Daniel was a man of an "excellent spirit." This word excellent in the Hebrew means "preeminent" or "outstanding." Daniel had such an excellent spirit about him that he just "stood out" from all the others around him.

What was it about Daniel that caused him to be so noticeably different from the rest? What is it in some children of God today, which causes them to stand out from the others?

For, in fact, in every church there are certain believers who seem to be discernibly more prominent than their fellow Christians. Certainly, all believers should desire to develop an excellent spirit and be preeminent.

So many, however, seem to be content with just being nominal church members. Those who desire to please their heavenly Father by being of an excellent spirit can learn how to accomplish this by studying the life of Daniel.

Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault in him.
(Dan. 6:4)

It was faithfulness,s which caused Daniel to stand out from all the others.

"Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?" (Prov. 20:6). It is difficult to find a truly faithful person today.

Yet if there is any one characteristic or virtue that causes a person to stand out from the crowd and to receive God's undivided attention, it is faithfulness.

The Lord spoke through the psalmist, David, saying: "Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me" (Ps. 101:6).

When the Lord finds a faithful believer, He focuses His undivided attention upon him. Therefore, we believers should desire to develop the fruit of faithfulness because God is looking for this character quality in His people.

Source: A Call for Character by Greg Zochak
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers