Devotional: No One Wants Ordinary Daniel 1:3-6

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15, NASB).

“No one wants ordinary. Anybody can be ordinary.” I heard these words many times coming from the mouth of the late Pat Head Summit the legendary former coach of the Tennessee Lady Vols basketball team. Pat Summit set the standard for excellence for women’s basketball, not only college basketball, but basketball at every level. Pat Summit demanded the best from her players. She demanded excellence on the court and in the classroom. Her players were not allowed to sit further back than the third row in the classroom. All players that completed their eligibility graduated with a degree. That’s one hundred percent. Pat was a tough customer. For Pat, no one wants ordinary. Anyone can be ordinary.

Although this speaks well for Pat Summit, it is often a blot on our attitude in the church. I cannot begin to count the number of times that I have heard it said in church, “God uses ordinary people.” I once said to one of the brothers, “God does not use ordinary people. God prepares ordinary people making them extraordinary to do extraordinary things before He sends them to do His work.” This is what we see in our text today.

The king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, commands the chief official to choose sons of Israel to serve in the king’s court. The king does not want ordinary men. Rather, he wants only the best. They need to have the right pedigree: “some of the royal family and of the nobles” (v. 3). In addition they have to be good looking, show intelligence, understanding and ability to discern knowledge. Then those selected are taught the literature and language of the Chaldeans (v. 4). Does this sound like the king wants ordinary?

Four Hebrew boys are chosen: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (v. 6). “As for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and intelligence in every branch of literature and wisdom; Daniel even understood all kinds of visions and dreams” (v. 17, NASB).

The king interviews these four young men at the end of their training period. “As for every matter of wisdom and understanding about the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and conjurers in his realm” (v. 20, NASB).

I do not have to be ordinary. I can be the best that God wants me to be. Like Daniel I can trust the Lord to give me what I need if I continue in His ways. No one wants ordinary. Anybody can be ordinary. God does not want ordinary. He requires the best.

Prayer: lord give us the desire to be the best that you would have us to be. Amen.