Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Beginning of the
Fifteen Days Lent
Daniel 1: 1-21
Beji Joseph, St. John's MTC, NY
8 But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the royal rations of food and wine; so he asked the palace master to allow him not to defile himself.
As the month of August approaches so does the beginning of the 15 days lent. Whether we are young or old the first thing we usually think of when it comes to Lent is “what am I going to give up?” Will it be a certain food, social media, a bad habit etc. When thinking about this fact sometimes we lose the true value of and meaning behind Lent. Lent is the celebration of life and the grace of God, a time where we reflect on the journey God had brought us through. It is during this time we reflect on the teachings of Christ and the presence of God’s hand in our daily lives.
The devotion selected for today is taken from Daniel 1:1-21. Though at first when you read the passage, it may seem the only part that relates to Lent is when Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah refused to eat the king’s food and opted to eat vegetables and drink water alone. As mentioned before Lent is the celebration of life and God’s endless grace. When we read the passage we see how God has His hand in everything that happens to the chosen of Judah. God saved these four men and placed them in positions where His will and plan is carried out during the entire time they were under the rule of King Nebudhadnezzar. In this passage we see the blessings of God in their lives and how he brought them into their specific positions.
When we look back at our lives, we sometimes fall into the delusion that we have gotten to where we are today because of our own merit and talents. But when we reflect on the events of our lives we see God’s hand in each and every aspect. Whether it was closing doors and opening new ones, our God knows what is truly best for us. He has given us the gifts and understanding to succeed and spread his word.
During this time of Lent let us reflect and focus not only on the teachings of Christ but also on his grace and mercy and why he has brought us to where we are today. Let us rethink our responsibilities God has invested in us for the nourishment of our fellow human beings.