FOUR YOUNG HEBREWS surprised the members of the ancient Babylonian court of King Nebuchadnezzar. They were young men «in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking gifted in all wisdom, possess knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace» (Daniel 1:4). Four young men who had purposed in their hearts (see Daniel 1:8) to be faithful to Godin everything: in their diet, in their behavior, in their words, and in their performance. Four young men who continue to encourage us today to be outstanding in our setting not for our personal glory or by our own merits, but for the glory of God and through the fruits that the Spirit produces in us.
One day, the king of Babylon called the four young men before him and “interviewed them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore, they served before the king. Andin all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better» than the others (Daniel 1:19, 20).
Ten times better. Wouldn’t you like to be
ten times better in your work,
ten times better as a student,
ten times better as a mother,
ten times better as a sister,
ten times better as a church member or leader,
ten times better as a friend or neighbor,
ten times better as a wife or daughter?
Well, there is something you should not overlook: the same Lord of those four young men of the Bible story is your God. In Him there is power to encourage you not to be content with the minimum, but to aspire to the maximum. And what is the maximum? It is consecrating your whole life to God; asking Him to refine your character, help you to put to use your abilities so they develop, and allowing you to be faithful; deciding every day to stay clear Of what you know would not please God; and avoiding being contaminated by Babylon.
I remember a professor telling us, «if you are a shoemaker, try to be the best one; if you are a businessman, try to be the best one. “Today I tell you as a Christian woman: try to be the best daughter of God that you can be.
«But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ» (1Corinthians 15:57)