Read Daniel Chapter 1
Part 1: Do You Meet The Qualifications?
I have broken down Daniel chapter 1 into four segments:
1. Qualifications. 2. Being Fed. 3. Growth. And 4. Serving.
Today I’m talking about QUALIFICATIONS.
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon besieged/overtook Jerusalem and their King. King Nebuchadnezzar ordered the chief of his officials to bring in some of the sons of Israel who had these qualifications:
Good looking, no defect, showing insight with wisdom, endowed with understanding, discerning knowledge, and having the ability to serve in the king’s court.
In all honesty, if I was a youth in the days of Daniel, I’m afraid I would not have met the qualification to serve in the King’s Court. It may have even been a little depressing to think how I didn’t meet their standards. It would be easy for me to feel insignificant or not worthy. And that’s part of the problem, right there! In today’s world we compare ourselves based upon the standards of the world.
“I’m not as good looking as this person.”
“I’m not as smart as that person.”
“I’m too skinny.” or ” I’m too fat.”
“I’m in a wheelchair.” “I lost my family.” “I’m blind.” “I stutter.” “I’m not popular.” “I sit alone.” “I have no friends.”
The devil loves to get us to focus on the qualifications and standards of the world, because it’s then he can gain power over our mind and bring us into a state of depression and anxieties and destroy not just our heart but our soul. He loves to tell us lies, that we’re no good!
But there’s GOOD NEWS! God is all about truth and Love. He made us all unique and special. He made us all with significance, value, worth, and purpose. His qualifications in order to serve in his court are narrowed down to one trait. This is what God is looking for:
A broken and contrite heart.
When we come before the Lord with a broken and contrite heart, in essence we are coming before God surrendering our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength to him. We are giving him permission to do whatever he wants to do in and through our lives. It’s then God begins to equip us and prepare us for service, to impact lives for the Kingdom.
I love these verses:
1 Corinthians 1:26-29 NIV
[26] Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. [27] But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. [28] God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, [29] so that no one may boast before him.
This I can relate with. This is Hope, this is good news. God thank you that you can use the most seemingly insignificant person. Thank you that you can use me!
