Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of the court officials, to bring into the king's service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility- young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king's palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. The king assigned to them a daily amount of food and wine from the king's table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king's service. -Daniel 1:3-5 (NIV)
In today's assigned scripture readings, King Nebuchadnezzar tells his chief of staff to take some of the finest young men of Judah and basically brainwash them into becoming Babylonians. He wants their names changed to Babylonian names. He wants their diets changed to Babylonian diets. He wants them educated in Babylonian literature and history. He wants them trained in Babylonian ways. But Daniel finds a way to honor his God and his faith in a culture that did not honor his God and his faith.
We live in a culture today that in many ways does not honor God. There are those who advocate that our faith is not important, that our faith is not relevant. They would rather indoctrinate us to other ways of thinking and living. It seems apparent to me as I read Daniel that some things never change.
I don't know about you but I want to find a way to honor God in the culture in which we live. While being sensitive and respectful to those who may not embrace my faith, I will nevertheless seek to understand and remain true to God's word. I will be intentional about going to God in prayer. I will surround myself with godly people just like Daniel did when his faith and his values were threatened.
May God grant you the grace to honor God in a culture that so often doesn't today.
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