By Will Heydel
A legacy of faith is a legacy worth leaving behind. Back in the fall, we hosted our first “Legacy Dinner” for young adults. The heart behind these dinners is to create a space for young adults to hear stories from people who have gone before them and are keeping their faith. When I consider the people in my life who were and are faithful people, they are the people that I want others to know—people whose faith keeps them grounded amidst many unknowns, challenges, and unforeseen trials. Faithful people who have resolved to live for God and his glory. This was and is Daniel’s story.
Daniel was a faithful man living in a foreign land.
Let’s discuss Daniel’s resolve to “not defile himself” (Daniel 1:8). In the Near East, exile was expected, and one of the primary objectives of exile was “identity theft.” And I am not talking about social security. When Babylon besieged Jerusalem and the southern kingdom of Judah was sent into exile, it was an all-out war on their identity as a people—“If we can get them to eat like us, look like us, and act like us, then they will forget their God and forget where they come from.” But Daniel and his friends avoided the luxurious diet of the king’s table to protect themselves from being ensnared by the temptations of the Babylonian culture. They used their distinctive diet to retain their unique identity as Jewish exiles and avoid complete assimilation into Babylonian culture. When foreign food was presented to them, they were determined to remember that it was not the food they depended on—it was God. It wasn’t about food per se but about being faithful.
Daniel had distinguished himself because of his extraordinary spirit.
Daniel had distinguished himself as being faithful to his God, and “he had an extraordinary spirit” (Daniel 6:3). What did it mean that he had an “extraordinary spirit?” This could mean that he was a man of high character and that God was empowering and guiding him in the work that he was being asked to do. This spirit enabled Daniel to do things that the magicians, sorcerers, and wise men of Babylon of that day could not do. The things that the king of Babylon was asking of them were too difficult (Daniel 2:11). As one of my favorite artists, Ben Rector, famously wrote, “You won’t believe it, and strange as it sounds, extraordinary magic follows you around.” Daniel’s life displayed God’s glory and power, leaving people with a noticeable impression that they couldn’t quite explain. It followed Daniel around as he remained faithful.
Faithful people have resolved to live for God and his glory. Considering Daniel’s life and yours, where do you find yourself in the story? What does living for God and his glory mean for you right now?
Written by Will Heydel
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