You know, one of the questions that I personally ask myself every day, and I know that many times you do too, is how can I honor and be faithful to God?
One of the stories in the Bible that most touches my heart by filling it with joy is the story of Daniel and his friends.
I want you to read with me this interesting story:
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— 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.
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.
Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.
The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.
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.
Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel,
| Daniel 1:3-9
You can imagine the situation Daniel and his friends were in.
A situation in which they had to choose between: obeying his God, or looking for the perfect excuse not to do so.
Daniel in the circumstances in which he found himself could have found the plausible excuse for turning away from God and his modest and temperant habits.
Daniel did not hesitate, he appreciated God’s approval even more than his life.
In reaching this decision, these young Hebrews did not act presumptuously, but trusting firmly in God.
They made that decision rather than dishonor God.
The Lord looked with approval at the firmness of these young men, as well as at the purity of their motives; and his blessing accompanied them.
How beautiful, isn’t it?
1 Samuel 2:30 says:
“I will honor those who honor me.”
And that promise was kept for them.
As Daniel clung to God with unwavering confidence, the power of the Holy Spirit manifested itself.
When the time came when they were to be tested, along with the other candidates, no other was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.
Their wisdom and intelligence, the vigor of their mental faculties, made the king find them ten times better than all the other magicians and astrologers.
Wonderful!
In any branch of work, or any other situation, the result of true success is not by chance or fate.
It is the development of God’s providence.
And that is the reward of perseverance and faithfulness to God.
They were men who did not decay, nor were discouraged, men who were full of reverence and love for God.
But let’s bring this into our personal lives.
Are we really honoring God in all areas of our lives?
For this, I designed a few small steps, that will help us honor God at all times and with all our hearts.
The first step is that we should not do things on our own.
We must accept that God is the source of all action.
The second step is that we must let him be the master of our life.
In the hands of the Lord, the Lord empowers us.
The third step is that we must be faithful to God, in his word he says:
He who is faithful in the very little is also faithful in the most; and he who in the very little is unjust, also in the most is unjust.
| Luke 16:10
The fourth step is to fix our life with the Lord.
Let us confess our sins to God, he is the only one who can forgive them.
Let us recognize our faults and forgive others with good will.
And the fifth and final step is to let God guide our lives to a life with purpose.
His word says:
I know the plans I have for you, plans for your well-being and not for your evil, in order to give you a future full of hope. I, the Lord, affirm it.
| Jeremiah 29:11
God will never consult your past to help you build a good future.
God is a God of opportunity, without a doubt he has called you to salvation.
He wants you to honor him fervently with all your heart, not just today, every day.
We must join forces with the Lord, and we will strengthen ourselves.
Let it be the governing purpose of our heart, to grow up to become a complete and victorious man in Jesus.
In Christ, you can act with courage, but without Christ, we will not be able to do anything well done.
Please keep in mind that you are not free to dispose of yourself, according to what your fantasy dictates to you.
Christ Jesus has bought you with an infinite price, you belong to him, and in all your plans you must take that into account.
If we want to honor God, we begin with being faithful to Him in the little, because then we will know that we will also be faithful with more.
I hope this text is of great blessing to your life.
Want to share what you think? Leave your comment, and we will be willing to talk to you.
A brotherly hug, Blessings!
