No one's ever accused me of being a picky eater. But even I can appreciate Daniel's choice to refuse a royal spread.
Most likely, the food offered to Daniel and his friends was the same King Nebuchadnezzar enjoyed at his table. Taste and variety aside, there were good reasons for Daniel's refusal to "defile himself with the royal rations of food and wine." Namely, the food likely didn't meet kosher laws, and it may have been used in pagan worship.
Interestingly, Daniel was willing to learn the "literature and language." He even took on a new name from his oppressors. He served in the king's court. But he drew a line at food. In exile, Daniel held onto something that kept him connected to who he was. His diet became a powerful, quiet act of resistance.
A friend of mine move to the U.S. for a few years for school. When he returned home, his family and friends immediately noticed how his eating habits had changed. American food had shaped him more than he realized. That's because the way we eat, dress, speak and behave tell a story about where we belong and who we are. Daniel's choice reminds us that faithfulness often requires us to pay attention to those kinds of little things. It means setting spiritual boundaries that keep us connected to our identity in Jesus. 
Whether it's our culture, workplace, friend groups or even our government, people will expect things from us. Some of those expectations will be fine and good. Others may pull us away from who we're called to be. In those cases, faithfulness requires us to choose how we respond. It could be quietly saying, "I won't eat that." Or it may be a bigger decision.
But if you never feel the need to draw any boundaries, it might be time to ask whether you've already been shaped more than you realize.
Stay blessed...john | 
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