"Be a friend to all, but never compromise your standards. Stand true to your convictions and faith" -President Dieter F. Uchtdarf
" 'Please test us for 10 days on a diet of vegetables and water,' Daniel said." (Daniel 1:12)
To compromise is to make a concession or the move to accommodate in any way a person who does not agree with a certain set of standards or norms.
There are times when compromise is good and desirable notwithstanding the truth. Indeed compromise becomes a basic tool to be practiced in some aspects of life like marriage! You will agree with me that sometimes we have to compromise for the good of keeping peace and harmony.
However, the Bible in Deuteronomy makes it clear that God does not condone compromising his commands. God pays so badly for compromise!
The Babylonians tried all ways to change Daniel and his friends but in vain. Daniel and his friends were taken into new thinking by giving them a Babylonian education, changing their names and their loyalty with God, changing their lifestyle by feeding them forbidden food.
Without compromising with God's standards, Daniel found a way to live by God's standards in a culture and environment that did not honor God.
Daniel wisely chose to negotiate rather than to rebel. Riding on the respect and affection for him, God had instilled in the chief of staff, he suggested an experiment of 10 days diet of vegetables and water as opposed to the royal delicacies the king had offered.
Riding on the grace of God, Daniel quickly thought of a pragmatic, inventive solution that saved his life and the lives of his friends.
In reality, God allows us to adjust our culture as long as we do not compromise the heavenly standards.
Prayer Today: Heavenly Father, I thank you for the life of Daniel, and his friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who displayed no compromise in keeping to your standards no matter how the situation had changed. No matter how they were on the verge of death. Lord, help me to make the right choice at the right time to honor you. Lord give me the courage not to defile myself and to keep myself pure. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ, I have prayed. Amen.
KAC DIGEST
Albert Collins Kyeyune