Reading: Daniel 6
Sing with me, “Daniel spent the night with the lions – ROAR – but the lions didn't even attack. Because the Lord sent the angel down, the Lord sent the angel down to shut every lions mouth tight. MMMM.” My children love to sing this song. Daniel in the lions den – what a favorite Bible story for many of us. Did you know that Daniel was 80 years old when he had his sleep over with the lions? When I came across this in my studies, it was a bit surprising. I had always envisioned Daniel as a young man when this event happened in his life. Whether we envision Daniel as being young or old, there are many great lessons from this story. Lessons beyond the miracle of our Lord sending an angel to shut the mouth of the lions. One that has proven more valuable in my life lately is the godly way Daniel lived his life.How did Daniel end up hanging out with the lions? In chapter 6 of Daniel, we find this well known story and the answer to the question. King Darius divided the kingdom into 120 provinces in which he put a high officer ruling over each. Daniel and two other administrators were put in charge over the high officers. Darius noticed Daniel's great abilities and was making plans to place him over the entire empire. The other administrators did not want this to happen. They began to plot against him and searched everywhere in Daniel's life to find something they could use against him. They couldn't find anything. Daniel was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy in everything. So they had to find a way to use his religion. Ultimately, Daniel ended up in the lions den and experienced a great deliverance from God. Daniel's great dedication to God is what cultivated these characteristics in his life. Characteristics that would shine in his daily tasks to the king.
What does it take to be found faithful, responsible and trustworthy? These characteristics begin with our salvation and remembering the characteristics of the One in Whom we trust. We must remember that God is faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy. If we are to reflect Him into this world, than we must be also. In remembering God's character, our actions should reflect His ways – even if they are contrary to the ways of the world. Our lives are to be marked by submission to our Lord. Throughout Scripture we are told about the foolishness of depending solely on our circumstances and other people. We must not let our circumstances create who we are, instead we must let Jesus create us anew with characteristics that are faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy. We all need daily spiritual nourishment directly from God’s Word if we are to obtain this godly lifestyle. Through study and application we will learn how to replace human thinking with the Lord’s wisdom, draw on His strength, and make Him the center and substance of our life.
What will others find when they investigate your life? Will they find you to be faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy? Will they find God in the center? If not, then start today making steps to allow Jesus to change you. Ask Him to reveal to you any barriers that are standing in the way of you achieving this goal. Daily stay in His Word – drawing wisdom and strength. Make God the center of your life and you will see that He will create you anew. This is His desire and it should be ours also. When we live our lives as Daniel did his, we too will experience great works and miracles of God – miracles great and small.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me not to allow the circumstances of this world to create the character of who I am. Instead let me place You in the center of my life so that when others investigate my life they will see only the characteristics that You can display. Let me draw my strength from You and purposefully seek Your wisdom. It is in Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.
Psalm of Meditation
Psalm 18:1-3; 20-26
“I love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call to the Lord, Who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies. The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands He has rewarded me. . . For I have kept the ways of the Lord; I have not done evil by turning from my God. All His laws are before me; I have not turned away from His decrees. I have been blameless before Him and have kept myself from sin. The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in His sight. To the faithful You show Yourself faithful, to the blameless You show Yourself blameless, to the pure You show Yourself pure, but to the crooked You show Yourself shrewd. You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty. You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. “
“I love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call to the Lord, Who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies. The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands He has rewarded me. . . For I have kept the ways of the Lord; I have not done evil by turning from my God. All His laws are before me; I have not turned away from His decrees. I have been blameless before Him and have kept myself from sin. The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in His sight. To the faithful You show Yourself faithful, to the blameless You show Yourself blameless, to the pure You show Yourself pure, but to the crooked You show Yourself shrewd. You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty. You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. “
