Title: Live with Holy Pride
Contents
Daniel (2) Live with holy pride (Daniel 1:1-7)
<Sometimes you have to go down a path you don't like>
During the time of King Jehoiakim, Jerusalem was besieged by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and some of the house of God were given into the hands of the king of Babylon (verses 1-2). The destruction of the temple by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, is shocking to the Israelites. Sometimes God allows a shocking moment of defeat in a child for a lesson. However, the defeat of a child is always a temporary defeat.
The destruction of the temple appears to have been done by Nebuchadnezzar, but in the end, verse 2 says that the Lord also did it. In the end, the demolition of the temple may look like a resentful event, but on the inside, it is a hopeful event. The saints have God's hand even in defeat. No matter how severe the pain and the hopeless the situation may be, have hope. The discipline of the saints is a temporary discipline. Even though it seems that evil has triumphed on the surface, it is that God has allowed the triumph of evil for a while for a certain lesson.
Nebuchadnezzar brought intelligent Israeli girls and taught them the science and language of the Chaldeans (Babylonians) (verses 3-5). Among those selected were the Judeans Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, whose names were changed to Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, respectively. How would you hate it because it was a forced name change? But there are times in life when you have to do things you don't want to do. Especially if you want to be in an organization, you have to do things you hate.
Even when you need to have a business meeting because of your faith, refusing to do so can become a fish out of the water. Strive to be a 'fish that does not float away', but don't become a 'fish that leaves the water'. God's will is to enter the world and live obediently to God's will. Even if we live in the world, the best way to live as a child of God in the world will be opened if we obey God's will because the world was created by God.
< Live with holy pride >
Although Daniel and his three friends changed their names, they cherished the meaning of their original names and always lived a God-centered life. Through faith in Jesus Christ, believers have a new name of ‘Christian’. That name is more precious than the name of a president or a minister or a judge. Cherish that name and live as a child of God in the world. No matter how good the world looks, do not lose your holy pride.
There are two kinds of people. One is people who live by the trifles of the world, and the other is people who live with holy pride. Even if you thoroughly kill your pride for yourself, live with holy pride in the Lord. Even the world does not respect a person who has the pride that gives strength to the neck just because a person is good, learned a lot, or has worldly honor. On the other hand, if you live with the ‘pride of saints and holy pride’ given by heaven, those who see you appreciate that pride.
Success is usually associated with the fulfillment of self-assertive pride, but greatness does not come from self-promotion. What makes a person truly great is “a holy pride that thoroughly testifies to the light and truth that is within them.” Even while in captivity, Paul said before governors and kings, “I want to be like myself except in these bonds” (Acts 26). Even if you are weak at present, when you try to live like a saint by saying, “Be like me, except for my weakness!” Such a confession of holy pride makes people great.