One of the great lessons learned from the life of Daniel is his courage to do what he had always done before. "Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days" (Daniel 6:10).
Many times in a Christian's life, he or she will be asked to do things that are contrary to what he or she has always done before. Daniel was commanded by order of King Darius, not to petition God for thirty days. Only King Darius was to receive petitions during this time, and the punishment for disobedience was to be cast into a den of lions to be eaten alive.
When Daniel heard the petition he had a choice to make. Do I stop praying and giving thanks to God three times a day for thirty days because the King said so, or do I continue to pray, giving thanks three times a day to God as I have always done? Today we hear reasoning like, "It's only for thirty days." Note what Daniel did: "Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God" (Daniel 6:11).
Even though he knew he was going to be thrown into the lion's den, he continued to pray as he always had before. What a marvelous example! What a wonderful trusting faith! Daniel did as he had always done before.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego's example is also worthy of our attention on this point. King Nebuchadnezzar commanded all the people under his rule to bow down to the golden image when they heard the sound of all kinds of music played. Those who refused to do so were to be cast into a burning fiery furnace: "and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace" (Daniel 3:6).
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego now had a choice to make. Do we fall down and worship the idol as commanded by the King, or do we do as we have always done before and serve the True and Living God. "If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up" (Daniel 3:17-18).
Even though they knew they were headed for the fiery furnace, they continued to do as they had always done before. What a marvelous example! What wonderful trusting faith! "And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king's counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them" (Daniel 3:27).
One final illustration of a constant devotion to God at all times is found in the example of the apostles of Jesus Christ: "Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man's blood on us!" (Acts 5:28). Now the apostles had a choice. Should we stop teaching in the name of Jesus Christ, or should we continue to do what we know to be right? "But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: 'We ought to obey God rather than men'" (Acts 5:29). The apostles made their decision to obey God and not men knowing full well their lives were now in jeopardy of imprisonment and even death.
Rulers, friends, neighbors, employers, and family members will continue to ask us to compromise our obedience to God. Stand up and say, "I will not compromise my obedience to God." "I will not compromise my faithfulness to serve Him." "I will go into the lion's den." "I will go into the fiery furnace." "I will obey God rather than men." Stand up and say, "I will do as I have always done before!"