Read

Daniel 1:15-17

¹⁵At the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king. ¹⁶So after that, the attendant fed them only vegetables instead of the rich foods and wines. ¹⁷God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for learning the literature and science of the time. And God gave Daniel special ability in understanding the meanings of visions and dreams.

Reflect

Can you imagine the look on the face of the attendant? Not only did these boys look healthier and stronger than the others, they were given the unusual ability to learn better! Why was this? Because God never left them.

When they made the commitment not to defile themselves, they took a stand and then placed their faith in God. Instead of thinking of themselves and pursuing their own ambition, they put God first. God rewarded them by making them healthy and strong and also smart! God made them more valuable to their captors. God made it possible for them to become leaders in their new culture. They could participate in their new culture without compromising their convictions. The best thing is that the boys didn’t claim any of the success for themselves. By obeying God and having faith, they allowed God to show His glory.

Respond

1. Can you think of a time that God rewarded you beyond what you imagined when you were faithful to Him?
2. If the attendant started feeding the others vegetables instead of rich foods and wines, would the others have the same result?
3. What made Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah different from the rest? What makes you different from others in your workplace?

===================================================
If you would like a printable copy of this devotional, we have provided one here.