There are times when one may be ‘justified’ or rather excused when they choose a certain path. Think of this so that you can understand the statement I have just made: Daniel and his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, by the king’s order, had been picked among others to be in a training for three years before they entered the king’s service. They were in exile, in Babylon. To meet all requirements for the king’s service, the king himself had assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from his table. Being in exile, picked to serve the king following three years of training, assigned to eat from the king’s table (delicacies of Babylon)! What would you do in such a situation? The situation is tough and conditions don’t allow one to do contrary to the king’s orders! Daniel and his friends chose to obey God over the king, but wisely asked for permission.

This was not all. As we read further in the book of Daniel, we find another difficult situation for Daniel and his friends. The king of Babylon set up an image on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon and ordered all peoples, nations and men of every language to bow down to worship it. He further issued a decree that whoever would not fall down and worship this idol would immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace. What a situation! If it were you, what would you do? Can we excuse these four men if they chose to worship the idol, which they did not?

Back to Daniel – despite the prevailing circumstances, 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. This wasn’t an easy step to take but Daniel made it. The real matter is in making a resolution and abiding with it. This means purposing deep within your heart to abide with the truth. True resolutions are made first in the heart and when they are backed by the truth of God’s Word, make a lasting impact and become a witness of the faithfulness of God to deliver those who are committed to Him.

What does this mean for us in this generation and at all times? It means to purpose in our hearts to follow the Lord our God, love Him, honour Him and serve Him despite the prevailing circumstances. God expects us to remain true and faithful to Him at all times. Listen to the Words of Christ to the church in Pergamum in Revelation 2:13 “I know where you live-- where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city-- where Satan lives.” To remain true to God’s name, we must make a resolve in our hearts like Daniel or like his friends who made the following reply to King Nebuchadnezzar:

This was a heart’s resolution based on God’s truth that only God, the Creator of heaven and earth is to be worshipped.

If your resolutions will carry you through tough times, they must be based on the Word of God, the eternal Word that cannot be shaken. Let this help you and comfort you to live for God even in tough situations that call you to compromise.

Do you find yourself compromising what you know to be right in tough situations? Have you ever wondered what to do in situations that call you to compromise your faith in God?

Here is something you must work on. As you study the Word of God, write down the truths that God reveals to you and then proceed to make resolutions that you will abide with in life. Pray that the Lord will help you to remember those resolves when testing times come.

There is a time I was arrested by a policeman in Nairobi because of breaking traffic rules. I was clearly in the wrong because I had caused obstruction. I pleaded guilty for the offence and asked the police to pardon me. He wanted me to bribe him and thus buy my pardon. Now I had read in the Bible that giving and receiving a bribe is sin against God. I thus had resolved in my heart never to give a bribe to buy my way out. (I still abide with that resolve). I stood with this resolution and silently prayed for God’s wisdom and help.  I did something that only God enabled me to do: I explained to the policeman why I wouldn’t part with money for him to release me. As a result, the policeman released me and told me not to repeat that mistake again.

Do you have any resolutions in your heart? They can be resolves for or resolves against. Are they backed by the truth of God’s word? Then stand by them at all times.