By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo
Daniel 1:8 "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." - NIV
Daniel and his friends were in heathen Babylonian captivity. There were alot of ungodly practices contrary to the principles and beliefs in God they had been taught from childhood back in Israel. Part of this included the kind of foods which were first sacrificed to their gods before eating. Whoever ate it participated in worship of those gods.
Daniel was privileged among the exiles to be considered to eat at the king’s table and to serve in key kingdom positions. But where these privileges affected their relationship with God, they didn’t compromise. They didn’t eat the delicious but defiled food. They didn’t worship the golden image, nor pray to the king, nor be corrupted in any way even if it meant losing the positions, being fought, disobeying the king with death as a result.
The key to maintaining their integrity in God is the values they held on to. Values are principles one stands on to guide thoughts, decisions and boundaries to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ in life. Daniel’s values were founded in God. Without such principles, one is swayed by anything to any direction any time. Each of us needs to establish and be completely persuaded of what we believe and stand for in honor of God as Joseph, Daniel and his friends did. That’s integrity; standing for what you believe. His grace is sufficient to carry us through in an increasingly wicked world.
Psalm 15:1, 4 "Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain? … who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind…"
Shalom children of God.