but live day by day. He keeps  forgiving our sins every day, the power of His mercy and grace allow us to fellowship with Him and with others who are much better than us in their performance. Yes, all of us are sinners but if forgiveness were granted by performing to compensate for the sin we have done but not only by confessing it, I am sure I wouldn’t be here enjoying His word; instead I would be still doing all I can to gain forgiveness for the sins that I have done years before. In every aspect of my life, I have been forgiven day by day when I confess my sins. That always amazes me, one word makes me to feel His comforting hand wrapped around me and hear His comforting words saying “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

In case you are not in peace with yourself perhaps it is good to check whether there is unconfessed sin. It takes only a moment to get forgiveness. Go and kneel down and confess it. In 1 John 1:9 it says “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (NIV)

Personally, the more I understand that I have a God who has limitless forgiveness the more I hate sin and stay away from it. One of the main lies of the enemy that hold us from going to the throne of God and from prayer is by  accusing us as if we are not worthy to pray or go to church because of our sins. But there is one and only one truth, “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentation 3:22-13 (NIV)

I am forgiven a lot hence I love a lot.

Because I am not used to them

“I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off. 1 Samuel 17:39

Most of the time when we are in adversity or in a spiritual warfare we feel like the battle takes forever and want to end it by any means we have. Especially when we feel and those around us feel that the problem that we face looks giant, then we tend to use any solution that is forwarded to us. We are inclined to solve any kinds of problems in the same manner that others solve it. It is sometimes a good option but when it comes to a spiritual warfare and adversity, it is always best to wait on God and use the solution that He will provide to us to use.

When David was planning to face the giant Goliath at first his brother Elayb discouraged him and then Saul. But David insisted Saul to allow him to fight by telling him how God helped him when he is keeping his father’s sheep. On verse 37 he said “The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” After Saul agreed to allow him to fight with Goliath Saul dressed him “his own tunic and put a coat of armour on him and a bronze helmet on his head” verse 30.

But David refuse to use that by saying “I cannot go in these, because I am not used to them.” Because what he used to is the hand of his Lord. Instead “he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.” Verse 40.

Are you facing a giant problem and trying to fix it by somebody’s way? Wait in the Lord as David did. Tell to your giant “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied…. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

It might look simple and not the way some others deal with their giant, but if you solve it in God’s way no matter it look simple, you will be the victor. Put your eyes neither on the giant nor the solution, but on God.