但以理--神重用的人
但以理书一章1至7节
1犹大王约雅敬在位第三年，巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒来到耶路撒冷，将城围困。
2主将犹大王约雅敬，并神殿中器皿的几分交付他手。他就把这器皿带到示拿地，收入他神的庙里，放在他神的库中。
3王吩咐太监长亚施毗拿，从以色列人的宗室和贵胄中带进几个人来，
4就是年少没有残疾、相貌俊美、通达各样学问、知识聪明俱备、足能侍立在王宫里的，要教他们迦勒底的文字言语。
5王派定将自己所用的膳和所饮的酒，每日赐他们一分，养他们三年。满了三年，好叫他们在王面前侍立。
6他们中间有犹大族的人：但以理、哈拿尼雅、米沙利、亚撒利雅。
7太监长给他们起名：称但以理为伯提沙撒，称哈拿尼雅为沙得拉，称米沙利为米煞，称亚撒利雅为亚伯尼歌。
信息分享
幸亏在他童年时代，他便在父母的教导下认识神的律法和神的权能。他长大以后的生活见证，便清楚地显示这些真理已根植在他的心中。对于为人父母者、主日学老师和青少年导师们来说，这无疑是一大鼓舞；因为他们虽然不能马上看见事奉的成果，但他们播下的种子，终必带来丰富的收成。
我们今天当然可以透过圣经，看见神对但以理一生的计划。可是，但以理本人却不能。因着成功攻陷了耶路撒冷，巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒自然会夸口他们的神胜过以色列的神。岂不知那正是以色列神的心意，容许这事的发生。神刻意安排但以理在尼布甲尼撒的宫中生活，为的是要提醒王一个事实，就是他能拥有这个权位，完全是出于神的旨意。但以理在宫中的生活，不断见证以色列的神，才是独一的永活真神，唯独祂在人的国中掌权（但四17下）。
这便是但以理书的核心信息，它对我们今天仍然非常适用。我们很容易像尼布甲尼撒一样，认为一切成就都是我们自己的功劳；其实不是，因为神成就万事。我们经常以为自己可以计划未来；实则不然，我们只能将生命交在神的手中。
神对我们有甚么期望呢？祂期望我们能靠祂而活，在日常生活中彰显祂的权能、慈爱和恩典。你愿意将生命交给祂，成就祂的心意吗？但愿我们一起来到神的面前，求祂今天透过我们的生命，显明祂仍是永活的真神，而且唯独祂才能满足一切世人的需要。
DANIEL - THE MAN GOD USED
Daniel 1:1-7
1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.
2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the articles of the house of God, which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the articles into the treasure house of his god.
3 Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles,
4 young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans.
5 And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king.
6 Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
7 To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego.
Message
Somehow as a young boy at home he had learned about the law of God and the power of God. His adult life showed how deeply these lessons had taken root. That fact can be a strong encouragement to parents, Sunday school teachers and Christian workers who don't always see the final fruit of their ministries. The seed they sow will ultimately produce a harvest.
From our perspective we can see how God had a plan for Daniel's life. Nebuchadnezzar could easily have boasted that the gods of Babylon were greater than Israel's God because he had captured Jerusalem. He did not realize that it was that same God who had allowed this to happen. To remind the king that he held his position and power by the will of God, Daniel was placed in the centre of Nebuchadnezzar's court. There he gave continuous testimony to the truth that the God of Israel was the one true living God who alone controls the affairs of men (Daniel 4:17b).
That is the message of this remarkable book. It is relevant for us today. It is as easy for us as it was for Nebuchadnezzar to think that we have accomplished the work ourselves. We have not. God alone does the work. We often think we can plan for ourselves. We cannot. We can only leave our lives in His hands.
What is God looking for today? He is looking for lives through whom He can demonstrate His power, His love and His grace. Are you letting Him do this through you? Why not ask God to show through your life today that He is still the living God who alone can meet the needs of men and women everywhere?