RESOLVE TO STAND OUT

Dearly Beloved, RESOLVE TO STAND OUT "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 1:8 NKJV). The people of Judah were led into exile in captivity because of their disobedience to God. The temple of God and the city of Jerusalem - the prides of Israel - were destroyed. The self-esteem of the people was dented. They were no longer a nation free of external forces. In fact, they were now captives in a foreign land. They could not worship their God in the way they preferred, and their children were now slaves that were serving their captors. In spite of these predicaments, Daniel and his colleagues resolved to distinguish themselves in that foreign land in not defiling themselves with things that seemed ordinary but that could make them be far from their God. These four Jewish young men were not like many people today that are ready to do anything that is in vogue. They resolved to stand out, and God rewarded them with prestige and position of authority in that land of captivity. Are you also ready to resolve to stand out in this depraved world? The Bible says, "You shall not follow a crowd to do evil…” (Exodus 23:2 NKJV). Resolve to stand out for God in refusing to do even those seeming good things that can tarnish the image of God in you. Joshua told the people of Israel, "And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15 NKJV). Resolve to stand out for God! In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).   Prayer Point: Lord, help me to resolve to stand out to do Your will even when it is contrary to what is in vogue.