Making Godly Choices

MESSAGE BY PASTOR RATAN

Snack for the Soul

Pastor Ratan Babu Baipa

October 17, 2022

Making Godly Choices | Life Lessons from Daniel Part 1

Life revolves around choices, and choices have ripple effects. Every day we make choices that have negative consequences or positive consequences. Some of these consequences may have a lasting impact on our lives.

Having been exiled from Jerusalem by king Nebuchadnezzar to Babylon, Daniel was faced with making the first decision. He had to choose whether or not to eat the food and wine offered to him.

Let’s look at how Daniel made a choice and dealt with it.

Daniel Did Not Compromise Godly Standards

We read in Daniel 1:9, “But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.”

Daniel and his friends received a luxury from the king. Many of the exiled men gave in to this offer, but Daniel resolved and purposed in his heart not to defile himself. Since this privilege was against God’s moral standards, which could lead him away from living a godly life, Daniel immediately made a faith-based choice. Strong faith in God led him to this choice. He knew that if he did not look healthy and handsome by the end of the king’s deadline, he might be judged harshly.

But reading the story further, we know that at the end of ten days, Daniel and his friends appeared ten times better and wiser. When others choose wine and meat, Daniel and his friends choose a vegetarian diet and water.

“Never Compromise godly standards.”