| Our verse to DATE the Word on January 8 (1/8) is Daniel 1:8 |
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| Daniel 1:8 says, “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. |
| Daniel is one of the most recognized people in the Bible.  The book that bears his name tells of a long life that is marked by him being a man of INTEGRITY!  When you get to chapter 6 and read the familiar story of Daniel in the lion’s den you read of a man of impeccable character.  When enemies sought to find “dirt” on him their conclusion was “they could find no ground for complaint or any fault because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him.” (Daniel 6:4) He was a man of integrity.  When examining his exceptional life, one might and should ask what the “secret” would be to living such a life of integrity.  I think the secret is found in our verse to date, Daniel 1:8.  In Daniel 1:8 we have a decision made based on his Biblical CONVICTION.  Daniel had PURPOSED (NKJV);  DETERMINED (HCSB, NLT); MADE UP HIS MIND (NASB) RESOLVED in his HEART (ESV, NIV); to NOT do anything that would DEFILE himself before God.  His CHARACTER was chiseled by his CONVICTIONS!   It is from this verse, Daniel 1:8, that we get one of the most important spiritual principles for being men and women of integrity, of high character one will learn. The principle from Daniel is TEMPTATIONS MUST BE MET WITH CONVICTIONS! TEMPTATIONS MUST BE MET WITH CONVICTIONS! Our decisions are made based on the decisions we have made!  Joseph had decided that he would not participate in immorality and when tempted by Potiphar’s wife he says “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”  Jesus made decisions to resist the temptations presented to Him by the devil by quoting back SCRIPTURES as reasons for resisting.  Daniel’s decision to not defile himself led to the decision to NOT participate in doing something that would defile himself.  TEMPTATIONS MUST BE MET WITH CONVICTIONS! What are your convictions?  What has been decided that when you need to decide you can say that decision has already been made?  What needs to be DECIDED? On a personal note, I have found Psalm 101 to be helpful in establishing convictions.  I have also found Psalm 15 to be helpful.  I will let you read Psalm 15 on your own but notice Psalm 101 and pay close attention to the “I will” statements. Psalm 101:1  «A Psalm of David.» I will sing of mercy and justice; To You, O LORD, I will sing praises. 2 I will behave wisely in a perfect way. Oh, when will You come to me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.  (ESV – “I will walk with integrity of heart within my house;”)  3 I will set nothing wicked before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not cling to me. 4 A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will not know wickedness. 5 Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, Him I will destroy; The one who has a haughty look and a proud heart, Him I will not endure. 6 My eyes shall be on the faithful of the land, That they may dwell with me; He who walks in a perfect way, He shall serve me. 7 He who works deceit shall not dwell within my house; He who tells lies shall not continue in my presence. 8 Early I will destroy all the wicked of the land, That I may cut off all the evildoers from the city of the LORD. David has now made decisions that when it comes time to make the decision the decision has already by made. (BTW – many believe this was written after his sinful behavior with Bathsheba.) More than writing out RESOLUTIONS I challenge you to write out CONVICTIONS!  And then when temptation(s) comes you meet that temptation with a BIBLICAL CONVICTION! Verse to DATE the Word on January 8 (1/8) is Daniel 1:8. It says, “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.” Continue Strong with established convictions, And remember to DATE THE WORD |