As I write this some of you will be preparing to go to college, to university or out to work for the first time. When you get there, you have a choice to make. It is a choice that you can make without even realising you've made it. The choice is whether to stand for Christ or not!

It has been said by others before me, that it is easier to stand for Christ when you first get somewhere, than it is half way through. How true those words are. If you let people know where you stand right from the beginning you will find it easier, rather than suddenly when the Lord pricks your conscience, half way through and you have to break away from the things you have been doing, which deep down you know to be wrong.

As you prepare for the next phase of your life, you may worry what others will think, how difficult it may be to make friends, if from the start you declare yourself as a Christian and act like you know one should act. Take courage from Daniel. Here as soon as he was taken, he stood firm. He declared openly that he would not defile himself with the worldly things he was being offered. What happened? Did God leave him there at the mercy of the guards? No for we read in verse 9:

And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs,

But the chief guard was fearful, worried what the king would say, however, Daniel persuaded him to allow him and his 3 friends for 10 days, only to have bread and water. And so

At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king's food. (Daniel 1v15)

It is interesting to note that while it was Daniel alone that we read of standing firm, because of his stand, his 3 friends were able to stand also. What we do affects not only ourselves but also our fellow Christians. If we stand firm then others may be encouraged to stand firm also. But if we fail then others may like wise fail. So where ever you may be, stand firm for Christ and know that as He stood with Daniel, He will stand with you.

If you have any comments or questions about this article then please e-mail me at a.wood@assemblyyouth.net

	Next month: Stand up for Christ.
	Dare to be a Daniel
	Last month: Introduction.

All quotes are from the English Standard version of the Bible unless otherwise specified.