Reaching a High Standard

Shalom and happy Sabbath!

God wants us to reach a high standard. Therefore, “Resolve to reach a high and holy standard; … act with earnest purpose as did Daniel, steadily, perseveringly; and nothing that the enemy can do will hinder your daily improvement.” (Mind, Character, and Personality, Vol. 1, 104.4)

The high standard we should reach is the standard in accordance with the Word of God. Do not lower the standard God has ever given to us. Learn from Daniel who has a high standard in all aspects of his life. What are the standards mentioned in the Bible?

First, the standard of what he consumed was written as follows, “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank …” (Daniel 1:8). It is because he knew with certainty that king’s meat and wine would affect his reasoning power, including his judgement regarding salvation and eternity.

Second, Daniel’s standard about all knowledge, mysteries, and wisdom is from God. He said to the king, “… The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king; But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. …” (Daniel 2:27-28). From this we know that Daniel did not take any credit for himself when he was able to explain the forgotten dream of the king. On the contrary, He exalted God as the source of all wisdom and knowledge. It is his standard to keep being humble and to put in his mind that all talents, wisdom, knowledge, mysteries, and intelligence is from God.

Third, Daniel’s standard in doing his duties. There were many, “… the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him” (Daniel 6:4). It means that in all his duties, he had always been loyal, honest, that no fault was found in him. Jesus’ life on earth, as he was helping his father as a carpenter, was also a life full of thoroughness.

Fourth, Daniel’s standard of prayerful life. He would still pray to God although there was a command saying that, “… whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions” (Daniel 6:7). This is an example left for us to always be firm in keeping the truth.

At least there are four things that we can learn from the life of Daniel. May by the grace of God we can always reach the standards God has given to us and the example of Daniel’s life encourages us to be better each day.

Happy Sabbath and God bless all of us. Amen.