Rejecting the King's Table

Do you ever feel like a fish swimming against the stream? Do you ever feel left out? 

King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had captured Judah and God's people. God allowed it. It literally said in Daniel 1:2 "God gave them into Nebuchadnezzar's hand." God had a plan for even the "bad" things. 

The king wanted some "attractive, youth without blemish and with understanding and knowledge" to be trained and taught for three years so they could serve him. Daniel and his three buddies, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, were some of the few chosen to be treated with special care in the King's palace. 

Now here is my point. Daniel could have milked this. He could have eaten all of the fatty, delicious "king's food." He could have had about anything. But Daniel didn't do any of that. 

Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Daniel 1:8a

Resolved means "firmly determining to do something." He determined not to be defiled. So did his three buddies. But can't you hear the others?

Daniel. Please. Get over it. 

We aren't in Judah anymore. Enjoy! You were chosen for the king's table! Eat up! 

If you don't do this, you will pay for not being like everyone. You won't be liked. 

Why didn't Daniel give in? Because he didn't care if he was in Babylon... he would still stand behind his God and his beliefs. To eat the King's food would only be the first step down a slippery slope. One of my favorite things to say is, "It is the principle that counts."It doesn't matter how small a gesture it might seem. What message are you sending... what message am I sending?

But it's just FOOD!

Yes, and food would only be the beginning. That is the principle. 

Pause. New viewpoint coming. 

America and it's philosophies has become the "king's table." It is trying to pull us from what we KNOW to be true and from our Father God. We are pushed from all sides to just listen to the music. Just follow the crowd. Just watch the video. It is: 

Hey you! Please get over it! 

You aren't in church anymore! Enjoy! You belong here! 

If you don't do this, you will pay for not being like everyone. You won't be liked.  

Does your location determine how you act? Are you the same Christian everywhere? It is tough. I know. But if you are God's child then shouldn't you act like it always? Should our locations change that truth? No! It didn't change it for Daniel. He stayed Daniel and didn't accept his knew name in Babylon. He stayed who God made him. 

If you and I don't start rejecting the king's table, all of those who don't know any better will never know that the king's table is not the best way or the best food.

Finally, Daniel proved over 10 days of eating veggies and fruits only that he and his three friends were indeed healthier than the others. Now, I am not giving a push for being a vegetarian, although we would probably all be healthier! I am not saying the "king's table" is food... it is anything that goes against the Word of God. 

I cannot be ashamed and embarrassed to be the "fish" swimming upstream anymore. I am not embarrassed that I look different and that I am not doing college courses like everyone thinks I should or that I was homeschooled or that I was married young or whatever it may be in the future. I will reject the king's table in pursuit of something much greater.  

Don't ride the fence, friend. Choose a side. Don't compromise on those "little earthly" things. They aren't so little. Remember, "it is the principle that counts." Be like Daniel and stay true. One day we will eat from the King's Table. And I mean King with a capital "K." Jesus is the true King and his heavenly rewards for resolving to follow Him make everything down here just look like plain, ole rubbish. Yes, rubbish.