“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.” — Daniel 1:8
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I try to use the morning ride to school to share some spiritual truth with my three boys. It is one of the few times during the day that I have them as a captive audience.
I had recently just finished reading Daniel 1 and was talking to the boys about how hard it must have been for Daniel to be separated from his parents and taken from his homeland. In spite of all this, Daniel stayed true to what he had been taught. From the beginning of the Book of Daniel, he set his mind and heart on doing what he knew was right. He decided to stay true to God’s teaching, and God blessed it.
I can’t help but think of my oldest, who is in ninth grade. As he heads off to college in a few years, will he purpose in his heart to do what is right? This applies to me too. When I’m in a high-pressure situation, will I crumble to the culture or will I stand firm on what God has taught me in His Word?
For Daniel, his success began with a decision on the front end to do the right thing. That helped him start well. What helped him end well was the follow-through. He did what he purposed he would do.
In 2 Corinthians 8, Paul gives some advice to the Church at Corinth regarding an offering the people had started to take up for those in need more than a year before. He encouraged them as they started the good work, now they needed to be sure to faithfully finish it.
So often, God puts someone on our hearts or gives us an idea to be a blessing to others. We get excited, but do we follow through? It’s good to have good intentions, but it doesn’t amount to anything if the follow-through doesn’t happen.
In life, like in sports, the follow-through matters.
— Rachel Gibbons
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