Integrity Conquers Fear

正直胜过恐惧

“The commander of the officials said to Daniel, ‘I am afraid of my lord the king, who has appointed your food and your drink; for why should he see your faces looking more haggard than the youths who are your own age? Then you would make me forfeit my head to the king.’ But Daniel said to the overseer whom the commander of the officials had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, ‘Please test your servants for ten days, and let us be given some vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then let our appearance be observed in your presence, and the appearance of the youths who are eating the king’s choice food; and deal with your servants according to what you see.’ So he listened to them in this matter and tested them for ten days” (Daniel 1:10-14).

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。”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：“求你试试仆人们十天，给我们素菜吃，白水喝，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吧！”委办便允准他们这件事，试看他们十天。（但以理书1：10-14）

People of biblical integrity tend also to be people with unashamed boldness.

圣经中正直的人物都是无愧的勇敢之人。

我喜欢阅读伟大宣教士和其他敬虔之人的传记，他们的生活反应了对基督非同寻常的委身，他们在困境中的勇敢使他们与同龄人不同。但以理就是其中之一。他从年幼就开始遵行上帝的旨意，大胆传讲上帝的话语。他与大卫在诗篇40章8到9节提出的想法一致：“我的 神啊，我乐意照你的旨意行；你的律法在我心里。我在大会中宣传公义的佳音；我必不止住我的嘴唇。耶和华啊，这是你所知道的。”

In stark contrast to Daniel’s boldness was Ashpenaz’s fear. Although he thought kindly of Daniel, Ashpenaz feared for his life if Daniel and his friends were to appear pale and malnourished after he granted them exemption from the king’s special diet. So with characteristic wisdom and boldness, Daniel suggested a simple test designed to relieve Ashpenaz’s fears and prove God’s faithfulness. Tomorrow we will see the results of that test (v. 15). But for today I pray that you will have the boldness of Daniel as you take every opportunity to proclaim God’s Word.

与大卫的勇敢形成鲜明对比的是亚施毗拿的恐惧。虽然他为但以理着想，但如果他允许但以理和他的朋友不吃王所赐的食物，造成他们苍白且营养不良，他担心自己的生命有危险。藉着独特的智慧和勇敢，但以理建议先做个小测试来缓解亚施毗拿的恐惧并证实上帝的信实。明天可以看到测试的结果（15节）。但今天祷告求神赐我们但以理的勇敢，让我们抓住每个机会传讲上帝的话语。

Suggestions for Prayer

祷告建议

Like Daniel you may be facing a situation that requires a special measure of boldness. If so, ask the Lord to strengthen you as you set your heart on doing His will.

也许和但以理一样你现在面临着挑战需要特殊的勇敢。如果是这样，请你立定心志遵行神的旨意，祂必加力量给你。

For Further Study

进深研究

Read Ephesians 6:19-20; Philippians 1:19-20. What was the source of Paul’s boldness?

阅读以弗所书6：19-20、腓利比书1：19-20。思考保罗的勇敢从何而来？