DANIEL

Today is Friday.  I just finished Thursday's blog, and now for today's.  I am still reading in Daniel, and here is the thoughts I put a mark by in the margin of my Bible as I read:

1) AN EXCELLENT SPIRIT- Two times we will see this said of Daniel.  In each case, Daniel is an older man.  We see it in Daniel 5:12, and in Daniel 6:3.  As we grow older, it seems harder to keep an excellent spirit about us.  We can get where we grip, we complain, we judge, we criticize, we critique, we can become a sour crabby old person!! Well, that is not what I want to be!  I want an excellent spirit like Daniel who was way up in age at this time and yet had a wonderful spirit to be around.  He was not a complainer.  He served when asked, and didn't resent not being called to service earlier.  Wow!  Let us learn from Daniel!

2) CONSEQUENCES- There are always consequences for our actions, but they often reach so much farther than we ever imagined. (if we imagined consequences at all!)  In Daniel six, we have some presidents and princes trying to get rid of Daniel.  So these men decided that His obedience to his God was the only way to trip him up.  Through a law they had enacted, Daniel was found to be praying to His God and not to the king.  He was thrown into the lion's den.  Darius, king of Persia, fasted and prayed all night for Daniel's safety in the lion's den, and God heard Daniel's and Darius' prayer.  But, what about the men who had Daniel put in the den?  Consequences!  In Daniel 6:24  "And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den."  Now these men plotted against Daniel, but notice that it was more than just them that went into the Lion's den... their children, and their wives!  Woe!  Stiff consequences.  You see, consequences are always stiffer than you can imagine.  That is why a wise man studies a mater and determines the cost both ways before he makes a move.  So often we think that our lives are our own and things only affect us... but that is NOT the case.  It affects our loved ones, and there are consequences!  Let us never forget this important lesson.

3) HELP FROM HEAVEN- In Daniel 10, we see that Michael (an angel) was sent to help Gabriel (an angel) to fight a battle, and then it is said of him: vs. 21 "and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince."  God always has help that He sends us from Heaven.  It might not be an angel, but God can use anything He wants to help His children.... and He will!!  God will help us!!  I love what Nehemiah said:  "The God of heaven, He will help us!"  I love what Isaiah says:  "For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying:  fear not, I will help thee."  Wow oh wow!  Don't we have a wonderful God to help us from Heaven!  Keep this in your thoughts as well.

Hope you have a blessed day!  Pastor Mike Mutchler

EZEKIEL & DANIEL

Today is Friday.  Yesterday was Thanksgiving and a very relaxing day around our home.  Our married children were at their inlaws and we will have all of our children and grandchildren over on Saturday.  That will be our time of Thanksgiving.  We are looking forward to that.  I did not get out a blog yesterday and so I want to share two today.  Here is from the last chapters in Ezekiel and the first five in Daniel:

1) THE LORD IS THERE.  Ezekiel 48:35 ends with that phrase.  It is the last four words in the book of Ezekiel.  After all of the judgment that comes out of the book of Ezekiel, we see it ends up with God once again embracing His beloved city, Jerusalem, and calling it:  "The LORD is there." 

2) THE BEST-THE BEST OF THE BEST-THE BEST OF THE REST- All of these statements apply to Daniel.  In Daniel 1:3-4  "And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes;  4  Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans."  These were the best children that Israel had to offer.  Daniel and his three friends were among them.  They were of the King's children or children of princes.  Royalty!  They were the best!  Then we see that after Daniel was kept on his diet which he humbly requested, that when they were finally tested, we find this:  Daniel 1:15  "And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat."  Now they were the best of the best.  The best four boys of the best of the kingdom.  But, God was not through with them.  We also see:  Daniel 1:17  "As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams." and... Daniel 1:20  "And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm."  Now, they are not just the best of the best of the children of Israel, but now, they are the best of the rest of the kingdom!  Wiser than all of the wise men!  My how God blessed!!  God can still grant you favor too!

3) PERSECUTED THEN PROMOTED- In Daniel 3 we see that the three friends of Daniel were thrown into the fiery furnace, and then after they were pulled out with no harm, it says:  Daniel 3:30 "Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, in the province of Babylon."  So they were promoted!  Often times persecution can proceed promotion.  In fact in every case, testing proceeds promotion.  It doesn't come easy, but once God tests us and we stand tall for Him, He promotes us!  Let this be a lesson for us to learn:  Your present persecution and trials is only preparation for your soon promotion!

Well, have a blessed day!  Pastor Mike Mutchler