3-21-10: The call to character

Sermon Theme: “God helps me to live a clean life”
Bible Memory Verse: Offer your bodies to him as a living sacrifice, pure and pleasing. -Romans 12:1
Scripture: Daniel 1:1-21 Daniel Pleases God
Message Summary: The army of Babylon raided Judah and took many people away as slave. Daniel was one of the slaves. In Babylon, people worshiped idols and they did not believe in the one true God Daniel served. Because Daniel was healthy, handsome, smart, wise and educated, he was chosen to serve the king. Daniel was given a new name, Belteshazzar, in honor of one of the Babylonian gods. Daniel didn't like the name, but there was nothing he could do about it. However, he determined in his hear that he would never worship Babylon's false gods. But there was still a problem.

Some of the foods eaten in Babylon were against God's health laws. Also, those foods may have been offered to idols before they were brought to people to eat. When Daniel's first request was denied, he had a different idea. After 10 days of eating vegetables and water, Daniel and his friends looked healthier than the young men who had been served food from the royal palace.

So Daniel was allowed to continue eating the right food, and God raised him up to be a special advisor for the king. It pays to live a clean life!