Nice Report Card.

Daniel and his friends Mishael, Azariah, and Hananiah give us a wonderful snapshot of how to live life successfully in exile.

They excelled in their Babylonian studies. Pastor Martha reminded us that these young men were required to be educated in the ways of the Babylonians, and they were obedient. They were expected to know the language, the literature, the astrology, and the politics of the land in which they were exiled. They participated fully in their educational process. Grade? A+.

They failed in their Babylonian worship. When given the opportunity to engage in activities that would cause them to be defiled by Hebrew standards of holiness and worship, they declined to participate. They did not eat the rich foods that were presented to them. They did not bow to the idolatrous Babylonian statue. They did not abandon their worship of God. Their grade for adapting to Babylonian worship? F.

And that is a good report card to have. It's a good thing to be bright, to know "the lay of the land" that we are exiled in, and yet not to fall into the idolatry of worshipping people and systems that run counter to the plan and program of God.

Be smart. Get an A and an F.