Teens Open Heavens Thursday 14 January 2021 Daily Devotional was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

Topic: Daniel

Memorise: To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. Daniel 1:17

Read: Daniel 1:1-7

1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judeh, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.

2 And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judeh into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god.

3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring in some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility

4 young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians.

5 The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service.

6 Among these were some from Judeh: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.

7 The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.

Bible In One Year: Genesis 33-35; Matthew 11

MESSAGE:

Daniel was a lad who suddenly found himself in a strange land as a slave. The king decided to place him and the other slaves on a particular diet for a certain period while they learnt the language and culture of that land. However, Daniel in his love for God refused to eat the diet specially prepared by the king because he knew it was sacrificed to the gods of the land first and since he didn’t serve that god, he placed himself on a different diet. Daniel 1:8 says:

“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.”

This decision made him better and preferred than others. Learn from Daniel. Separate yourself from those who do evil. Be different and God will reward you with excellence.

Action Point:
Do not join the multitude to do evil.

Hymn 15: Let Us With A Gladsome Mind

Let us with a gladsome mind
Praise the Lord for He is kind:

Chorus:
For His mercies shall endure,
ever faithful, ever sure.

God, with all-commanding might,
Filled the new-made world with light:

All things living He doth feed;
His full hand supplies their need:

Let us then with gladsome mind
Praise the Lord, for He is kind:

He His chosen race did bless
In the wasteful wilderness.