This scripture is a jam-packed picture of God’s authority. A type of Kingship which the world can’t comprehend.

The reference to government in our scripture is a depiction of God’s reign and rule. He is in charge. He is responsible. He is our authority. With this in mind, we, as His people are to live our lives in such a way that honors and obeys this God-ordained structure.

All of this is super heavy. I get it. But if we keep reading, we find that on the heels of that weighty directive, we have a God who is so much more than King and Ruler. He has enormous depth and breadth. Let’s take a look…

He is tender in His ability to be our Wonderful Counselor by guiding us in wisdom and kindness.

He is a God who embodies strength and portrays power as our Mighty God.

He disburses provision and offers protection as our Everlasting Father.

And as part of our royal inheritance, He provides a sense of security as our Prince of Peace.

Seriously, what else do we need? He can satisfy the neediest of our needs (Philippians 4:9). The desires of our hearts (Psalm 37:4). The longings of our souls (Psalm 107:9). He feeds us when we are hungry and clothes us when we are naked (Matthew 25:35-36). Comforts us when we weep (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). And sings over us in joy and gladness when there’s something to celebrate (Zephaniah 3:17). He is EVERYTHING!

Even so, we live in a culture where Christians and non-Christians often interpret the rules of world’s roads differently. However, when it comes to what we actually do, well that isn’t always so different. We are often invited by our culture to straddle the morality fence. In fact, more often than not, we are baited to jump it entirely, and shamed if we don’t.

This cultural contradiction poses a problem for those of us who live under the umbrella of faith and operate with our internal convictions setting the course. In turn, this problem calls us to the carpet and begs the questions, “Where is your allegiance? What do you bend a knee to? Who is your authority?”

This week, I’d like to take a lesson from the book of Daniel. Daniel, whose name means—God is my judge—was faced with a dangerous decision of allegiance following the Exile. Would he obey the king of his captivity and the idolatrous culture of Babylon, or the king of Heaven and Earth?

In short, Daniel was one of Jerusalem’s best and brightest young men chosen and taken to Babylon to serve in King Nebuchadnezzar’s palace. On a daily basis, the Babylonian government provided provisions of the king’s delicacies to Daniel and his three young companions during their training. These special offerings were intended to indoctrinate them into the foreign customs and leave behind their Hebrew God and culture.

Daniel knew it was wrong to eat the king’s food and he believed it went against God’s law. So at the expense of being shunned, or worse, he chose to honor God and refused to eat of the king’s delicacies. Instead, he held fast to the statutes of his faith in quiet resolve and only ate that which was blessed by God.

Although we do not live under the biblical laws of the Old Testament, we do live under the umbrella of faith. And because of that, we are called to make some tough decisions on what our culture values versus what our God values.

In similar fashion to King Nebuchadnezzar, the enemy of our souls desires to do the same by indoctrinating us into the world system with sensual delicacies our hearts, eyes, minds, and emotions are tempted to taste, touch and see. Many of which will be at the height of temptation over the next four weeks as we head into the holiday season.

In those moments of temptation, when we are faced with honoring our culture or honoring God in a matter, let’s determine to be like Daniel and choose God. Ask the hard questions. Make the hard decisions. Take a chance on God.

Truth is, this type of uncommon rebellion—veering left when everyone else wants us to veer right—causes spiritual alignment. When we align ourselves with God’s authority, we develop an uncommon confidence. Confidence in God’s ability not our own.

And that my friend, makes us uncommonly beautiful.

Reflect and Respond:

This week, when you are faced with a difficult choice—your will or His—say out loud, “I choose you, Lord!” This will strengthen your resolved and solidify your allegiance to His authority. Go ahead, be bold, be different, be beautiful!

Hugs for a great week and remember, you are not alone. Be blessed and be uncommonly beautiful.