Devotion - Monday, April 13

There is a difference between a devotion and a bible study, but this morning I am going to tip-toe along that line.  The Lectionary began the book of Daniel today, and I want to encourage you to read along with me these next few weeks as we make our way through this book.  I won't write about it every day, but I will be reading through it every day, and would very much like for you to be reading it with me.  

Daniel was a young man living in Jerusalem during the time when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon besieged the city.  He is taken into captivity, to serve this foreign King.

Today I read Daniel 1:1-21.

As I prayed, I imagined myself in Daniel's position.  Rather easily I could see myself there.  No one has me locked in a dungeon or bound by chains, but I see the ways in which I am being held captive.  The world in which I must live has strong rules with regard to social behavior.  How early in life are we taught NEVER to speak of money or politics?  The world in which I must live bombards me with encouragements to seek first the prosperity of my household - as if obtaining that will allow all other things to be added to me.  The world in which I must live has telemarketers called to offer my home security systems, because "You can't trust those strangers who walk or drive through your neighborhood."

Daniel begins with a refusal to accept the ways of his captors.  Daniel will not allow the mindset of the powerful to change the way God has told Daniel to live.

How well do I stand up to my captors?  How easily to do I give in to the conventional wisdom of the culture when it is God's Wisdom that leads to all righteousness?