敢于独排众议
但以理书一章8至21节
8但以理却立志不以王的膳和王所饮的酒玷污自己，所以求太监长容他不玷污自己。
9神使但以理在太监长眼前蒙恩惠，受怜悯。
10太监长对但以理说：我惧怕我主我王，他已经派定你们的饮食；倘若他见你们的面貌比你们同岁的少年人肌瘦，怎么好呢？这样，你们就使我的头在王那里难保。
11但以理对太监长所派管理但以理、哈拿尼雅、米沙利、亚撒利雅的委办说：
12求你试试仆人们十天，给我们素菜吃，白水喝，
13然后看看我们的面貌和用王膳那少年人的面貌，就照你所看的待仆人罢！
14委办便允准他们这件事，试看他们十天。
15过了十天，见他们的面貌比用王膳的一切少年人更加俊美肥胖。
16于是委办撤去派他们用的膳，饮的酒，给他们素菜吃。
17这四个少年人，神在各样文字学问（学问：原文是智慧）上赐给他们聪明知识；但以理又明白各样的异象和梦兆。
18尼布甲尼撒王预定带进少年人来的日期满了，太监长就把他们带到王面前。
19王与他们谈论，见少年人中无一人能比但以理、哈拿尼雅、米沙利、亚撒利雅，所以留他们在王面前侍立。
20王考问他们一切事，就见他们的智慧聪明比通国的术士和用法术的胜过十倍。
21到塞鲁士王元年，但以理还在。
信息分享
这正是但以理所面对的处境。他可能出生于犹大支派的一个贵胄家庭（3节），不单长得英俊不凡，而且才智聪敏。他显然已经入读犹太人的学校，受教于拉比（教法师）的门下。被掳到巴比伦后，他与几位朋友立即被送到当地的大学，念一个三年制的文化改造课程。
巴比伦王要把他们连根拔起，使他们与昔日的犹太人背景一刀两断，甚至为他们改名换姓，这正是我们今天称为「洗脑」的一种手段。可是，当但以理看见王所御赐的第一顿膳食时，他便知道是紧守立场的时候了。「我受够了。」但以理在心中对自己说：「我不会吃这些食物，它们可能祭过偶像。而且，他们也不会按照神的律法来宰杀牲畜。」
但以理大可以说：「这是王上御赐的食物，我无权选择。」或是：「嗯，吃东西是小事，不需要小题大做。」然而，我们应该学像但以理，当别人要求我们去做一些违背神话语的事情，我们就要持守立场，拒绝接受任何形式的试探。当我们像但以理那样持守立场，通常也会赢得别人的支持（11节）。
我们每天都会遇到许多事情，可能引诱我们作出妥协，或只顾考虑自身的利益，叫我们落入试探，在不知不觉间偏离了神的心意和原则。因此，我们必须做个智慧与勇气兼备的人。我们单靠自己是站立不住的，但圣灵必与我们同在，祂必引导我们，并加增我们的信心。我们要像但以理一样，坦然公开自己所持守的信仰立场。
DARE TO BE DIFFERENT
Daniel 1:8-21
8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
9 Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs.
10 And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking worse than the young men who are your age? Then you would endanger my head before the king.”
11 So Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
12 “Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink.
13 Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king’s delicacies; and as you see fit, so deal with your servants.”
14 So he consented with them in this matter, and tested them ten days.
15 And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king’s delicacies.
16 Thus the steward took away their portion of delicacies and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.
17 As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
18 Now at the end of the days, when the king had said that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
19 Then the king interviewed them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they served before the king.
20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm.
21 Thus Daniel continued until the first year of King Cyrus.
Message
That was Daniel's situation. He had probably been a prince of the house of Judah (v.3). He was good looking and intelligent. No doubt he had already attended a Jewish school under a rabbi teacher. However, on arrival in Babylon, he and his companions were immediately enrolled in a three-year course at what might be called the university there.
Then, to remove him further from his own background, even his name was changed. It was part of what we would call "brainwashing". But when Daniel saw the first meal provided for them, he knew it was time to take a stand. "That's enough", Daniel said, "I will not eat food which may have been offered to idols or killed not according to the laws of my God."
Daniel could have said, "These are the king's orders. I have no choice." Or "Well, eating Babylonian food is only a little thing. It doesn't matter." Like Daniel, if we are asked to do something contrary to the Word of God, we need to take our stand for God and refuse whatever that temptation may be. Often when you take your stand for God as Daniel did, others will stand with you (v.11).
There are many experiences today in which we can be faced with compromise or expediency. We can be tempted to deviate from God's will and the principles set out in His Word. We need both wisdom and courage. We cannot stand in our own strength. But the Holy Spirit is with us to guide and to strengthen our faith. Like Daniel, we need to stand openly for the Lord.