Purposed In His Heart
Daniel 1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank.
Daniel was a young man, likely a teenager, taken far from home, stripped of everything familiar, and placed under the authority of the most powerful king in the world. Babylon offered him opportunity, education, elevation, and comfort. The temptation (at this moment) was not persecution, it was promotion. Yet the Bible says Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself.
Daniel’s stand did not begin at the table; it began in his heart long before the food was served. He had already settled who he belonged to and what he would obey. That inner decision gave him clarity when pressure came. He understood that even good things, when they require disobedience, are still wrong. Advancement is never worth defilement.
Daniel knew that God had set him apart. He recognized that compromise would be a step down, not a step forward, no matter how attractive Babylon made it appear. This was not arrogance, it was conviction. Daniel wasn’t rejecting the king; he was honoring his God.
We often face the same test. The world promises success, approval, and comfort if we will just bend a little. But spiritual strength is found in settled convictions, not convenient choices.
Respond:
Ask God to help you purpose in your heart before temptation comes. Decide today that obedience matters more than opportunity.
KEEP LOOKING UP!
Taken from the preaching ministry of Tim Webb
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