Words like obedience, consistency, dedication, and discipline describe a soldier of the cross. They are the natural response of a soul in love with the Lord. Why are these attributes so important for the disciple of Christ? Compare them to essential occupations that civilization relies upon. For example, a military solider without discipline is ineffective; a teacher without dedication is fruitless; a doctor without consistency is dangerous, and a Christian without obedience is worthless. Daniel possessed all four of these attributes and despite the efforts of the other Persian governors and satraps to discredit him, he was found without fault.
You see Daniel, now in his eighties, was chosen to be one of three governors over the entire Persian Empire and most likely he was the only Jew in a leadership position. In fact, Daniel had so distinguished himself from the other governors “because an excellent spirit was in him” that King Darius was considering “setting him over the entire kingdom” (Daniel 6:3). Have you ever envied another person for their accomplishments or success? Have you ever been angry because of a coworker’s recognition? This is what happened when the other leaders found out about Daniel’s potential promotion. They opposed Daniel for many reasons, but primarily they were concerned about losing money when Daniel became their boss. These other governors and satraps were dishonest, greedy, and they knew their financial schemes would come to an end if Daniel was promoted.
So after they “could find no charge or fault” in Daniel they attacked him where it would hurt the most; they attacked his faith. Thus, after learning of the news that whoever prayed to another god other than the King of Persia would be thrown into the lion’s den, Daniel went “in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem…and prayed” (Daniel 6:10).
Many years before Daniel was forced to chose between his Jewish diet and the Babylonian diet and now as an old man he would also have to chose and without hesitation Daniel demonstrated tremendous courage in the face of extreme consequences. Daniel chose God, the One true God, and he prayed. He didn’t seek to conceal his prayer toward Jerusalem, he obediently sought the Lord “three times a day on his knees.” Daniel knew what could happen, he knew disobedience meant being “thrown into a lions’ den,” yet he was unmoved. Daniel wasn’t thinking about rebellion, he was focused on obedience. Daniel was seeking to “obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). In short, Daniel was eventually thrown into the lions’ den, yet the Lord closed the mouths of the lions and Daniel was completely unharmed.
Daniel chose death over dishonoring himself before Lord, Daniel was a man of courage and faith, he loved his Lord more than his own life, and ultimately Daniel only feared the Lord.
Do you love the Lord enough to choose Him over your own life?
You see Daniel, now in his eighties, was chosen to be one of three governors over the entire Persian Empire and most likely he was the only Jew in a leadership position. In fact, Daniel had so distinguished himself from the other governors “because an excellent spirit was in him” that King Darius was considering “setting him over the entire kingdom” (Daniel 6:3). Have you ever envied another person for their accomplishments or success? Have you ever been angry because of a coworker’s recognition? This is what happened when the other leaders found out about Daniel’s potential promotion. They opposed Daniel for many reasons, but primarily they were concerned about losing money when Daniel became their boss. These other governors and satraps were dishonest, greedy, and they knew their financial schemes would come to an end if Daniel was promoted.
So after they “could find no charge or fault” in Daniel they attacked him where it would hurt the most; they attacked his faith. Thus, after learning of the news that whoever prayed to another god other than the King of Persia would be thrown into the lion’s den, Daniel went “in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem…and prayed” (Daniel 6:10).
Many years before Daniel was forced to chose between his Jewish diet and the Babylonian diet and now as an old man he would also have to chose and without hesitation Daniel demonstrated tremendous courage in the face of extreme consequences. Daniel chose God, the One true God, and he prayed. He didn’t seek to conceal his prayer toward Jerusalem, he obediently sought the Lord “three times a day on his knees.” Daniel knew what could happen, he knew disobedience meant being “thrown into a lions’ den,” yet he was unmoved. Daniel wasn’t thinking about rebellion, he was focused on obedience. Daniel was seeking to “obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). In short, Daniel was eventually thrown into the lions’ den, yet the Lord closed the mouths of the lions and Daniel was completely unharmed.
Daniel chose death over dishonoring himself before Lord, Daniel was a man of courage and faith, he loved his Lord more than his own life, and ultimately Daniel only feared the Lord.
Do you love the Lord enough to choose Him over your own life?
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