Conviction in Action
Daniel 1 (by Pastor Shatney)
Conviction is having decided on something, having made up your mind. When you’re convicted about an issue, you’re no longer “on the fence,†you’ve got both feet on the ground and know what you will do. Daniel is an excellent example of conviction.
Daniel was taken from his home in Judah while he was still a young man. Uprooted from familiar patterns and his family, he was placed in a foreign culture, surrounded by people who did not know him, or his God. Like many a young college freshman away from home for the first time, who would know if he misbehaved or not? Who would know if he just did as the Babylonians did? Apparently Daniel had been well taught about the things of God. Even in his distant isolation, he put God’s ways ahead of his own convenience.
The Problem: Daniel was served the king’s food, which must have violated Jewish dietary laws. What was Daniel to do? Go along? Do as the Babylonians do? Who would know? Certainly the Babylonians would think nothing of it. Yet, in verse 8, we see that Daniel “purposed in his heart†NOT to go against God’s ways.
His Proposal: To be of any real value, convictions must result in actions. Daniel did not insult his hosts, or act with an air of arrogance. Instead, he tactfully offered a test. If he did not look acceptably healthy after 10 days of doing things God’s way, he would accept the king’s food. Daniel had faith that following God’s will would be rewarded.
His Testimony: Daniel had earned the respect of his keepers even before he made his proposal. When the 10 days had passed, Daniel and his friends were even healthier looking than those who had been on the king’s diet. God is pleased with faithfulness and rewards it.
If we stay faithful to God’s ways, he will bless. We must, like Daniel, purpose in our hearts to stay true to God’s ways – especially when we’re far from anyone who would know. We must have conviction, yes, but we must put our convictions in action.