Every Sunday school scholar knows the poem, “Dare to be a Daniel, dare to stand alone, dare to have a purpose firm and dare to make it known.”
It takes courage to be a Daniel. Daniel had the courage to stand up to the King of the Empire and refuse to eat his royal food. He had the courage to continue to pray openly when the penalty for doing so was death in a den of lions. Daniel dared to stand alone.
It is lonely standing alone. Most of us have experienced this to a degree when we are surrounded by those who know not God. Like Noah and Lot, often we are vexed by the wicked ways of the godless society we live in. We may be the only Bible some people have ever read. It was Paul who told the Corinthians, “Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men.” What is the gospel according to us? Are our words and actions a gospel message?
It takes courage to have a purpose firm and make it known. When others are taking the Lord’s name in vain, do we boldly make it known that “He is my Father?” Do we keep apart from the dirty jokes, the slack work ethic, the rumor mill, the petty office politics? Are we preachers of righteousness to those around us as Noah was?
We can learn a lesson from Daniel in how to have courage and let our purpose firm be known. Notice how Daniel spoke quietly to the one in charge asking that his diet be changed. He did not make a big scene or declare that his rights were being violated. Without fanfare he acted on his decision. When the decree was signed not to pray for 30 days, Daniel demonstrated his commitment to God by continuing to pray. He did not complain, he said nothing, but continued to do what he knew to be right.
Some seem to think that to be courageous we need to be outspoken. Actually quiet courage can be very difficult and is more rare than it ought to be. Our Lord was the most courageous man who ever lived, and Isaiah described how Jesus demonstrated his courage: “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth.”
On those occasions when we must take a bold stance or vocally express our point of view, we may feel intimidated and frightened. But God will be with us in our hour of trial and give us the strength to endure whatever hardship we might face.
We need to stand up and be counted, but we should do it in a Christ-like way. Paul was a man of great courage, yet how gently he treated those he was trying to help. He said, “In meekness instruct those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.”
Be strong? Yes. Be courageous? Yes. Boldly stand up against evil and let our light shine. Show quiet courage in our daily tasks and working with our brethren. But be gentle and kind while teaching those who oppose themselves We should be courageous but we need to combine it with patience and love. And always seek the Lord humbly and prayerfully so that we act according to His will. “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One