Daniel's Compassionate Witness

Daniel's Compassionate Witness (Dan 1:8-12, 4:1-27)
Intro: Importance of a faithful testimony
'And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord & not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance, for you serve the Lord Christ' (Col 3:23-24).
But we are also ambassadors for Christ, to 'declare his glory among the nations' (1Chr 16:24).

Exposition

1. Daniel & the Eunuch: Kindness & goodwill (Dan 1:8-12)
   He says, 'please', makes a 'request', & seeks to use the 'goodwill' God had given him w/the chief eunuch.
   'We do not need to be obnoxious to be faithful to God' (S. Ferguson)

2. Daniel & Nebuchadnezzar: Kindness & compassion (Dan 4:1-27)
   Sometimes people are like Jonah, 'Yet 40 days, & Ninevah shall be overthrown!' (Jon 3:4)
   We need to be more like Jesus, who weeps & says, 'O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets & stones those who are sent to her!'
   It's never enough to be negative. The Biblical gospel is, 'repentance toward God & faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ' (Acts 20:21).

Conclusion
2Cor 2:15-16, 'For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved & among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life.'

What about Mt 2:1? We don't know.

'Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, & those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever & ever' (Dan 12:3)