In Touch - October 27, 2005

In Touch Daily Devotional 
by Dr. Charles Stanley

Thursday October 27, 2005

Living By Conviction

Daniel 4:1-27

The prophet Daniel faced some tough situations. His unflattering interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream could have cost him his life. And one of the Bible’s most popular stories recounts the man’s decision to pray even though the punishment was a one-way trip to the lion’s den (Daniel 6:6-10). Those hard circumstances arose from Daniel’s own commitment to his convictions. The king might never have known if he had received a false interpretation of his dream. And Daniel could have stopped praying, or at least made his daily prayers less public. But dishonoring God seemed far worse than death. While his convictions often put him in a vise, his principled life was also rewarded by the kings he served.

Today, we have the same choice to live by conviction or preference. Do other people know you as principled — someone who cannot tolerate dirty jokes or gossip, who refuses to pad his time sheet, and who responds to hurts with forgiveness? This is not an example of a super-saint; this is the God-honoring role believers are called to fulfill every day: we are to know Scripture and consistently model righteousness.

Some days, while trying to live out our convictions, we will feel like Daniel facing the lion’s den. But God provides courage. If we are willing to make right choices, our determination intersects with His divine bravery at just the right moment. The result is a life full of godly influence that will earn these words from our King: “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21 NIV).

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