1月3日

標 題：有所不同

經 節：但以理卻立志不以王的膳和王所飲的酒玷污自己，所以求太監長容他不玷污自己。（但以理書一章8節）

你是否敢相信，那位召你歸向祂並且賜予聖靈保惠師的神，能夠藉著你行大事呢？你是否能把你生活的時空與神在你身上的召命連結在一起呢？世上沒有一件事會出乎神的預料。為了某個特定的目的，祂準確地將你安置在現今的處境。

但以理並沒讓他那時代的試探介入他與神的關係。他知道自己必須在所有事情上順服神，才能為神所使用。不管世界上最有權勢的君王命令如何，但以理拒絕妥協神的誡命。

歷史上充滿眾多基督徒的榜樣。他們相信神能使用他們，使神的國度大大不同。神策略性地把以斯帖安置在皇宮中，好讓她在緊要關頭拯救神的百姓（以斯帖記四：14）。神策略性地使約瑟成為埃及法老王手下最有權勢的宰相，使雅各一家免得死於饑荒（創世記四十一：39∼40）。

你是否讓環境來決定你的一生？抑或願意讓神使用你來改變你的世代？你現在可以求神顯明祂對你一生的計畫，和祂在你今日生活中的旨意。

Making a Difference

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies. (Daniel 1:8)

Would you dare to believe that God, who called you to Himself and equipped you with His Spirit, could work mightily through you? Have you made the connection between the time and place in which you live and God’s call upon you? World events never catch God by surprise. He placed you precisely where you are for_a purpose.

Daniel did not let the temptations of his day interfere with his relationship to the Lord. He knew that to make his life useful to God he must be obedient in all things. Regardless of what the most powerful king in the world commanded, Daniel refused to compromise what he knew God required of him.

History is replete with examples of Christian men and women who believed that God would work through them to make a significant difference for His kingdom. God placed Esther strategically in the king’s court at a crucial time when she could save the lives of God’s people (Esther 4:14). God placed Joseph strategically to become the most powerful adviser to the pharaoh in Egypt and to save Jacob and his family from a devastating drought (Gen. 41:39–40).

Are you allowing your surroundings to determine how you invest your life? Or are you letting God use you to make a difference in your generation? Ask God to reveal His purposes for you and His will for your life today.