In today’s world, we are constantly faced with choices. The decisions we make today will greatly impact our tomorrows. Good decisions today will lead to tomorrow’s success.

DANIEL DECIDED FOR RIGHT INSTEAD OF WRONG: Daniel 6:1-9

“It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss. Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.

“At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. Finally these men said, ‘We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.’

“So the administrators and the satraps went as a group to the king and said: ‘O King Darius, live forever! The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or man during the next thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the lions’ den. Now, O king, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.’

“So King Darius put the decree in writing.”

1. He chose ethics over compromise .

2. He chose courage over comfort .

“Christlikeness means growing to make decisions as Jesus made them.” -Gordon McDonald

DANIEL DECIDED ON DISCIPLINE INSTEAD OF DISASTER: Daniel 6:10-16

1. He was disciplined in his devotional life.

2. He was disciplined in his conversation with others.

“You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance” -Psalm 32:7.

LESSONS LEARNED FROM DANIEL’S DECISIONS: Daniel 6:17-23

1. His first allegiance was to God.

2. His love for God was more important than the king’s acceptance .

3. Decisions flow from a lifetime of right choices.

Five Ways to Test a Decision:

  • The truth test. I Peter 1:25
  • The character test. Proverbs 10:9
  • The growth test. I Corinthians 10:23
  • The greed test. I Corinthians 6:12
  • The salt and light test. Romans 14:12-13

“The small decisions of life develop your character. The big decisions of life reveal your character.” -Talmadge Johnson