The LORD is asking us to be available so that he can use us.
Even if the situation isn't ideal, we need to remain faithful.
Please test your servants for ten days.
Give us vegetables to eat and water to drink.
Daniel and his companions are willing to accept less than that to which they are accustomed in order to remain faithful to the LORD. Moreover, they have to serve in the palace of a pagan king. This itself would be a difficult thing for exiles from Israel. Yet they sense that if they do this well the LORD may be able to use them. Because they remain faithful the LORD blesses them with what they need.
He acceded to this request, and tested them for ten days;
after ten days they looked healthier and better fed
than any of the young men who ate from the royal table.
The LORD meets the needs of those who trust in him. He can use even the most unexpected people in the most unguessed places because he himself bestows the grace they need to fulfill the mission.
To these four young men God gave knowledge and proficiency
in all literature and science,
and to Daniel the understanding of all visions and dreams.
They didn't sign up for their roles understanding all of this in advance. The LORD responded to their faithfulness and willingness to be used. This is a model for us to follow. We may feel like we are in situations we don't like. We may feel we have nothing more than two coins to offer.
When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy people
putting their offerings into the treasury
and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins.
Even if we have only two coins, if we give them in fidelity to the LORD we give more than all the rest.
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