Divine Simplicity

Daniel Chapter 1

What are somethings the world has on your life? Is there a difference between your life and the life of the world...those who are not Christians? Is there a difference between what you want in life and what the world wants out of life?

We see through Daniel an example to reach towards, an example of how we can live a life in which the answers to the above questions are the ones we want them to be, not the ugly truth that sometimes plagues our heart. That is the essence of Daniel...his heart was right.

In the first few verses see how Daniel and 3 other young boys were in exile when Babylon sieges Jerusalem. In verse 1-2 we see the pride and worldliness of the king. We can also see that as an example of how the same "pride and worldliness" can destroy our lives. We cannot get caught up in our own pride and desire to have and do, to be more or greater than the next.

In verses 3-7 we see Daniel and with the 3 other boys: Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah allow their names to be changed to: Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego. Originally the names meant "God is just" or "of God" or "for God" along those lines, and the new Babylonian names which had meanings relating to the Babylonian gods. Are you letting the world change your name, your character, your reputation?

Then they are offered meat and wine, and they refused. "Daniel resolved not to defile himself with food and wine." Daniel 1:8 Here we see Daniel making it a point to not allow his heart to change. Daniel asked for 10 days - for 10 days they would not eat the meat and drink the wine, and if after they 10 days they did not see that they were better off than the rest they would do something different. I found it interesting here that the #10 represents completeness.

Daniel is trusting God to take care of him - he is taking a leap of faith.

In verse 15-16 we see that at the end of the 10 days on just vegetables that they looked better - one translation even says "fatter". God provided and took care of them, because Daniel had put his thoughts, his heart, his trust in the Lord to take care of the situation.

PSALM 33: 13-19 - simple and uncomplicated faith! Why can't we live like this? Why is this kind of faith so hard? Why can't we just trust the "divine simplicity"? God looks after those who TRUST and know it will work out "to the good of those who love him..." if you keep your heart on Him!

The final verse of the chapter we see that they are all looking great, but having to learn about the Babylonian ways. However, once again God uses His divine simplicity and show His children how to use what is wrong - the ways of the world that are not of Him, and become closer to Him.

It is pretty simple. Are you looking for the Lord's image, or the world's image? TRUST - take a leap of faith! Divine simplicity!! Use your talents and trust God to keep you in His will!

Thanks to my husband for such a great lesson - I really got a lot out of Daniel today.