3 Lessons from the life of Daniel

Daniel was a youthful man, full of wisdom, love for his nation, a prayerful life,  and obedience to God's command. The first chapter of the book of Daniel tells so much about him and his love for God that you wonder what sparks would be birthed for God's kingdom if only we could find men, women and youths like Daniel in this present generation.

1. Daniel kept His Consecration

In scriptures, we read how Daniel would not defile himself with the king’s meat and wine. Evidently the king wanted Daniel to eat things that were prohibited in the Jewish diet. It would have been easy for Daniel to just do what he was told since he was just a slave in a foreign country why should he worry about obeying God? Surely God would understand his situation. But the Bible says, “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: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself” (Dan.1:8)

On the contrary for many believers today, when we come across a situation where man challenges what God has told us to do or when our buddies gets angry and upset because we choose to go to worship instead of participating in recreational activities with them on Sunday? Do we try to find excuses to go with them? Or do we obey God? (Matthew 6:33) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.  Daniel was a slave in a foreign land, but he found a way to obey God, today, we are not slaves of another country, we are free. Do we value that freedom? If we do, then let us make the right choices and always put God first. (Hebrews 5:9 - "And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him...")

 

2. Daniel Lived a Live without Fault

In Daniel 6, his enemies conspired against him to have him killed. Daniel was promoted over all the governors and satraps under Darius, they wanted him out, but they could not find any fault in him, so they devised a way to get him executed by getting the king to sign a law saying that no one could pray for 30 days except to the king. If they did, they were to be case into a den of lions, after this was passed, Daniel went home, opened his windows, and prayed to God. His enemies saw him and reported him to the king, the king did not want to deliver Daniel to the lion’s den but the law was unchangeable under Medopersian rule. So Daniel was cast into the lion’s den, the king fasted and prayed that evening, he rose up early in the morning, he called out for Daniel. (Daniel  6:20-22) And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?

3. Daniel had an active Prayer Life

In our society today, we have great freedom and multiple resources at our disposal. For the average believer the likelihood or probability that you will be cast into a Lion's den for praying is really low (except for new sanction measures by different country systems). However, the question is - "Do we pray?" We do no crime against God or against man when we pray, (1 Thess.5:17) “Pray without ceasing.” and Ephesians.6:18 

 

The lessons from the life of Daniel are so numerous, and that's why the scriptures were written for our sake - to correct and show examples so that we can be perfect before God.