Daniel had some nerve to openly defy the king’s diet in favour of his own menu, which was to eat the foods that God had deemed clean. The king’s menu would feature the choicest of foods and wines, which the king believed would give Daniel and his companions good health, and the strength and energy needed to participate in a rigorous learning program. If Daniel’s diet failed to equal or better that of the king’s, the consequences would be severe. As one who likes to eat, I wonder if I would have turned down the best foods and wine in favour of…wait for it…vegetables.
On a more serious note, how well do I—or you—do in opting for God’s way when the popular (king’s diet) ways of the world are before us? Do we laugh at the joke that degrades a person or a race, or do we say something? Do we accept and participate in hurtful stereotypes that are slung at various cultures, religions and lifestyles, or do we confront them as the sin they are?
Lord, give me the courage to follow your ways. Amen. —