*What is our identity?*✝
📕Portion: Daniel 1
*Daniel's Identity*:🛐 Daniel was not taken up by the pleasures and sensuality of Babylon. The richness and abundance of the king's court did not overwhelm him.
*He would not compromise on His God - given identity* as a Jew.
The Bible says in Daniel 1:8
_But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself_
He and his 3 young friends forsook the pleasures of the king's table for the sake of the King of King's table...a spiritual repast that rewarded them not only in the spiritual but in the physical and mental too. At the end of the testing period with just vegetables and water, the 4 of them looked healthier than all the rest of the youngsters, the cream of the Jewish exiles. Not only that, but the Word of God says in verse 7:
_As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams._
God rewarded their faithfulness. When the King later tested them, at the end of their training period, they were found to have no equal in the kingdom in wisdom and understanding. In fact they were found to be 10 times better than the other magicians and enchanters in the kingdom!*
*Application in our Babylon*🥂🍷🍬🍩
How many times do we find ourselves tempted by the abundance in our respective Babylons. The onslaught on our senses seems constant.
I feel sorry for today's generation, sometimes. The lures and distractions are so enticing. The siren's call seems so sweet...the array of entertainment and goodies for our senses seems to have reached unsurpassed heights!
Yet the Word of God teaches us to "taste and see that the Lord is good"...( Psalm 34:8) When we spend time in His presence, truly the "things of the world grow strangely dim" no matter how attractive and alluring they seemed to start out as. When we understand our identity as the children of the Almighty, we see that the delights He offers are so much more satisfying and fulfilling than anything the world can offer. The pleasures of this world are fleeting. Not so the pleasures that are spiritual. They satisfy the soul and the spirit, eternally.
Do we purpose in our hearts as Daniel did, to put God first? To renew our minds daily by feasting on His Word?
*Feeding our Spirits* 🍞🍇🍒🍓🌽🍨
There is a heavenly table set out before us each day. May we take time to savour each delicious morsel the Lord has set out for us. Let us decide not to be swayed by other distractions.
Some of us are genuinely so busy, inundated with work at home and at our workplaces. Some others are more free due to various factors and God sees all that. With the time we do have at our disposal though, let us feast at the Lords table for " man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." Our spirits need this nourishment.
*Understanding our God-given Identity in Christ🎊🎉🎀*
Let us also understand our identity, as per His Word.
✝We are His children. ( See John 1:12, Gal 3:26)
✝We are "a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession" (1 Peter 2:9)
✝We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.( Ephesians 2:10)
✝We are a new creation. ( 2 Corinthians 5:17)
✝We are the temple of the Living God ( 1 Corinthians 3:16)
✝We are citizens of heaven ( Philippians 3:20)
✝We are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:37)
There's so much more and as we delve into the Word, may we discover our identity and our rights , privileges and authority as sons and daughters of El Shaddai, the Lord God Almighty!
🍁 Binu Jacob
📕Portion: Daniel 1
*Daniel's Identity*:🛐 Daniel was not taken up by the pleasures and sensuality of Babylon. The richness and abundance of the king's court did not overwhelm him.
*He would not compromise on His God - given identity* as a Jew.
The Bible says in Daniel 1:8
_But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself_
He and his 3 young friends forsook the pleasures of the king's table for the sake of the King of King's table...a spiritual repast that rewarded them not only in the spiritual but in the physical and mental too. At the end of the testing period with just vegetables and water, the 4 of them looked healthier than all the rest of the youngsters, the cream of the Jewish exiles. Not only that, but the Word of God says in verse 7:
_As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams._
God rewarded their faithfulness. When the King later tested them, at the end of their training period, they were found to have no equal in the kingdom in wisdom and understanding. In fact they were found to be 10 times better than the other magicians and enchanters in the kingdom!*
*Application in our Babylon*🥂🍷🍬🍩
How many times do we find ourselves tempted by the abundance in our respective Babylons. The onslaught on our senses seems constant.
I feel sorry for today's generation, sometimes. The lures and distractions are so enticing. The siren's call seems so sweet...the array of entertainment and goodies for our senses seems to have reached unsurpassed heights!
Yet the Word of God teaches us to "taste and see that the Lord is good"...( Psalm 34:8) When we spend time in His presence, truly the "things of the world grow strangely dim" no matter how attractive and alluring they seemed to start out as. When we understand our identity as the children of the Almighty, we see that the delights He offers are so much more satisfying and fulfilling than anything the world can offer. The pleasures of this world are fleeting. Not so the pleasures that are spiritual. They satisfy the soul and the spirit, eternally.
Do we purpose in our hearts as Daniel did, to put God first? To renew our minds daily by feasting on His Word?
*Feeding our Spirits* 🍞🍇🍒🍓🌽🍨
There is a heavenly table set out before us each day. May we take time to savour each delicious morsel the Lord has set out for us. Let us decide not to be swayed by other distractions.
Some of us are genuinely so busy, inundated with work at home and at our workplaces. Some others are more free due to various factors and God sees all that. With the time we do have at our disposal though, let us feast at the Lords table for " man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." Our spirits need this nourishment.
*Understanding our God-given Identity in Christ🎊🎉🎀*
Let us also understand our identity, as per His Word.
✝We are His children. ( See John 1:12, Gal 3:26)
✝We are "a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession" (1 Peter 2:9)
✝We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.( Ephesians 2:10)
✝We are a new creation. ( 2 Corinthians 5:17)
✝We are the temple of the Living God ( 1 Corinthians 3:16)
✝We are citizens of heaven ( Philippians 3:20)
✝We are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:37)
There's so much more and as we delve into the Word, may we discover our identity and our rights , privileges and authority as sons and daughters of El Shaddai, the Lord God Almighty!
🍁 Binu Jacob
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