Father Knows Best

"The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king's table. … But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. … Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed … "Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see." So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead." Daniel 1:5, 8, 11-16

I have been thinking about the above story from the first chapter of Daniel a lot lately as we prepare to inaugurate The Daniel Plan healthy lifestyle program at Grace Harbor. The highlights quoted above serve as a great illustration of how something we may view as "good" is not "good for us."

The king’s table probably held all sorts of delectable, rich foods. The food was likely served on the finest table service, the wine perhaps served in silver or gold goblets. Yet we see that the more humble fare of vegetables and water was a better choice for Daniel and his friends.

That rich, delectable food that could be described as "to die for" is just that. Artery clogging, waist expanding, self-destructive, and addictive.

How often in your life have you been tempted by something you thought delicious, but was really bad for you? Why are we so willing to make choices that give momentary satisfaction but destructive long-term consequences? Unhealthy relationships, dangerous lifestyle choices, throwing caution and wisdom out the window for a night of “fun”. You may have a list of decisions you made that you wish you could change.

So what can we learn from this? It turns out that Father really does "know best."

God provided a manual full of good advice. We just need to study it, learn it, apply it. Perhaps easier said than done, but it can be done if we take it “one bite at a time”. Ask God to make the Bible come alive to you, and it truly will be delicious.

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Ps. 119:103

God bless you.

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