Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-08-30
CHRISTIAN EHDEAvOR


Beginning Sept 8 1911.
Topic.--Lessons from great lives.-Ix-
Daniel. - Dan vi l0-3 (Consecration
meetina) Edited by Rev. Sherman H.
Doyle. D. D.
The life Of Daniel Is one Of the mos,
Interesting and inspiring to be found
b Biblical history. 1t appeals espe-
cially to the young, and his example
should ever be q guide and help to
young people amid the trials and
temptations Of youth. OF Daniels
parentage or childhood life nothing Is
known. He was probably born in Je-
rusalem and seems 70 have been OF
royal or noble descent
In the third year OF Jehoiakim Dan
lei was taken to Babylon and trained
for the kings service Because Of his
courageous fidelity to God and to his
religious faith he was divinely blessed
and rose to positions Of trust and pow
er under the Persian kings. Although
he does not seem to have spent his en-
tire life in Babylon. yet the story Of his
endeavors, his achievements and his
prophecies, as recorded In the Scrip
ture, deals alone with his life In the
land Of captivity. There Il no record
Of his death, but he had played well
his part In life and when the end came
he was ready to be gathered to his
fathers to await the time when many
Of them that sleep In the dust Of the
earth shall awake" and among them
Daniel himself. to everlasting life.
/. The life Of Daniel teaches a les
son on moral heroism Where physical
danger was concerned Daniel was fear
less and courageous, but above this
be was a moral hero. He had deep re-
ngious and moral convictions, and re-
gardless Of everything he lived up to
them In his early experience in Baby
lon he '.purposed in his heart that he
would not defile himself with meat
and drink offered to idols 1t was
against the law Of Moses to do %,
and Daniel stood firm Fortunately
he was able to persuade the kfng's
servant to test the value Of his po-
sition, but we can wen believe that
had the necessity arisen Daniel would
have boldly refused to obey the kings
command But the success Of bis test
has proved for all time that Rich foods
and especially intoxicating liquors arc
detrimental to physical, mental and
spiritual growth and development But
what moral courage Il must have TAX
en- In Daniel under the circumstances
to have stood up for the right a. he
saw It He was IN strange land and
might have eased his conscience by
saying, I'm Babylon DO as Babylon
does" but instead he determined that
In Babylon as In Jerusalem. In a
strange land as well as at home, be
would do only that which was right
Later on in the kings prohibition Of
prayer to God we have another Illus
tration Of the moral courage Of Daniel
No fear Of the den Of lions caused
him to WAIVER IN bis allegiance to God
Daniel was not fraid Of lions. but he
was afraid Of living d lie before God
"Dare to be q Daniel" -
q The life Of Daniel teaches les
son on daily prayers HE kneeled
upon his knees three times day and
prayed and gave thanks before his
God" This glimpse Into the daily
habits Of Daniel IS enough to reveal
to as the secret Of bis fidelity and In
tegrity among the fearful temptations
Of his life. Daniel was a man Of pray-
er. Prayer was the daily habit Of his
LIE and kings command could not
break that habit Daniel no doubt led
a very busy life, but he had time for
daily communion with God, and 50
should all His children. We should
have time and a place for daily fell
lowship with our heavenly Father and
thereby we VIII be strengthened to
meet the daily temptations that assail
Us and enabled to better perform the
daily duties Of life.
8 The life Of Daniel teaches us that
1t Is possible to be faithful to God In
every avenue Of life II Daniel, sur
rounded by the temptations and allure
ments Of q dissolute, heather court,
could be faithful to God and live
life devoted to holiness, 1t Is possible
anywhere. To doubt It is not to doubt
the power Of man, as many suppose.
but the power Of God God kept DAN
lei and God can keep rs, II like Daniel.
we trust Him. and pray to Him to do
%. It IL possible to live Christian
life In high places as wen a. In low
places. IN palaces ~ In bowels, In poll
t1cs and IN business a. in the trades
and professions. Any other claim u a
hbel against God. and the excuse Of
towards who would charge their dis
honesty to environment rather than to
The inherent IN dispositions Of their
own hearts ana to thsir own deliberate
choosinG In any honest calling In life
Z ~ xll TEpod - our hearts" to
b trux Oo0Fw0 givs q The grace 70
do %
| DiDIg ReADsftoA
Prov. / 1O1o; XII Ia ~ %.
xxtii 1o-32; Pa xei1 / 2; Dan