A couple years ago we discussed the differences between resolutions and purposes. As we head into 2015, consider Daniel’s TRULY “purpose-driven-life .” He was just past boyhood when he was ripped away from his home and taken captive by the Babylonians . Think about it . . .no more parents . No more godly prophets proclaiming the warnings from God. No more godly adult influences in his life. Yet somewhere in his boyhood, he caught a real glimpse of God . At some point in his life, he became a true believer, and his life’s story is one of faithful, godly living .
How did he do it? How did he survive the secular identity change, the secular indoctrination, and the secular peer pressure? How did he stand up against the secular diet they proposed? How did Daniel continually do right throughout his whole life?
Because, as a boy, he decided once and for all to purpose not to defile himself with the king’s meat and wine. Daniel 1:8 says, “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.” How’d he do it? He purposed. That’s how. He didn’t just have a purpose, as in a “purpose-driven-life .” No, he purposed . That means that he fixed, set, ordained, or planted his mind. It means that he placed it on his heart . It means (and I love this), “To lay violent hands on!” Daniel’s purpose was set–as in set in concrete–and there was nothing the king could do that would change his mind.
He purposed to not defile himself. With God’s strength, and in the face of sure death, Daniel and his friends said, “Nope . We’ll take the veggie tray, if that’s okay with you. Try us out for a while. You’ll see.”
And God blessed them. Mightily. Daniel became the most powerful non-royal man in the world…three times. His friends got to walk with Jesus inside fire. Daniel got to spend a night with lions. Talk about God’s blessings!
Do you want the blessings of Daniel? Then take the stand that he took. Purpose to live for God in 2015. Make a plan and set it in concrete. Make your spiritual decisions last ‘til Dec. 31, 2015. Then, do it all again .