Passage: Daniel 1:1-21
Daniel and his three friends were captured from their homeland, forced into the conquering king’s service, and pressured to compromise their integrity in order to fit into their new culture. Despite these challenges, these young men stood out among the crowd. Like Daniel and his friends, we too live in exile, far away from our true home and surrounded by ungodly influences and pressures. Daniel reminds us that no matter how unpopular our Christian convictions may be, it is possible to live faithfully if we set our minds to serve the Lord wholeheartedly. Each of us must decide whether it is better to be remembered for standing out than forgotten for blending in.
