“But Daniel determined in his heart that he would not defile himself by [eating his portion of] the king’s rich and dainty food or by [drinking] the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might [be allowed] not to defile himself.”

Dan. 1:8 AMPC

It took great courage for Daniel, a young teenager at the time and a captive in Babylon,  to take a stand by determining that he would still honor the Lord in spite of his circumstances.  For him it was simply a matter of seeking to honor the Lord by adhering to the dietary laws laid down for Israel in the Word of God (Lev. 11).  It would have been easy for him to simply partake of the rich food provided for him by the king. 
But in the situation he was in, God was all that he had left and he was unwilling to do anything that would hinder that relationship.  In fact, he wanted to do everything he could to still cultivate that relationship. 

He could have looked at the circumstances and reasoned, that it was such a small thing that it really didn’t matter.  But it did matter.  It mattered because it was one of the things  God had commanded  Israel that set them apart as the people of God (Lev. 11:44)!  And Daniel,  though he was a captive in Babylon, still wanted to be identified as one who belonged to God!  So, he made the decision and the  Lord honored him in that decision.  It was this decision that set the precedent for the rest of his life.  Daniel would face far greater challenges in the future.   But because he had determined to obey God in the little things, he had laid the foundation for being able to trust and obey God in far greater situations later. 

If we desire to be a people who genuinely reflect Christ in a dark culture,  it is important that we begin right where we are by obeying  God in the little things (Luke 12:26).  Love one another (John 13:35).  Care for one another.  Be kind to one another (Eph. 4:32).  Be considerate of one another.   Encourage one another (Heb. 10:24).  Help one another.   Let us be mindful of our tongue and how we speak to one another (1 Pet. 3:10).  Let us be known as a people who build up one another instead of tearing one another down (1 Thes. 5:11).   Let us be the people who seek to do what is right regardless of the cost (Psalm 15:4).  Let us be the people who seek to honor the Lord in all things (Matth. 6:33).  If we do these things, we (like Daniel)  will lay the foundation for being able to obey God in the greater challenges that will inevitably come our way. 
James W. Black

“…Abraham believed God and it was imputed unto him for righteousness and he was called the Friend of God.” (James 2: 23 KJV).

One of the most profound statements in scripture concerning Abraham is that he is called “the Friend of God.”  (Isaiah 41:8, 2 Chronicles 20:7).  In Gen. 12:1,  God revealed Himself to Abraham, a former worshipper of idols, and his life and destiny was radically transformed.  He would never be the same again (2 Cor. 5:17).  From that point on, In the midst of a totally pagan culture, he chose to follow God.   That does not mean that he followed God perfectly.  He didn’t. He stumbled a few times along the way (Gen. 12: 10-13).   But he never stopped following.  Whenever he failed, he would get back up and continue to follow.  He never quit. 

The scripture tells us that he became God’s Friend when he chose to believe God!  He didn’t just believe in God.  Many people do that and are not changed.  No.  He chose to actually believe that God was exactly Who He said He was and as a result, Abraham totally committed himself into God’s hands!  In following God, Abraham became a worshipper of God.  Everywhere he settled, he built an altar unto the Lord and worshipped God (Gen. 12:7.).

To be God’s Friend is simple.  When God reveals Himself to us, (as He does in and through His Word) we must choose to follow.  Believing is more than merely acknowledging God or acknowledging truth.   It is committing our heart to Him and trusting Him with all that we are and all that we have.    To be God’s Friend means that we value and treasure the relationship.  We do not take it for granted.  To be God’s friend means that we take time to be with Him.  Being with Him is vitally important to us.  It is a priority to us.  To be God’s Friend means that we listen when He speaks.  We value what He says.  And to be God’s Friend means that we are willing to actually do what He asks us to do.  Why? Because we are God’s Friend!  The overall key to Abraham’s friendship with God was that he believed God.  He listened to God  He adjusted his life to God.  And he followed God.  The key to the entire relationship was that in all things and in all circumstances, Abraham trusted God (Gen. 22: 1-14).  What was true for Abraham is still true for us if we desire to truly be God’s Friend and not just an acquaintance.   

Rev. James W. Black 

“There remaineth  therefore a rest to the people of God. (10) For he that is entered into his  rest, he also hath ceased from his own works as God did from his.  (11) Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest…”

Heb. 4: 9-11 KJV

“There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. (10) For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works as God did from his.  (11) Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest…” (Heb. 4: 9-11 KJV). 

Some of the best rest is when we have worked hard all day and are completely exhausted but feel good about the day because of the work that was accomplished.   As soon as our head hits the pillow we are asleep but we awake refreshed for the coming day. 

The Word of God tells us that there is also a “rest for the people of God.”  This rest also comes at the end of labor.  But it is a different kind of labor than our physical labor.  It is an inner labor that comes from striving to try and please God and yet feeling as if we have not done enough and therefore somehow are not fully accepted by God.  But it is a labor that must be entered into before we can ultimately find the “rest” that the Lord wants us to have.

We have to “labor” through our pride.  We have to “labor” through our self-sufficiency. 
We have to “labor” through having confidence in ourselves;  in our ability to please God with our own efforts.  We have to “labor” through our failures and our disappointments with ourselves and with others.  We have to “labor” through our feelings of inadequacy.  We have to “labor” through our hurts and our pain.  We have to “labor” until we can come to the place of completely surrendering everything that we were, everything that are, everything that we have, and everything we hope to be totally to the Lord. 

It is the place of total surrender to the finished work of Christ and His completed work on our behalf on the cross!  Our sense of worth and meaning is no longer found in our ability to achieve or in our ability to serve and please others; even as Christ Followers.  No.   Our worth meaning and purpose are found in Christ alone!   He is the culmination of all that we are and all that we ever hope to be.  It is all found in Him!  (Phil. 3: 7–9).

And when we finally arrive at that place through the “labor” of full relinquishment and surrender of all things to Him, we find this joyful place of His rest!  We can finally “rest” in the fact that we are full and complete in Him!  And we are totally and completely loved and accepted by Him!  It is amazing how refreshing and renewing that truly is! 

Rev. James W. Black