A Small Light Can Dispel Great Darkness – Bible study

In Daniel 1:3, we read of Ashpenaz, a high court official in ancient Babylon, who was committed to banishing any testimony of Israel’s God from his kingdom. His strategy focused on young leadership from the captive Hebrews (Daniel 1:6). Ashpenaz gave the captives new names to honor the pagan gods of Babylon (Daniel 1:7). This made sense to him, because their original Hebrew names honored their God.

But the committed choice of those captives were a far more powerful influence than any label put on them. When faced with a literal trial by fire, these young men would not bow down and worship the golden idol. Instead, they accepted the punishment of being cast into the fiery furnace confident in God’s sovereignty and care (Daniel 3:16-18).

We have all known non-Christians who try to pressure us to fit in with their lifestyle. If we don’t party with them, follow a questionable business practice, or laugh at an offensive joke what usually happens? We get the cold shoulder. People may even call us names because we have determined not to run with their crowd (Exodus 23:2; cf. 2 Corinthians 6:14). But when we’re rejected because of our loyalty to God, we can live in a way that honors the Father (2 Timothy 4:7; cf. Hebrews 12:1-2).

It doesn’t matter what names others may call us. However, “how” we live our lives before God does (cf. Genesis 5:24; Hebrews 11:5; Genesis 6:9) . What’s important is that we always let our light shine (Matthew 5:16), always remembering that a small light can dispel great darkness (Matthew 5:15; Luke 8:16; cf. 1 Peter 2:9).