Doing the right thing (Daniel 1-3)

I really resonate with the stories from the first three chapters in Daniel (in fact, I taught on Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to our students in this sermon).  The reality is that Daniel and his friends all understood the concept that when we see as God sees we will do as God says.  Even when placed in the intense training camp of the Babylonians Daniel saw that God had a bigger plan in mind for all that was to happen and that his responsibility was to simply do as God desired without compromise.  That's a problem in today's church because many times we're willing to do what God wants until it gets uncomfortable.  Then when the discomfort sets in, we run away and do as we please.  Daniel's character is challenging to me.  It challenges my character because my life circumstances are so much easier than his were, and yet I too often give in to the temptation to take the easy road.  When it gets down to it, when you're in the game and it really counts, are you willing to do what's right, or do you give in to the temptation to do what is comfortable?