“…: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink.”
Gluttony is one of the seven deadly sins (Proverbs 6:16-19). There have been many movies and TV shows pointing this out. Heck, eat too much pizza on an easy night at the house and you will get the picture. I don’t even like the feeling of being super full.
In verse 10 of Daniel chapter one, the servants of the king plead with Daniel and his friends after their request not to eat the food and wine the king had laid out for them, saying, “10 But he responded, ‘I am afraid of my lord the king, who has ordered that you eat this food and wine. If you become pale and thin compared to the other youths your age, I am afraid the king will have me beheaded.’”
This is the same lie that has plagued us for centuries. We think we can just eat anything, especially the food items set up for us by social media and TV, and not be affected. The king’s servant was convinced that the choice food and wine he was offering these young Israeli men was the best way to nourish them. Rather than talk about food and diets, let’s get into the effects of the choice not to eat the king’s food and wine.
Effect number 1, verse 15, “At the end of 10 days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.”
Effect number 2, verse 16, “16 So after that, the attendant fed them only vegetables instead of the food and wine provided for the others.” We can all get on our soap boxes and preach about diets and good choices. The choice to eat vegetables instead of the food and wine from the king represents what you and I have to do in order to get the last effect.
Effect number 3, verse 17, “17 God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams.”
We all get the obvious link between good eating and feeling healthy and looking healthy, but what about a steady diet of Jesus and the word of God every day? Daniel would later be thrown into the lion’s den rather than stop his daily devotion to reading and praying to the Lord (chapter 6). The good eating habits were just the tip of the iceberg. Eating better can happen today, and within 10 days of eating better you may even stand out among your peers. Just think of what a daily diet of reading the word of God and praying to the Lord will do.
Think of the internal reworking and refashioning Jesus will do if you give Him some time. The end of chapter one is profound. It says that these four young men stood out among all the rest. Verse 20 says, “In every manner of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.” Now that is standing out, and it all started with a simple choice to eat vegetables instead of the choice food and wine from the king. Today, choose a steady diet of Jesus. Jesus in the morning, Jesus at noonday, and Jesus at night. Your best meals of the day, you might say. Heck, try eating what Daniel ate along with Jesus, you might just find yourself standing out among the crowd just like Daniel and friends.
Prayer: Father, help us to choose a steady diet of Jesus. Help us to think and meditate, and go over the word of God all day long (Psalm 1). I pray that we would choose healthy food as well, Lord. I pray that we all have the determination to keep meeting with You, Lord, and reading Your word. I pray that this steady diet of Jesus, and healthy food, will transform our lives so we stand out among the crowds and glorify You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Let It Go 
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