DANIEL

Today is Sunday!  Yeah!  I love Sundays.  I get to be with God's people and I'm so looking forward to that.  I am in Daniel on this beautiful summer day.  Here are a few thoughts:

 

1) IS IT REALLY WELL?  In Daniel 3:15, the king tells the three Hebrew children that when they hear the sound of the music and "ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not,…"   Here is the thought:  If we bow down to the idols of this world, the world says all will be well!  But how can things be well, when we are out of harmony with the God of the universe?  How can things be well with the world and at the same time be well with God?  Are not they at opposite ends of the spectrum of truth and righteousness?  It is sad to see that many Christians are compromising their lives thinking that it will be well, but it does not turn out that way.  How can it be well, when your children go astray?  How does it turn out well, when your marriage crumbles?  One foot in church and the other in the world does not make for things to turn out well.  Now, the passage proves one thing in chapter three of Daniel, and that is that if you take your stand for God, it will end up well!!

 

2) CHANGED THE KING'S WORD- I have read over and over the story of the three Hebrew children facing the furnace, but today I noticed that one phrase found in Dan. 3:28 "have changed the king's word".  It says that they "trusted in him (God), and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God."  Now I knew their stand for God, but that phrase "changed the king's word" spoke to me because all they did was to obey God and the outcome was that the word of the King was changed!  Then I thought, that is how we as Christians are to behave in our society... we are to obey God and let God "change the word of the king".  We can all do our part... not in protesting, but in obedience to God!  Oh that our lives and actions of obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ, could and would "change the king's word".  Praise God for this passage that reminds us that it is what God does through us, not what we do in our own strength!

3) CHANGED THE KING!  Dan. 4- Not only did God use the three Hebrew children to "change the king's word", but God was not through with Nebuchadnezzar.... God was going to change the king before it was over.  In chapter four of Daniel, we see that after he as lived as a wild animal, that God changed the king.  In verse 37, it says:  "Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven...."   Now we have not lived in the woods for seven years, but as God's children to begin with.... shouldn't we also praise and extol and honour the KING OF KINGS??  Yes, we should.  Let's do it today.... ok?

 

4) HE HOLDS OUR BREATH- In Daniel 5:23, Daniel is talking to Belshazzar.  He tells him that his pride has kept him from humbling himself as his father Nebuchadnezzar learned to do.  He lifted himself up and took of the vessels of the House of God and used them to toast to the gods of silver, gold, brass, iron, wood, and stone.  But, the true God, he has not glorified.  The verse says:  ".... and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:"   I love this phrase... it reminds us of the reality that God is in charge of our lives, and our very breath is in His hands.  Oh dear LORD, let my life reflect your glory today and every day.  Let my heart prosper in Your hand, only let it forever be in Your hand.  Thank you for reminding me once again, that You are the ONE who is in control of my life.... Guide me O thou great Jehovah!

5) THE WAY OF A LEADER- Daniel 7:28 says:  "..... As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me:  but I kept the matter in my heart."  Leadership is loneliness!  Oh yes, it is full of people every day and all throughout the day, but it is a day of shouldering the burdens of others.  It is keeping your own burdens in your heart.  We cast our burdens on the LORD alone.  He alone hears our cries, our fears, our hopes, our dreams, our pleas for His help, and mercy, and strength, and guidance.  So few are cut out to be leaders, because of this very fact.  They have the talent, the resources, but not the ability to "keep the matter in" their heart.  Pray for your leaders, and dear leaders..... bare your hearts open before the LORD.

 

Hope you have a wonderful day today!  Blessings on you my friend.  Pastor Mike Mutchler