FREEDOM IN CAPTIVITY
 “But (Daniel) was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king.”  Daniel 1:8
 
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon requested they bring to the palace some of the younger men of Judah’s royal family.  They were to select strong, healthy, and good-looking young men.   They were to be trained for three years in every branch of learning.  Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah had their names changed.  But they were ten times more capable than any of the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom.
 
God is so aware of our commitment to follow Him in difficult places.  These four men resolved not to defile themselves with the king’s food.  Requesting different foods.  At the end of ten days of eating vegetables and water, Daniel and his three friends looked better nourished than the young men.
 
God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom.  And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meaning of vision and dreams.  Daniel remained in the royal service until the first year of the reign of King Cyrus.
 
How do we maintain freedom in captivity?  Do all things for the glory of God.   We may not have control of where we are located, but it is our decision on how to think and what we do when we get there.  Stay God/Jesus focused.  In all our difficulties remember who we belong to.
 
Daniel and his friends had the opportunity to reveal their God.  King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream.  He called in his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers to tell him the dream and the interpretation.  They declared that no one except the gods could reveal the dream and give the interpretation. The king was furious and ordered all the wise men of Babylon to be executed.
 
Daniel and his three friends went into prayer and asked the God of heaven to show them His mercy by revealing the dream.  God revealed it to Daniel, and he told the king the dream and the interpretation.  The king threw himself down before Daniel and worshiped.   The king said to Daniel, Truly your God is the greatest of gods, the Lord over kings, a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this secret.
 
Being faithful to God enabled God to use them.  What about you?  Do you want to reveal God’s glory?
 
 
DETERMINE NOT TO DEFILE YOURSELF.
THROW AWAY EVERY SIN THAT COULD ENTRAP YOU.
DO ALL TO THE GLORY OF GOD.