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Daniel 1:20 -- In every matter of wisdom and understanding concerning which the king inquired of them, [King Nebuchadnezzer] found [Shadrach, Mesach, Abednego, and Daniel] ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.

When King Nebuchadnezzar sacked Jerusalem in about 600 AD, he took some of brightest young people home to Babylon and into his palace court. He trained them in the best of Babylonian wisdom and literature and fed them the best Babylonian food and drink. Four of these young men, however, refused the fat of Babylon. Their names, you may recall, were Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and Daniel. "17 To these four young men," it says, "God gave knowledge and skill."

Notice the pattern here: Avoid the fat and temptations of the world -- for godly reasons -- and God will pour knowledge and blessing into your life.

On a personal level, don't we all want God's blessing?

But there's still a more important reason for undertaking this course. When we avoid the world's fat and temptations, that's often the first step we can take in helping transform our culture!

Therefore, notice the fuller pattern: 1) Avoid the fat and temptations of the world -- for godly reasons -- and 2) God will pour knowledge and blessing into your life. 3) Others will notice the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness -- "20 [King Nebuchadnezzar, for example] found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom" -- and 4) they'll begin to place their trust in you. And that's where the transformation of culture begins!

Lord, I want to help influence the hurting culture around me. Therefore, help me turn from fat and temptation and turn toward you.

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