Dare To Be Different

“In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god. 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.” Daniel 1:1–6 (NIV)
The hardest lesson that I’ve had to learn in my life is that I’m different! Yes I am different and I’m proud of it! I’m different because God has sanctified me. He’s set me apart for His use! When you’re different you don’t fit in with everybody and can’t do what everybody else is doing. Being different takes some getting used to but it isn’t a bad thing. We have to stop trying to fit in when God has called us to standout! You’re a leader and whenever you’re a leader you have to dare to be different! In life we’re going to be tempted to give up who we are, to be what others think we should be. This is what happened to Daniel. Daniel was a Jew taken to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar after he defeated their city. Daniel was in exile, this took place in 605 B.C. Daniel was being led by a pagan king. Nebuchadnezzar was a pagan. A pagan doesn’t belong to a widely held religion. Not a Christian, Jew or Muslim. They’re a heathen, a nonbeliever. Daniel was a man of God who had to serve a man who didn’t believe in God. Daniel was a young believer who had to live in a world that didn’t believe/follow God. Nebuchadnezzar ordered Ashpenaz to scout young men with certain features and abilities. These guys would go through a three year training before they could enter the king’s service. Among those who were chosen were some from Judah named Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. They were in a new culture and the culture was trying to indoctrinate them. These young believers were going to be tempted to give up their faith in God to fit in. I’ve come to the conclusion that the culture of the world tries to do three things to those who dare to be different.
What The Culture Did…
- Changed their names
In verse 7, the chief officials changed these four men of God’s names. They changed Daniels name to Belteshazzar. The name Daniel means God is my judge. Belteshazzar means LADY protect the king. I sense some gender confusion. They changed Hananiah’s name to Shadrach. Hananiah means Yahweh is gracious. Shadrach means tender or nipple. They changed Mishael’s name to Meshach. Mishael means who is what God is or who is like God. Meshach means that draws with force. They changed Azariah’s name to Abednego. Azariah means Yahweh has helped. Abednego means servant of Nebo. Naming someone is a sign of ownership. The culture wanted to own these men of God. Their original names were God-inspired, God-ordained, God-given but their new names were man created. The original Hebrew names these guys possessed had meanings connected to their faith in God. Names that once displayed confidence in God have now become names of confusion. Their new names challenged them sexually, emotionally, physically and spiritually. The world will call you everything besides who God says you are. Nebuchadnezzar had their names changed to encourage them to forget God, their upbringing and ways of their homeland so they could conform to the ways/gods of Babylon. A name change, a new label was the first step. They could change Daniel’s name but they couldn’t change his character. Your identity must be rooted in the Word not in the sayings of the world. The culture will always make you question who you are. When you’re different and you’re unashamed for Christ, you can’t let people change that. Don’t let the world give your identity.
2. Go against what was right
In verse 5, the king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. Verse 8 tells us that Daniel RESOLVED not to defile himself with the royal food and wine. Another translation says he “purposed in his heart or he determined in his heart.” When studying scripture always pay attention to detail. This word resolved is very important. What does the word resolve mean? Resolved means to purpose in one’s heart (which one translation says). The word “purpose” carries the idea of decided resolution. In other words, Daniel’s character was already formed for obeying God before the test came. Daniel decided beforehand that he wouldn’t sell out or give in. Daniel had convictions. Why didn’t Daniel eat the food and drink the wine?
Reasons Why Daniel Didn’t Eat The Food or Drink The Wine…
- It went against the Mosaic Law.
The food consisted of things that were forbidden by the law of Moses. Eating the flesh of unclean creatures; particularly swine (fat/blood) would defile him from a ceremonial perspective. It went against that which he followed.
- It was being offered to an idol “Bel”.
Eating food that was being offered or blessed in the name of an idol would’ve contaminated Daniel’s conscience. Daniel knew the commandments and that he shouldn’t have any other gods before God. He knew idolatry was wrong. It went against that which he believed. Daniel’s CONVICTIONS wouldn’t let him go against the commands of God and defile himself. Daniel was a leader with convictions. Let’s focus on convictions for a minute.
Let’s Talk About CONVICTIONS…
- There’s a difference between beliefs and convictions. Everyone has beliefs but few have convictions. Beliefs change, convictions remain the same. Beliefs are in your head, convictions are rooted in your heart. You’ll fight and argue about your beliefs but you’ll die for your convictions. Beliefs know what’s right and wrong but convictions makes the choice to do what is right.
- Convictions are determined beforehand. Convictions are a predetermined decision that you’re not going to disobey God. Convictions are your non-negotiables. A person with convictions have a made up mind.
- Disciplined people live with convictions. Convictions says “I live by specific regulations that govern the way I live my life. I’m in this world but not of this world.”
- Convictions that can’t be tested are convictions that can’t be trusted.
The greatest leaders have convictions. I remember my first day of sixth grade some kids asked me if I wanted to smoke weed. I didn’t even hesitate with my answer, I told them “NO.” You know why? Because I had convictions! I knew before I went to the school that I wasn’t doing drugs so when I got to the school it wasn’t hard for me to say no. Convictions say NO to wrong things NOW so it’s easier to say NO later. No amount of peer pressure can make a person go against their convictions. Do you have any convictions? Is there anything you won’t do? What are you core convictions? As Christian leaders our convictions must be to obey God’s Word even when it is uncomfortable, unpopular and inconvenient to do. We have to obey God and follow Him anyway. When you have convictions you will be tested and that’s what happened next to Daniel.
3. Test his judgement
Daniel asked them if he could only drink water and eat vegetables instead of eating the king’s food and drinking the wine offered. They told him that if he didn’t eat the food like everyone else he would look worse/older than the guys his age. This convincing and persuading did nothing to Daniel’s convictions. Instead he was tested. Convictions that can’t be tested can’t be trusted. So for ten days they would see who looked the healthiest… Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah who drunk water and ate only vegetables or those who ate the king’s idol food and drunk wine. After those 10 days Daniel and his friends looked healthier and better nourished than those who ate the royal meal. So they got rid of the royal meal and they only ate vegetables instead. THESE FOUR MEN WERE ABLE TO INFLUENCE AND CHANGE THE MEAL!!! How??? Because they stayed true to their convictions!!! They entered the royal service and gain influence/favor with the king. Daniel’s convictions gave him courage not to conform to the world but to transform the world. Daniel didn’t care about approval from men and seeking popularity. Daniel cared about pleasing God. Daniel remained true to God and to himself. He was able to lead change because didn’t compromise his values or beliefs. Daniel didn’t give in. People of God it’s time to stop compromising! The enemy of conviction is compromise. Stop compromising your integrity. What profits a man to gain the world but lose his soul? Check your convictions! A leader must be willing to walk alone for what he believes. Daniel and his friends had to walk alone and go against the norm of the ungodly culture. Leaders must be wiling to stand out from the crowd. You can’t lead the crowd if you’re apart of the crowd. Don’t let anyone negatively influence your decisions. Stop being influenced and start influencing. Stop conforming to the world and start transforming the world. Be a transformer not a conformer. There are three types of Christians: cowards, conformist and courageous. Cowards are those who know something is wrong but they keep silent and do nothing about it. Conformist do what’s wrong to try to fit in and be accepted. Courageous leaders go against what is wrong and makes a difference because they have strong convictions! Leaders don’t like the comfort of fitting in because they have the courage to stand out! We dare to be different! Remember I told you that they changed Daniel’s name but they couldn’t change his heart? Daniel still lived up to his name. Daniel means “God is my judge.” Daniel couldn’t give into sin because he knew he’d have time answer to God for how he lived! Oooh!!! God is MY judge and He’s the only One I need to please because He’s the only One I’ve gotta answer to! Daniel wasn’t going to do something that didn’t please God. Even if eating the food and drinking the wine didn’t seem wrong to Daniel he knew it was wrong in God’s eyes and he made a decision that made God happy instead of pleasing his flesh or other people. As leaders are we people pleasers or God pleasers? I want to be a God pleaser! My reward comes from God, I serve God and I must please God! I have convictions! I’m different because I have convictions. Leaders who make a difference are leaders who have convictions. Like Daniel, even in a world full of nonbelievers you must DARE TO BE DIFFERENT!

