Daniel and his friends were young Israelites taken in a war to a foreign king to me they represent purity and faith. They refused to defile their bodies by eating the food originally offered to them and instead ate only vegetables and water. There are also stories about his friends refusing to worship an idol and the story of Daniel in the lions den which also show their refusal to do anything that would make them not pure. Each time they refused to lose their purity God blessed them or saved them from those oppressing them. As in all the other cases there is much more to their story but I’m making a point here. Here come the questions again.

• Can you imagine refusing to eat what your captures gave you to eat?
• Can you imagine refusing to worship another god or continuing to worship God even if it meant death?

Daniel and his friends are an amazing example of God’s prevision for those who refuse to compromise. They knew that it was better to be pleasing God and still have his blessing then to try and save their own skins on their own. There are many pressures you face as a young person to not remain pure. I want to encourage you that the same God that took care of them is taking care of you. Don’t let what you see in front of you ever distract you from this truth.

Challenges

1. When pressure comes to do something wrong pray for God to help you resist and take the way out he provides
2. Each day before you start the day pray for God to help you stay pure
3. Remove from your life the things that tempt you to do wrong whether they be people, TV, music you listen to, anything at all it may be hard at first but it is well worth it

Memory Verse:

Daniel 1:8
“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.”

Reading for Daniel: Daniel 1-6