‘Discernment’ is making wise decisions. A’ disciple’ is a wholehearted student-follower. And Daniel is both.

Taken in 605BC to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar (in the first act of discipline of God’s mob), Daniel was subjected to an assimilation programme by Nebuchadnezzar – his language, education, clothing, name, diet, address and even his name were reworked so that, at least on the outside, his was a ‘disciple’ of Babylon.

And, yet, in a memorable moment, Daniel ‘draws a line in the sand’ – he resists being completely submerged into Babylon by drawing a line in the sand at his diet. Now, I don’t think this is a statement about the vegetables he ate, or the meat he rejected. I think this is Daniel stating publicly, ‘I belong to God – with him, I lack nothing’.

After all, we have been reminded three times that God is faithful, always doing exactly as he says (v.2, 9 and 17). God has a track record of shepherding his mob faithfully, and Daniel acts on this. Because he lacks nothing because of God, Daniel resists the discipleship programme of Babylon.