Fear and Trembling

Readings for today: Daniel 10-12, Psalms 58

In my line of work, I get sent all kinds of things. YouTube videos of so-called prophets predicting the end. Chain emails suggesting I need to focus more on the end times. Free books by obscure authors telling me they’ve cracked the code and know the time and date of Jesus’ return. One of the things that strikes me most about all of this is the utter lack of fear and trembling and humility. These modern-day prophets claim to have seen all kinds of divine visions and dreams but don’t fall on their faces in fear. Rather than grieve, they seemingly take delight in calling for the destruction of the world. They arrogantly proclaim their “interpretation” and refuse to acknowledge when they get things wrong…which they always do. It’s nuts to me.

When God gave visions and dreams to His prophets in the Old Testament, they all fall on their faces in awe before the Lord. They tremble in fear at His coming. They are overwhelmed by what they see and cannot comprehend what God is telling them until an angel of the Lord reveals it to them. They are humble. They grieve over the judgment they know is coming. They fast and pray until their bodies are weak from hunger. Listen again to Daniel’s experience as he receives his final visions from God, “Only I, Daniel, saw the vision. The men who were with me did not see it, but a great terror fell on them, and they ran and hid. I was left alone, looking at this great vision. No strength was left in me; my face grew deathly pale, and I was powerless. I heard the words he said, and when I heard them I fell into a deep sleep, with my face to the ground. Suddenly, a hand touched me and set me shaking on my hands and knees.” (Daniel‬ ‭10‬:‭7‬-‭10‬ ‭CSB) Now contrast his example with what we hear from those who claim to be prophets in our day and age. It could not be more different.

It’s a fearful thing to receive a vision of the future from God. Such knowledge is far too wonderful and complex for our minds to comprehend. It overwhelms the senses. It forces us to our knees. It leaves us gasping for breath. Human beings simply aren’t designed for such things which is why every single one of the Old Testament prophets is driven to the point of death by the experience. Even Jesus Himself claimed He couldn’t know the timing of the end. He had to trust His Father for that knowledge.

Every human being worries about the future. We worry about tomorrow or the next day or the next month or the next year. We worry about our jobs. We worry about our livelihoods. We worry about our children and grandchildren. For many around the world, they worry about what they will eat or where they will find water. Many believers worry about the end. They look around the world today with all its suffering, violence, hatred, anger, injustice, and oppression and they wonder when God will return to bring these things to an end. Rather than focusing so much on trying to predict it all or figure it out, I think the final words of the Book of Daniel point us in the right direction. “But as for you, go on your way to the end; you will rest, and then you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance at the end of the days.” (Daniel‬ ‭12‬:‭13‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Readings for tomorrow: Haggai 1-2, Psalms 59

Hope

Readings for today: Daniel 7-9, Psalms 57

Today we read one of my favorite passages in the Old Testament about the Ancient of Days and the Son of Man. A prophetic vision of the end times when God Himself will set up His throne on earth to bring judgment and an end to all injustice, fear, and violence. He will give His kingdom to the Son of Man who has been prepared from eternity to rule a kingdom that will last forever. No matter how strong and fearsome the principalities and powers of this world may seem, they are no match for the Son of Man. The great “beasts” of this world with all their arrogant, corrupt, oppressive, and abusive ways will be killed and thrown into the eternal fire. They will be no more. It’s a day I long for with all my heart. It’s a day I pray for with all my soul. I long for the day when the Son of Man will come again, bringing the kingdom of heaven to earth, reign and rule over all creation.

Listen again to the words of the vision of Daniel, “As I kept watching, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was white like snow, and the hair of his head like whitest wool. His throne was flaming fire; its wheels were blazing fire. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from his presence. Thousands upon thousands served him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was convened, and the books were opened. I watched, then, because of the sound of the arrogant words the horn was speaking. As I continued watching, the beast was killed and its body destroyed and given over to the burning fire. As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was removed, but an extension of life was granted to them for a certain period of time. I continued watching in the night visions, and suddenly one like a son of man was coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before him. He was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.” (‭‭Daniel‬ ‭7‬:‭9‬-‭14‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Our world is on fire. Beasts of all kinds rise up and create all kinds of chaos and destruction. None of us are immune. No one can escape. We live in so much fear, so much anger, so much hate. Things are so bad even the “holy ones” of God, believers in Jesus Christ, are led astray. We turn on the news and see the violence. We scroll through social media and drown in disinformation designed to incite all kinds of outrage. We listen to our leaders lie with impunity and without shame. Perhaps worst of all, we become numb to the suffering we see. It’s heartbreaking. Thankfully, we are not at the mercy of the evil in the world. Sin will not have the last word. God Himself is coming to judge. He will take His seat on the throne of this world. And though the nations of the earth rage against Him, they resist in vain. God will remove their dominion and give it to His Son. He will reign forever and ever with glory and power. Every tribe, tongue, and nation will serve Him. His Kingdom will have no end. This is our only hope.

Readings for tomorrow: Daniel 10-12, Psalms 58

Testimony

Readings for today: Daniel 4-6, Psalms 56

Every single Christian has a testimony. The story of how they received Christ and trusted Him as Lord and Savior. For some, the testimony is of faithful parents who raised them in the faith from birth. For others, the testimony is how Christ saved them in the midst of great hardship and suffering. For still others, the testimony is how God confronted them in their sin and humbled them before His throne. No matter how you came to faith, each testimony is the story of God’s great faithfulness to reach those He loves with the gospel. Every Christian is a living, breathing example of God’s great desire to reach every tribe, tongue, and nation on the earth. No one is beyond His reach. No one is unworthy of His grace. No sin is so great that it cannot be forgiven. If you had any doubt about that, consider the testimony we read today from King Nebuchadnezzar.

King Nebuchadnezzar is one of the great tyrants in human history. The number of people he killed as his armies swept through the Middle East is astronomical. He brutally suppressed the nations he conquered. He drug hundreds of thousands into exile. He razed homes and temples and cities. He used terror and fear and torture and death as instruments to hold his growing empire together. He was prideful and arrogant, believing himself to be one of the gods. At the height of his power, God confronted him. He drove Nebuchadnezzar insane and he lost his kingdom. For seven years, he was lost, wandering in the labyrinth of his own crazed mind. He ate grass like cattle. He was exposed to the elements. He never cut his hair or nails. Finally, he looked up to heaven. He humbled himself before God. And his heart was changed. His mind was healed. His position and authority restored. Listen to how he describes it in his own words, “But at the end of those days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven, and my sanity returned to me. Then I praised the Most High and honored and glorified him who lives forever: For his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are counted as nothing, and he does what he wants with the army of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth. There is no one who can block his hand or say to him, “What have you done?” At that time my sanity returned to me, and my majesty and splendor returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and my nobles sought me out, I was reestablished over my kingdom, and even more greatness came to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt, and glorify the King of the heavens, because all his works are true and his ways are just. He is able to humble those who walk in pride.” (Daniel‬ ‭4‬:‭34‬-‭37‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

It’s an incredible story. One that gives all of us hope. If God can save a man like Nebuchadnezzar, He can save anyone. If God can confront and change the heart of one of the most brutal tyrants in human history, He can change the hearts of all those who look to heaven and turn to Him. The story of Nebuchadnezzar reinforces the unconditional nature of God’s love and amazing grace. Grace is God’s free gift to all who humble themselves before Him.

Readings for tomorrow: Daniel 7-9, Psalms 57

Spiritual Warfare

Readings for today: Daniel 10-12

I will confess that I do not take spiritual warfare as seriously as I should. I am usually blissfully ignorant on some level of the battle being waged in other dimensions for the future of our world and the state of my soul. Yes, I acknowledge there is a real, personal Satan. Yes, I acknowledge his demonic forces are constantly on the attack, seeking to tear me down and that which God loves in my life. Yes, I am fully aware of the many angles the Evil One uses to tempt me or distract me or make me afraid. But in my day to day, I don’t give it as much thought as I should. In my daily prayer life, I don’t give it as much attention as I should. And that’s why passages like the one we read from Daniel today hit me so hard.

“During those days, I, Daniel, went into mourning over Jerusalem for three weeks. I ate only plain and simple food, no seasoning or meat or wine. I neither bathed nor shaved until the three weeks were up. On the twenty-fourth day of the first month I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris. I looked up and to my surprise saw a man dressed in linen with a belt of pure gold around his waist. His body was hard and glistening, as if sculpted from a precious stone, his face radiant, his eyes bright and penetrating like torches, his arms and feet glistening like polished bronze, and his voice, deep and resonant, sounded like a huge choir of voices…I heard his voice. At the sound of it I fainted, fell flat on the ground, face in the dirt. A hand touched me and pulled me to my hands and knees. “‘Daniel,’ he said, ‘man of quality, listen carefully to my message. And get up on your feet. Stand at attention. I’ve been sent to bring you news.’” When he had said this, I stood up, but I was still shaking. “‘Relax, Daniel,’ he continued, ‘don’t be afraid. From the moment you decided to humble yourself to receive understanding, your prayer was heard, and I set out to come to you. But I was waylaid by the angel-prince of the kingdom of Persia and was delayed for a good three weeks. But then Michael, one of the chief angel-princes, intervened to help me. I left him there with the prince of the kingdom of Persia. And now I’m here to help you understand what will eventually happen to your people. The vision has to do with what’s ahead.’” (Daniel‬ ‭10‬:‭2‬-‭6‬, ‭9‬-‭14‬ ‭MSG‬‬)

Daniel mourns over the state of his nation. He mourns over the fate of Jerusalem. He mourns for the pain and suffering of his people. In his mourning, God sends a comforter. A divine messenger to give Daniel hope for the future. But that divine messenger is hindered in his ability to bring Daniel comfort by the work of the Enemy. As powerful as he is as a heavenly being, he faced enemies equally as powerful in the heavenly places. Spiritual forces of evil who waylaid him to prevent him from accomplishing his mission. Thankfully, God sent an even more powerful heavenly warrior to help him which allowed him to continue on his way. It’s one of the few detailed accounts we have in Scripture of the heavenly battle that is happening all around us all the time.

This is why there is so much language in the New Testament about actively resisting the Enemy so he will flee. Taking up the whole armor of God in order to defend ourselves. Praying always in the Spirit. Immersing ourselves in the Word. Raising the shield of faith to protect not only ourselves but those around us. This is why the Apostle Paul tells us the weapons of our warfare are not of this world but mighty in God. With them, we are able to tear down every stronghold and every high thing that sets itself up against God. We are able to take our stand against the devil and his demonic forces. We are able to drive back the powers of darkness with the light of the gospel. But none of that happens unless we get on our knees in prayer. Unless we intercede with weeping and fasting as Daniel did over the state of our loved ones, the state of our families, the state of our nation, and the state of our world.

Friends, the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was to convince the Western world he didn’t exist. Don’t fall into the trap of believing you are safe from his attacks. As I read from another author recently, “I want to live my life in such a way that when I get out of bed in the morning, the devil says, “Oh hell! He's up!” (Steve Maraboli)

Readings for tomorrow: None

Hope for the Future

Readings for today: Daniel 7-9

The book of Daniel is most famous for the visions Daniel sees in the night. So much ink has been spilt trying to interpret the meaning of these dreams. Are they historical? Referring to past events and past kingdoms that have come and gone? Do they tell the future? Of a time when our great Enemy will rise and attack God’s people? Are they both? Can we learn from what has happened in the past and look for those same signs to take place in the future? And what does it all mean for the Christian in 21st century America?

I think we often miss the forest for the trees when it comes to reading Scripture. We get so wrapped up in the details, so lost in the weeds, that we lose sight of the overarching message God has for us. Daniel and his people are in exile. They have experienced national trauma on a level we simply cannot grasp. Their pain and suffering is real and terrible. Their hopes and dreams have been crushed out of existence. Ground under the heel of a merciless pagan empire. Everything they once held dear has been destroyed. These are the circumstances in which God has placed Daniel. He has been a counselor to pagan kings. He has served foreign rulers. He has done all he can to embrace the call God placed on His people back in Jeremiah to “Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” (Jeremiah‬ ‭29:7) And he has prospered. He has been given power and authority. He has access and influence. He has wealth and privilege. He is considered one of the greatest wise men the empire has ever produced. But one thing continues to set Daniel apart...his deep faith.  

Daniel never loses sight of God. Never loses hope in a future restoration when God will act to deliver His people once again. Daniel trusts God. At great personal risk, Daniel has demonstrated his faith over and over again. Lions. Fiery furnaces. Under threat of torture and death. Daniel has seen it all and done it all and not only survived but thrived. And now God is again visiting him with visions and dreams. He is showing him the future. Kings and empires will rise and fall. The pain and suffering they inflict will be great. The fear they will engender will cause many to flee. Safety and comfort will be in short supply. But under it all, there is a promise. God is in control. God is on the move. God is bringing human history to a predetermined end with Christ taking His seat in glory and His kingdom shall never end.  

“Thrones were set in place and The Old One sat down. His robes were white as snow, his hair was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, its wheels blazing. A river of fire poured out of the throne. Thousands upon thousands served him, tens of thousands attended him. The courtroom was called to order, and the books were opened…My dream continued. “I saw a human form, a son of man, arriving in a whirl of clouds. He came to The Old One and was presented to him. He was given power to rule—all the glory of royalty. Everyone—race, color, and creed—had to serve him. His rule would be forever, never ending. His kingly rule would never be replaced.” (Daniel‬ ‭7‬:‭9‬-‭10‬, ‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭MSG‬‬‬) Forget the four great beasts. Forget the visions of lions and eagles  and bears. Rams and goats thundering towards one another across the earth. Forget the terrifying beast with ten horns or the little horn with the big mouth. The focus of Daniel’s vision is on the One called the Ancient of Days. The One who reigns and rules over it all. Pure as driven snow. Engulfed in holy fire. Tens of thousands at his beck and call. He judges the earth. He judges kings and rulers. He holds all dominion and power in His hand. And He calls to the Son of Man. Out of the clouds of heaven comes the Christ and He is given all authority on heaven and on earth. All peoples and nations and tribes and tongues shall serve him. His kingdom shall never end. This is the main point of the vision Daniel receives. God letting his beloved prophet know He is not done. There is still hope. There will come a day when Christ shall come and all things shall be set right and made new. 

And what happens to us on that great day? Listen to how Daniel describes it, “Then the royal rule and the authority and the glory of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the people of the High God. Their royal rule will last forever. All other rulers will serve and obey them.” (Daniel‬ ‭7‬:‭‭27‬ ‭MSG‬‬) We get to share in this glory! We get to share in this victory! When Christ comes again in glory, we will be given dominion and power and authority to reign and rule at His side and under His Lordship! There will be no more sin. No more evil. No more crying. No more pain. No more suffering. No more fear. For God Himself will be our God and we shall be His people! This is the great hope of the gospel! The great hope sealed by Christ’s death and resurrection! An empty tomb bears witness! Millions upon millions throughout history all stand to give their testimony! Christ has died! Christ has risen! Christ will come again! 

Readings for tomorrow: Daniel 10-12

Loving Those Who Do Not Believe

Readings for today: Daniel 4-6

One of the hallmarks of a Christian is her heart for the lost. We are commanded in Scripture to love those who are lost. To have compassion on those who do not yet know God. To reach out to them. To serve them. To bless them in the name of Jesus. The examples from Scripture are legion. From the beginning where God demonstrates His love for Adam and Eve and Cain even amidst their sin. To the love Abraham showed for the people of Sodom, interceding for them when they faced destruction. Moses showed love to his father-in-law, a non-Israelite, raising him to a position of leadership among the people of God. I think of how the Law of God embraces the stranger, foreigner, and alien in the midst of God’s people and I think of how we see that fleshed out in the embrace of women like Rahab and Ruth and the critical role they play in the genealogy of our Savior.

Daniel embodies this love as well. His close relationship with the kings he serves is well-attested in the chapters we read today. When Nebuchadnezzer has a dream, Daniel is the man he calls on. It’s important to note that Nebuchadnezzer even uses Daniel’s Jewish name which is highly unusual as the Babylonians “renamed” people in order to assimilate them fully into Babylonian culture. “And then Daniel came in. His Babylonian name is Belteshazzar, named after my god, a man full of the divine Holy Spirit. I told him my dream.” (Daniel‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬ ‭MSG‬‬‬) And Daniel clearly communicates his love and concern for Nebuchadnezzer as he interprets the dream for him. “At first Daniel, who had been renamed Belteshazzar in Babylon, was upset. The thoughts that came swarming into his mind terrified him. “Belteshazzar,” the king said, “stay calm. Don’t let the dream and its interpretation scare you.” “My master,” said Belteshazzar, “I wish this dream were about your enemies and its interpretation for your foes.” (Daniel‬ ‭4‬:‭19‬ ‭MSG‬‬‬)

Daniel’s special relationship with the kings he serves is not limited to Nebuchadnezzar. It extends to Darius as well. “But Daniel, brimming with spirit and intelligence, so completely outclassed the other vice-regents and governors that the king decided to put him in charge of the whole kingdom.” (Daniel‬ ‭6‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭MSG‬‬) Clearly, Daniel’s reputation precedes him. He is esteemed above all the wise men and satraps and other potential counselors of the king. Furthermore, when their jealousy gets the best of them and they craft legislation specifically attacking Daniel’s faith, Darius laments what he has to do and is the first to arrive at the mouth of the lion’s den to see if Daniel has survived. “The king was very upset and tried his best to get Daniel out of the fix he’d put him in. He worked at it the whole day long…The king then went back to his palace. He refused supper. He couldn’t sleep. He spent the night fasting. At daybreak the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. As he approached the den, he called out anxiously, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve so loyally, saved you from the lions?” “O king, live forever!” said Daniel. “My God sent his angel, who closed the mouths of the lions so that they would not hurt me. I’ve been found innocent before God and also before you, O king. I’ve done nothing to harm you.” When the king heard these words, he was happy. He ordered Daniel taken up out of the den. When he was hauled up, there wasn’t a scratch on him. He had trusted his God. Then the king commanded that the conspirators who had informed on Daniel be thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. Before they hit the floor, the lions had them in their jaws, tearing them to pieces.” (Daniel‬ ‭6‬:‭14‬, ‭18‬-‭24‬ ‭MSG‬‬‬)

One can see from such verses how Daniel loved the lost kings whom he served. He loved them as God loved them. He served them out of reverence for Christ. He gave his life to them in an effort to lead and direct them to a saving faith. And his efforts were not in vain. Nebuchadnezzer gave glory to the God of Israel. Belshazzar was brought to his knees before the God of Israel. Darius issues a proclamation that all the people of the empire would worship the God of Israel. It’s a powerful testimony and example to us all.

So…how do you love the lost? Take it one step back…do you love the lost? Do you love those who do not know Christ or do you look down on them? Do you love those who are still enslaved to their sin or do you disdain them? Do you love those who are struggling and wandering and perhaps even living in willful rebellion against Christ or do you seek to reach them, serve them, care for them, have compassion on them? What creates barriers to love in your life? Is it politics? Ethnicity? Economics? Is it lack of forgiveness? Lack of grace? Lack of understanding? Is it anger? Frustration? Lost hope? Let the gospel minister to your soul. Let the gospel restore your faith and renew your love. Remember the gospel is the literal power of God for all those who would believe, Jew and Gentile alike. It is God’s desire that all should be saved and come to a knowledge of His truth. This includes even those we would consider our enemies. Let Daniel’s example both challenge and inspire you today to reach out to those who do not yet know Christ.

Readings for tomorrow: Daniel 7-9

Courage of Conviction

Readings for today: Daniel 1-3

Daniel is one of my favorites. He is a man sold out to God. No matter what life throws at him, he never once seems to waver. When he was a young man, he was carted off into exile in Babylon. A traumatic, painful experience. Once he arrived in Babylon, he was identified as a young man of promise and removed from his family. Sequestered in the king’s household, he began training as a wise man. Someone who would counsel the king on the most important matters. Someone who would serve the empire and seek to expand its influence and power. One can easily imagine the internal struggle Daniel must have felt. How does he serve God faithfully while counseling one of the great tyrants in history? How does he speak God’s truth to a pagan power? How does he maintain his integrity even as he counsels a king whose ego is out of control? 

The challenges start early. As part of his training, he is presented with unclean food to eat. Right off the bat, he has a choice to make. Will he trust God or will he compromise his convictions? Here it is critical to note how Daniel responds. It will become the pattern for the rest of his life. “But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs, and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “But Daniel determined that he would not defile himself by eating the king’s food or drinking his wine, so he asked the head of the palace staff to exempt him from the royal diet. The head of the palace staff, by God’s grace, liked Daniel, but he warned him, “I’m afraid of what my master the king will do. He is the one who assigned this diet and if he sees that you are not as healthy as the rest, he’ll have my head!” But Daniel appealed to a steward who had been assigned by the head of the palace staff to be in charge of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: “Try us out for ten days on a simple diet of vegetables and water. Then compare us with the young men who eat from the royal menu. Make your decision on the basis of what you see.” (Daniel‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬-‭13‬ ‭MSG‬‬‬) First and foremost, Daniel resolves to remain faithful to God’s Law. He will not eat unclean food. At the same time, he recognizes his convictions put the chief eunuch in a tough position. If Daniel and his friends refuse to eat and start to suffer physically, the eunuch is going to be punished so Daniel comes up with a plan. Essentially, let us do it God’s way for ten days and then compare us with the rest of the group. If we don’t measure up, we’ll do it your way. It’s a brilliant approach. Daniel remains faithful to God. He is able to share with the eunuch the reason for his hope. And he treats the man with gentleness and respect. 

Fast forward a few years. Now Daniel has taken his place among the wise men of Babylon. A decree goes out that everyone is to be killed because no one can pass the king’s test. Once again, Daniel approaches the captain of the guard with gentleness and respect. He asks for an audience with the king. He trusts God to reveal the mystery in prayer. And when given his audience, he testifies to the greatness and power of God and the king humbles himself before him. 

A few more years pass. The king grows so insecure he decides to build a monument to himself and demand everyone fall down in worship before it. It’s the height of arrogance. Daniel doesn’t appear in this story but his colleagues do. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego follow his example. Confronted with a situation which would force them to break the second commandment, they refuse to bow down in worship and instead stand faithful. The king is furious but the men answer him with grace and truth. "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar, “Your threat means nothing to us. If you throw us in the fire, the God we serve can rescue us from your roaring furnace and anything else you might cook up, O king. But even if he doesn’t, it wouldn’t make a bit of difference, O king. We still wouldn’t serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up.” (Daniel‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬-‭18‬ ‭MSG‬‬) They are thrown into a furnace of fire. The king and his courtiers watch, waiting for them to be consumed. An incredible miracle happens as God Himself appears and delivers them from death. The result is again the humbling of the king. "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel and rescued his servants who trusted in him! They ignored the king’s orders and laid their bodies on the line rather than serve or worship any god but their own.” (Daniel‬ ‭3‬:‭28‬ ‭MSG‬‬‬)

More years pass. More dreams and visions. The king actually goes insane for a period of time. Mysterious handwriting appears on a wall. Nebuchadnezzar gives way to Belshazzar who gives way to Darius. Political power shifts and once again Daniel finds himself put to the test. Now an old man, he has lived his life with great integrity. His political opponents try to dig up dirt on him but can’t find any so they attack his faith. The core of who he is. They make it illegal to pray for thirty days. This is old hat for Daniel so he does what he always does. He continued his regular practice of prayer. When arrested, he humbly submitted to the king’s injustice, trusting God with his fate. When God delivered him from the lions, Daniel answered the king with gentleness and respect, giving him the reason for the hope he has lived his whole life by. "O king, live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm." (Daniel‬ ‭6:21-22‬)

Daniel is an amazing example of faith to us all. In the way he lives his life, he shows us how to live and engage our increasingly non-Christian world in a faithful way. We do not have to relinquish our faith in Christ to serve in politics or business or education or any other field for that matter. Holding onto Christ in our hearts, we do have to be prepared to give an answer for the hope we have in Him. People will ask. They may wonder why we do the things we do or refuse to act in ways that are dishonest or morally compromised. We may be attacked for our faith at times. Through it all, we are not to respond with violence or anger or fight for our “rights” but instead stand firm with gentleness and respect. We are not to resort to the underhanded ways of this world to accomplish the will of God. We must not use the ways of this world to achieve the purposes of God. Instead, we must let go and let God act as He chooses. Use us as He pleases. Place our lives and our future in His hands. 

Readings for tomorrow: Daniel 4-6