Dare to be Different!

Different! This is the word that stood out to me while having a conversation with my sister Simone. She and I were having a conversation about this guy she was talking to, and as she was talking to me about him, I asked what it was that she liked about him, and her response was, "He's different." Not only did she say that he was different, but she also told me how he was different. Surely, most of us has said this about someone we dated, and if you are married I'm sure one of the reasons you married the person is because they were different, unique, and distinct from all the others. But, just as they are different, we as Christians are to be different...and set apart from this world.

The purpose of this post is about being different, or to be different than the world.

In the book of Daniel, the first chapter, the prophet Daniel is a good example of being different because he was different from everyone else. Chapter 1 also gives us the example of Daniel and his three friends, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah of how we are to be different like they were.

1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came and laid siege to Jerusalem. 2 The Lord handed over to him Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and some of the vessels of the temple of God, which he carried off to the land of Shinar, and placed in the temple treasury of his god.

3 The king told Ashpenaz, his chief chamberlain, to bring in some of the Israelites of royal blood and of the nobility, 4 young men without any defect, handsome, intelligent and wise, quick to learn, and prudent in judgment, such as could take their place in the king's palace; they were to be taught the language and literature of the Chaldeans; 5 after three years' training they were to enter the king's service. The king allotted them a daily portion of food and wine from the royal table. 6 Among these were men of Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 7 The chief chamberlain changed their names: Daniel to Belteshazzar, Hananiah to Shadrach, Mishael to Meshach, and Azariah to Abednego.

8 But Daniel was resolved not to defile himself with the king's food or wine; so he begged the chief chamberlain to spare him this defilement. 9 Though God had given Daniel the favor and sympathy of the chief chamberlain, 10 he nevertheless said to Daniel, "I am afraid of my lord the king; it is he who allotted your food and drink. If he sees that you look wretched by comparison with the other young men of your age, you will endanger my life with the king." 11 Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief chamberlain had put in charge of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 "Please test your servants for ten days. Give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then see how we look in comparison with the other young men who eat from the royal table, and treat your servants according to what you see." 14 He acceded to this request, and tested them for ten days; 15 after ten days they looked healthier and better fed than any of the young men who ate from the royal table. 16 So the steward continued to take away the food and wine they were to receive, and gave them vegetables.

After reading this, you can see here that verse 8 tells us what we need to know. "But Daniel was resolved not to defile himself with the king's food or wine; so he begged the chief chamberlain to spare him this defilement." Not only was Daniel different from the others who worked for the King, but his friends were also different. Every time Daniel and his friends sat at the table with all the other young men training to serve the king, they were different because they ate vegetables and drank water only....while the others were eating all the King's food and drank wine. They resolved not to defile themselves with the royal food and wine. Note: Though I only pasted Chapter 1 from the book of Daniel...chapter 3 also contrasts worldly men with men of God.

In sum, the application of this post is very simple. Be like Daniel! Remember, we can make a difference in the world, by being in the world, but not of the world...with the power of the Holy Spirit. 2 Corinthians 6:17 says, "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you," God commands His people to be separate from the world. We are in the world, but we are not of the world."

NOTE: You will not see perfection in a Christian, but you will see something different in that person!