CONVICTION BEFORE THE CRISIS
[We continue in our year-long journey through the book of Daniel]
Greetings church family!
Daniel 1:8 - Daniel determined that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or with the wine he drank. So he asked permission from the chief eunuch not to defile himself.
Imagine a boy and a girl meet in high school. It isn’t long into the school year before they catch each other’s attention, and both feel butterflies in their stomach for one another. One day the boy works up enough courage to sit by the girl in the cafeteria during lunch time. They talk the whole time, almost forgetting to eat their meal. It’s obvious to all of their friends that they have feelings for each other. Pretty soon, the word has spread that they are in an exclusive relationship.
One day, the boy and girl attend their school’s football game. During the halftime intermission, the boy convinces the girl to go with him to an excluded area on the school campus. They arrive to the excluded area and talk for a bit. At one point, the boy leans in to the girl to kiss. The girl responds in kind. However, the boy begins to behave in such a way that the girl realizes he doesn’t want to stop at kissing.
Pause! Let’s add one more element to this story. Neither the boy nor the girl has ever contemplated in the past about where they would draw the line in regards to physical affection outside of marriage. Question: What is the likelihood that they may go further than is appropriate for the situation?
A friend of mine who teaches 7th and 8th graders leads her students each year through a unit study called God’s Design For Sex And Marriage. Near the end of the unit, she facilitates an activity with her students called Where’s The Line? The activity is designed for students to think ahead of time about when they become old enough and mature enough to start dating - where will they draw the line in regards to physical affection before marriage. The activity is a paper with an spectrum of physical affection on it that ranges from 1-10. At position 1 is frequent conversations with your special someone. At position 10 is sexual intercourse. In between is a gradation of affectionate acts. The point of the exercise is for the student (privately) to literally take their pencil and draw a line across the point on the spectrum that they will not cross when the time comes for dating. The beauty is that it gives the students the opportunity to come to a decision before the dilemma presents itself, and not later on, during the dilemma, when the mind may not be as inclined to exercise good judgment.
In Daniel 1, we find a young and exiled Daniel immersed in a culture designed to reshape his identity. Babylon changed his name, educated him in its worldview, and invited him to eat at the king’s table. In this situation, the temptation was not sexual compromise, but dietary compromise. It was a subtle temptation rather than a sinister one. This was not a threat of violence, but an offer of comfort, advancement, and acceptance. Yet Daniel recognized that faithfulness is often tested not in moments of obvious evil, but in moments of attractive compromise.
Convictions formed in the calm moments of life become anchors in the storm. When beliefs are vague, pressure fills the gap. But when convictions are clear, decisions become simpler—even if obedience remains costly. Daniel did not debate his values at the table; he decided them beforehand in prayer and reflection.
What a great lesson for us to meditate on today! What convictions have you clearly settled in your heart, and which areas of your life remain undefined or vulnerable to compromise? When have you experienced pressure to compromise your faith in subtle or socially acceptable ways rather than through obvious temptation? How can you intentionally form biblical convictions before you face moral, spiritual, or relational dilemmas? In what ways can I hold firm convictions while still responding with humility, wisdom, and respect like Daniel did? Is there a current situation where God is calling me to “resolve” my obedience now, rather than waiting until the pressure increases?
Here’s a good start in the journey of addressing the aforementioned questions: Psalm 139:23-24 and John 16:8. The former says, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way.” The latter says, “When [The Holy Spirit] comes, he will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment.” What a privilege it is that we can freely ask for the Holy Spirit to lovingly examine our hearts and minds and reveal to us the areas in our lives where compromise has suffocated conviction. The Holy Spirit can revive your convictions so that you have your anchors in the calm before the storms of life arise. Hallelujah and Amen!
Have a great week, church family, and remember that God is for you, God is with you, and God loves you!
Pastor Chris
