Four Boys in Babylon

Daniel and his companions enjoyed the benefits of correct training and education in early life, but these advantages alone would not have made them what they were. The time came when they must act for themselves—when their future depended upon their own course. Then they decided to be true to the lessons given them in childhood.
What a lifework was that of these noble Hebrews! As they bade farewell to their childhood home, how little did they dream of their high destiny! Faithful and steadfast, they yielded themselves to the divine guiding, so that through them God could fulfill His purpose.

Daniel and his companions in Babylon were, in their youth, apparently more favored of fortune than was Joseph in the earlier years of his life in Egypt; yet they were subjected to tests of character scarcely less severe. From the comparative simplicity of their Judean home these youth of royal line were transported to the most magnificent of cities, to the court of its greatest monarch, and were singled out to be trained for the king’s special service. Strong were the temptations surrounding them in that corrupt and luxurious court…. The direction that their food should be supplied from the royal table was an expression both of the king’s favor and of his solicitude for their welfare. But a portion having been offered to idols, the food from the king’s table was consecrated to idolatry; and in partaking of the king’s bounty these youth would be regarded as uniting in his homage to false gods.

The history of Daniel and his youthful companions has been recorded on the pages of the inspired word for the benefit of the youth of all succeeding ages. Through the record of their fidelity to the principles of temperance, God is speaking today to young men and young women, bidding them gather up the precious rays of light He has given on the subject of Christian temperance, and place themselves in right relation to the laws of health.
Conflict and Courage p. 246
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for Lance who is in the hospital The doctors believe he has had a small stroke a few days ago. His balance is effected. They are doing more tests. Will keep you updated. Mel and his daughter Patty are with him. Janel
—–Please pray for one aunt fighting breast cancer and another one just being diagnosed w Lupus. Yasmin
—–please pray for my father he is sick. Grace
—–I would like all to please keep our head elder in prayers his Parkinsons is getting werse an he’s not doing that great his memory is failing tremendous plus I might get to start teaching the Sabbath school lesson soon so prayers for me too. Sam
—–Please I am requesting more prayer for my dear elderly mother. She has had a very serious MRSA infection in her eyes for about a year now and her Dr. has tried just about everything and nothing works. She also has been under the care of an Infection control Dr. and what they prescribed didn’t work either. Connie
—–update—DAUGHTER’S MRI has shown she has a spot on liver. Biopsy will be 3/21/17. If cancer will start chemo. Foxine
—–Lost a set of keys just now at a grocery store. Have spare but it would be great if I could find that set of keys. Please pray. John
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Dear Friends,

For many years, I hated my name, so I told others to call me Rose or Rosie. My grandmother had insisted that I be named Rosa. My mother always told me that she had named me after some character on a radio program that she always listened to where the heroine was a big, fat, Italian whose father was always trying to marry her off. This caused me not only to hate my name, but to resent my grandmother for naming me after that comedic character.

It was not until years later, when I was researching my genealogy, that I found that that was not the case at all. My grandmother’s mother had a younger sister by the name of Rosa. Suddenly, it dawned upon me that I was named after a well-loved aunt! From then on, my name was special to me.

Names can be beautiful to some and not so to others. They can be loved or hated depending on whom we know with that particular name. There is a name that is above all names, however, that all should love.. The name of Jesus, how precious it is! His name tells Who He is: the Saviour! Indeed, we have life through His Name. The angel commanded Joseph, “thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Matt 1:23 Truly He is the “Wonderful Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isa 9:6 “Of his kingdom there shall be no end.” Luke 1:33

Through the name of Jesus, His followers taught the people the way to eternal life. Through the name of Jesus, they had power to heal the sick, cast out demons, and even raise the dead. Looking at the future reward of God’s people, John tells us, “And they shall see his face, and his name shall be in their foreheads.” Rev 22:4 Will we have a visible mark tattooed across our forehead that says “Jesus”? No! His name is His character, His glory. When Moses asked to see God’s glory, he was told, “I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee.” Ex 33:19 As Moses was in the cleft of the rock, “the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” 34:5-7 Paul tells us that we are “the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart.” 2 Cor 3:3

When our Great Creator gave us the Ten Commandments, which are a transcript of His Character and a rule for our happiness, He proclaimed, “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” Ex 20:7 This commandment encompasses more than common swearing, for that sin can be forgiven. When we take on the name of Christ, we are to become like Him in character. Paul tells us, “Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” 2 Tim 2:19 When we fail to do so, over and over again, we become hardened in our sin, “having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” to gain the victory. 2 Tim 3:5 Eventually, we get discouraged and turn away from our Only Hope, our Only Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. Fearful position—a position that we need not be in, for our Great Redeemer has provided us with all that we need to be saved, even giving His Most Precious Gift, His Only Begotten Son.

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth, And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, . . work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Phil 2:5-13
“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and for ever. Amen.” Jude 24, 25

Rose