Just a Thought: Being a person of Christian character is really mind over matter.

In other words, it is about determining in our minds what really matters.

Daniel (Old Testament) serves as a great example of how to be a person of Christian character in the midst of an anti-Christian world and environment. Taken captive and carried off to Babylon as a teenager, he predetermined in his heart who and how he would be. Trusting God with his circumstances, he took responsibility for the things he had control over: himself, his convictions, his attitude, his response and interaction with others and his personal testimony (to name a few). Because he trusted God with the rest and honored God with his life, God showed him great favor. How did he do this in spite of living in captivity and being bombarded with Babylonian influences? "But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way." (Daniel 1:8)

One commentator writes: "All the feasts (food served to Daniel and friends) were feasts to honor the Babylonian idols or gods, which meant to denounce the one true God. Daniel predetermined not to defile himself. Having a mind for the things that matter, he chose to honor God rather than just go with the flow. As a result of Daniel taking a stand, Daniel stood out. So will we when we follow his example."

??Dr. William Burnham is pastor of Point of Grace Church in Covington. He can be reached at burnhamw@charter.net.