Living on Purpose. Something worth thinking about as we begin a new year! The first chapter of Daniel begins the story of people who purposed in their hearts to live a certain way, and how God blessed them as a result. Captives in a strange land, with a new language to learn, new customs to understand, and significant decisions to make about to what extent they would now become like the Babylonians, and to what extent they would remain faithful to the lifesytle they had been living as Hebrews . . . this is where they found themselves. We don't know how they worked out all the details of this transistion, but what this story tells us is that there were certain things they purposed to remain committed and faithful to. It is a story that invites conversation. What are the things that we purpose in our hearts that we would like to remain faithful to, even in the midst of a culture that may be tugging at us, trying to re-direct our paths in different directions?
To listen to Pastor Chris' sermon once again, click here.
Living on Purpose
There are many ways we can live more intentionally, and both enjoy and extend the benefits that come from purposeful living. What are some of the major areas in your life where you would like to be more intentional?
Time with Family
Time for Devotional Reflection
Time for Serving Others
Living more Healthfully (for the sake of your own health, and those around you)
Living more Ethically (for the sake of the health of the world and those we share the planet with)
Perhaps you can think of other areas?
C oronary H ealth I mprovement P roject
It is interesting that one of the ways living on purpose was reflected in the lives of Daniel and his companions had to do with the way they managed their lifestyle in terms of how they ate. Whether or not greater cardiio-vascular health or reducing the risk of cancer were motivating factors for them, they certainly can be (and perhaps should be) for us as we consider what it means to live purposefully in a way that honors God and the lives God has gifted us with. One of the ministries our church sponsors is called CHIP. The Coronary Health Improvement Project is a helpful program that focuses on helping us know how to make purposeful changes in lifestyle and diet that will help us realize (perhaps even exceed) the benefits Daniel and his friends enjoyed by paying attention to these aspects of their lives. To find out more about CHIP click here.
Daniel 1 (TNIV)
1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god.
3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king's service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility— 4 young men without any 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. 5 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.
6 Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 7 The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.
8 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. 9 Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, 10 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."
11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12 "Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 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." 14 So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.
15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16 So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.
17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.
18 At the end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king's service. 20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.
21 And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.