Read: Daniel 1:8-21
Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food. (v. 8)
Of all the ways Daniel could have testified to his faith, he chose one almost certain to make him unpopular. Daniel, as a matter of conscience, subsisted only on water and vegetables. Why did Daniel draw this potentially embarrassing and costly dietary line? Because God’s law demanded it.
In all times and places, God calls his people to be “holy”—that is, set apart from the values and behaviors of unbelievers. God always provides behavioral rules and guidelines for his people to follow. Although Jesus adapts the Old Testament rules to accommodate the diverse needs and contexts of New Testament believers in Jesus, the principles behind the rules remain the same. God calls us, his people, to live in ways that make us stand out.
Not only were Daniel’s dietary choices a public demonstration of faithfulness to God’s law; they were a subtle statement about Daniel’s faith itself. Daniel was declaring to the world that his life was sustained not by the table of the Babylonian king; but by the hand of the heavenly King.
When we publicly uphold the rules and ethics that God gives us in the Bible (even when it is potentially embarrassing or costly), we do the same. We demonstrate our fidelity to the living God above all other loyalties. And we declare that we live not by bread alone, but by God’s every word (Deut. 8:3).
As you pray, ask God for the clarity and courage to live his way in the world.
About the Author
Ben Van Arragon is the Minister of Worship and Leadership at Plymouth Heights Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He preaches and teaches the Bible in church, online, and anywhere else he has the opportunity.
