The One Where I Talk About Tebow, Daniel, and Platforms

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men (Colossians 3:23),

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Tim Tebow, once just a man, has turned phenomenon. The name Tebow has long left the football field, and can now be heard from the morning news to late night tv. Oh, and everything in between. {Pun definitely intended- You know you love it} Tebow has been Tebowing his way into homes across the globe. He's loved and hated for it. One thing you hear from supporters, and neutrals alike, is that Tim Tebow is genuine in his faith, his game, and his humility. His testimony has stood strong- his platform solid.

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men (Colossians 3:23),

Today, I'm wondering how I would handle the "pressure". Would I do everything as unto the Lord? Would I handle the ups and the downs with grace? Would I react in humility to criticism from the whole world?

These are hard questions with complex answers. The reality is I'm (you're) not in his shoes. But there is a way to measure the likelihood that you or I would glorify God in a huge arena. Simply take an inventory of how you are doing in glorifying God in your current area of influence? How are you doing? How am I doing?
Daniel is one in the Old Testament who used his platform well.

Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring in some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility— young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service (Daniel 1:3-5). 

 Three years of training for a spot as one of the king's service men. Quite a platform, right? I wonder if Daniel realized what He was getting into. Did he know the stands he would have to take?

But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel, but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you” (Daniel 1:8-10). 

Daniel had a platform in front of a group of men, of an official, and the king. He could have given in to the pressure. He could have argued away his convictions.What did Daniel do? He resolved, and God caused favor and sympathy.

Are we resolved?

I have a platform. You have a platform. Tim Tebow has a platform, but you didn't need me to tell you that. The reality is we are each accountable for our own platform.

My challenge to myself today is to gage my resolve, and make necessary changes.

Daniel resolved and asked for his theory to be tested. The test on the table? Would Daniel's vegetables and water sustain him, plus the other men, better than the kings food and wine?

At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead (Daniel 1:15-16).

Daniel did things God's way for God's glory.

Is that not what a platform is for, anyway?

In His Name,
Jennifer