MEMORY VERSE

Have you ever been dared to do something dangerous?  Or something hurtful?  If you’ve ever had to stand up to negative peer pressure, then you should meet Daniel.

When he was a young man in a foreign country, Daniel was chosen to serve in the king’s palace.  Everyone was given good food to eat, but Daniel had a problem:  the food came from animals that had been sacrificed to foreign gods.  Daniel faced pressure—how could he possibly say “no” to the food the king wanted him to eat.  Daniel politely asked the person in charge for some different food.  The Bible says “God caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel” so he let Daniel eat different food.

Another time, some of Daniel’s friends faced pressure to bow down before the king or get burned alive in a fiery furnace.  They politely said that they could only bow before God—no matter what.  They got tossed into the furnace, but God sent an angel so they didn’t get burned.

Yet another time, a wicked king was frightened when some words appeared on a wall.  The queen called for Daniel to interpret the words (which said the king was wicked and would be punished that very night).  Can you imagine telling a wicked king that he’s about to get punished?  But Daniel politely told the king exactly what the words said.

That king died that night, but the next king liked Daniel.  Unfortunately, other officials were jealous of Daniel and tricked the new king into making a law that everyone could only pray to the king or get thrown into a den of starving lions.  Daniel, knowing about the lions, continued to pray in his room.  When he was tossed into the pit, an angel came and shut the lions’ mouths to protect him.

Wow!  Daniel faced a lot of pressure throughout his entire life to turn away from God, but he never gave in.  How did he do it?  By praying to God each day, by asking for God’s help, by trusting in God no matter what!  God protected Daniel each time he was tempted to give in—God promises to do the same for you!  Don’t give in; stand politely for God just like Daniel!