“Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps (a ruler in the province of ancient Persia) because an excellent spirit WAS IN HIM; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm. So, the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but THEY COULD FIND NO CHARGE OR FAULT, because Daniel was FAITHFUL; nor was there any error or fault found in him. Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge (a ground of accusation) against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning THE LAW OF HIS GOD.” (Daniel 6:3-5)
Many churchgoers put on a good front when they know people are watching, but the rest of the time they let down their standards. Peter tells us, “…with minds that are alert and FULLY SOBER (nēphō: be restrained), set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at His coming. As obedient children, do not CONFORM to the evil desires you had when YOU LIVED IN IGNORANCE (before salvation) But just as He who called you is holy, so BE HOLY (hagios: to be different, and unlike the rest) IN ALL YOU DO; for it is written: “BE HOLY, BECAUSE I AM HOLY.“ (1 Peter 1:13-16)
Can we really be like Jesus? “Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but He has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that WE WILL BE LIKE HIM, for we will see Him as He really is.” (1 John 3:2) Lord please help us to live faithfully as Daniel so no error or fault will be found in us!
So, these leaders said this to the king, “King Darius, live forever! All the governors of the kingdom, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever PETITIONS ANY GOD or man for thirty days, EXCEPT YOU, O KING, shall be CAST INTO THE DEN OF LIONS.” (Daniel 6:6-7) They did this because they knew Daniel opened his window and prayed every day.
The next day they caught Daniel praying to God and brought him before King Darius, “So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and CAST HIM into the den of lions. But the king SPOKE, TO DANIEL, “YOUR GOD, whom you serve continually, He WILL DELIVER YOU.” (Daniel 6:16) The next morning Darius checked on Daniel, he let the king know he had a WARM NIGHT’S SLEEP with all the lion fur around him. “…the king gave the command, and they brought those men who had ACCUSED DANIEL, and they CAST THEM INTO THE DEN OF LIONS—them, their children, and their wives; and the lions OVERPOWERED THEM, and broke all their bones in pieces before they ever came to the bottom of the den.” (Daniel 6:24)
BE LIKE JESUS, AND BE PROTECTED IN ANY DANGEROUS SITUATION…
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham