A really long time ago, in 605 BC, after defeating the Egyptians in the battle of Carchemish, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon surrounded Jerusalem with his army, and the LORD gave King Jehoiakim into his hands. In order to save Jerusalem from being destroyed, King Jehoiakim paid Nebuchadnezzar tribute by giving him money from the temple treasury and by giving him some of the youth of the royal family and nobility as captives. Daniel and his three friends, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, were taken from their homes and their families and forced to serve King Nebuchadnezzar in a foreign land. Not only did it take 4 to 5 months to get to Babylon, but Babylon was different from Judah in just about every way. They spoke a different language, ate different food, upheld different cultural values, and they served a different god.

When Daniel and his three friends came to Babylon they were put into a 3-year school  and were taught to speak, think, and act like the Babylonians. Nebuchadnezzar wanted them to be like the Babylonians so badly that he decided everything they were to eat. They were also given new Babylonian names. King Nebuchadnezzar was trying to change the very identity of these young men so that they could better serve him. Daniel and his three friends had a decision to make. Would they collapse under the pressure and become like the Babylonians, or would they stand firm and be who God had created them to be?

There are a lot of people who don’t talk like Jesus, think like Jesus, or act like Jesus. Like Daniel and his friends who were pressured to become like the Babylonians, you will be pressured by classmates, coaches, and teachers who don’t know Jesus to conform to their ways instead of Jesus’ way. The enemy (Satan) is going to try to change who God made you to be, and he is going to try to make you do things God doesn’t want you to do. There will be times when you are made fun of, left out, and feel all alone, and like Daniel and his three friends, you will have a choice to make: join the crowd and do what God doesn’t want you to do, or stand strong and shine like the stars forever.

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

Daniel resolved not to defile himself.

To resolve is to decide or determine, to set one’s face to do something. Even though it looked good, tasted delicious, and everyone else was eating it, Daniel firmly decided that he would not defile himself with the king’s food and drink.

To defile is to make something unclean, to make impure, to pollute. When we copy the ways of the world– when we talk like they talk, think like they think, and act like they act, we become impure, unclean, and polluted. We stop shining. 

There are going to be many things that look good and seem like a ton of fun. Some of your friends are going to be doing those things, but those things make our hearts dirty and separate us from God.

Those who shine like the stars forever and ever resolve to not defile themselves with things that make them unclean in God’s eyes. (Have your child repeat.)

What is something you can resolve to not do? (Example: “I resolve to not complain when my mom asks me to pick up my room.”)

What is something you can resolve to do? (Example: “I resolve to get on my knees every night and pray before I go to sleep.”) 

Pray: Father, help me to be resolute to not defile myself. Keep my heart and hands pure for You. Jesus, help me to be like You in how I think, speak, and act. Holy Spirit, Help me, to be holy. Amen.