Daniel 1:17
“As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.”
When Nebuchadnezzar invaded Jerusalem, he told his soldiers to only bring back the best. What he wanted is found in verse 4 where it says, “Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.” These children were very capable on their own. These children were not the outcasts of society, but they were children who were the best in their class.
Among these children were four young men who were different from the rest. These four young men were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. They were not much different from the rest of the children with the abilities, but there was something that was completely different about these four young men. The difference is found in the verse above when it says, “As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom…” These young men were different because of the source of their learning and wisdom. Though these four young men had personal abilities like the rest, they chose to put aside their abilities and get God’s wisdom and knowledge. They understood that God was their key to making a difference.
If you are going to make a difference in your world, you must realize that it must start with God. You will be no different from anyone else if you rely upon your own abilities to make a difference. Your abilities have limits; whereas, God’s abilities are limitless. You can tap into your source and eventually hit a wall, or you can tap into God’s source and find there is no limit as to what God can do through you.
Let me warn you, if you choose to tap into God’s resources, then you are going to have to take a stand. These four young men had to take a stand for right when others would not. When it came to following God’s diet, they chose to be the only four young men who didn’t compromise and eat the king’s meat. When it came to bowing to the golden image, they didn’t crumble under the pressure when everyone around them bowed. When it came to taking a stand for prayer when it was against the law, they didn’t let that pressure hide their beliefs in the Word of God.
Furthermore, if you choose to tap into God’s resources and make a difference, then you will not be liked. I promise you, you will become the bad guy when you choose to stand for God. Those who bow will not like you revealing their compromise. I’m not trying to be negative, but I must tell the truth. It is never popular to trumpet truth and promote God in a truthless and godless society.
The one thing that can help you to be different from anyone else is not a thing but a person, and that person is God. You may not be the most liked or the most popular when you choose to rely upon God and His Word, but you will make a difference when others will not. You will be the one to whom they come for answers when they come to the end and desperately need an answer. I ask you frankly, what are you going to do with God? I hope that you choose to make God your source for life.