NO Compromise – Part 1

admin — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:46:44 +0000

Integrity always takes root as a mental attitude that says “ nothing will move me from my faith. I am determined to stand firm. I am not worried if no one else stands with me. I have made up my mind and no amount of pressure will change my decision”. It is much better to maintain one’s integrity than to compromise and act against one’s faith.

Let us look at the temptation that faced some young exiles in the day of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. He had ordered his chief court official “ to bring in some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility- young men without 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 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.

You can see that there was a lot of temptation for these young Israelites. They were promised that they would enter the king’s service if they obeyed and did all the king had instructed his chief court official. Among these Israelites were some from Judah: Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.- Daniel 1:6. “But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Now God had caused the official to show favour and sympathy to Daniel, but the official told Daniel “ I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you”. – Daniel 1:8-10.

Now, the food and drink offered by the king to these young exiles was not just any food or wine; this was “royal food” from the kitchens of the king. They were ordered to eat the same food the king ate and I believe it was tasty and posh food. Yet, it was contaminated food in the eyes of the young Jews, for the first portion of the food would have been offered to idols. Furthermore, ceremonially unclean animals were used, and therefore, the food was not suitable for the Jews to eat.

The pressure was there and Daniel and his friends were undoubtedly tempted to eat the food as the court official was hovering around. But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine. He asked the guard to “please test your servants for ten days: give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see” Daniel 1:11-13.

It is very important to take a stand and do the right thing in accordance with your faith. Daniel did just that; and “ at the end of the ten days, they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men, who ate the royal food”. – Daniel 1:15

Child of God, when you do the right thing and you do not compromise, God will always stand by you and prove your critics wrong. Wisdom comes privately from God, as a by-product of right decisions and godly reactions to situations around us.

PRAYER OF SALVATION

If you have not already committed your life to Jesus and you would like to do so now, please pray this prayer:

“Lord Jesus, I am sorry for all the things I have done wrong. Thank you for dying for me on the cross, to set me free from my sins. I ask you to come into my life as my personal Lord and Saviour, and fill me with the Holy Spirit. Thank you Lord Jesus. Amen.”

Congratulations, if you have prayed this prayer. Please look for a Bible-believing church, to fellowship with the brethren. Please do not hesitate to contact me, if I can be of any assistance to you. God bless you. Remain blessed and enjoy the presence of the Lord.

Ronke Immanuel

THM(UK)

No Compromise – Part 2

admin — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 05:04:14 +0000

Whatever situation you find yourself, never bow down to the enemy. It is very dangerous to do that. Have faith in God and He will see you through, when you do what is right. Remain a person of integrity; some people may misunderstand you, but it does not matter.

The Bible tells us “But there are some Jews, whom you, (king Nebuchadnezzar) have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon- Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego- who pay no attention to you, O king. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up” – Daniel 3:12. The king told the three Hebrew men that they would be thrown into the blazing furnace if they did not serve his gods. They refused to succumb to the demands of the king because they knew the God they were serving.

“Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king “ O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up” – Daniel 3:16-18. These three men were great men of faith. They believed and trusted the Almighty God they served and they refused to compromise their God.

The Bible tells us that Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and his attitude towards them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up the three Hebrew men and throw them into the blazing furnace.

When you totally believe and trust in the Almighty God; and you do not compromise your faith, He will always show up. He showed up in the blazing furnace as the three men’s FOURTH MAN, Alleluia. They came out of the fire, smelling of roses and not smelling of smoke!

“Then Nebuchadnezzar said “ Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent His Angel and rescued His servants! They trusted in Him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God”. “ Daniel 3:28

Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon. What a testimony! Even the king, who was an idol worshipper, was amazed at the works of the Most High God. If you find yourself in the furnace of life, just trust in God as Daniel and the three men did; and He will not put you to shame. He will not let you burn in the furnace and promotion will be your portion in the end, in Jesus’ mighty Name. Amen