Daniel 6:20,21
When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”Daniel answered, “May the king live forever!”
How do we respond to those who have hurt us or done us wrong? Daniel had been minding his own business, serving God faithfully, when those around him wanted him gone. So they tricked the king into putting him into the lions’ den, and this is how Daniel responds! Not with anger, resentment, or pride but humbly, joyfully, and respectfully. But how? How does Daniel go into the lions’ den a faithful follower of the Lord and come out the other side the same? How does he face such an injustice and not be changed by it?
The answer is in the One he serves and belongs to; the answer is Christ! Daniel was a man of humility, great faith, and deep reverence for the Lord. He was not one who was easily swayed into evil, nor did he take the easy way out. Daniel lived a life of reverence and obedience, with a deep hunger and thirst for righteousness. It was his surrendered life to the Lord that kept the bitterness and anger from taking root. Daniel’s heart belonged to the Lord, and the Lord kept that junk from taking root.
If we follow Daniel and truly surrender and seek the Lord with all of our heart, then He will weed our gardens and keep that junk from growing. There will be hard times, there will be times we want to respond in the flesh, but as we faithfully follow Christ, those things will fade away. He is our only hope, not just for eternal life but a holy life today. Each of us must make the choice before we hit the lions’ den. Will we go into the den in our sin/self/flesh, or will we walk in the power of the Spirit for the glory of God?
Psalm 51:10-12- Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
God bless! I love you all, but Christ’s love is transformational! Glory, honor, and praise now and forever to Papa God, Jesus Christ our King, and the Holy Spirit!
Daniel 6:23
The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him because he had trusted in his God.
When you get thrown into the lion's dens of life, do you have the faith to come out unscathed? When the world puts you in that pit, and it will, will your faith stand the test? It doesn’t just say that Daniel was spared but that “no wound was found on him,” and it's all because of his faith! His faith in Who God is, not where Daniel was!
As I was typing this, the Holy Spirit just revealed this to me, so I want to share it:
The king = the world
The den of lions = the sins and evils of this world that will try to devour and destroy you
We are Daniel and like him, only our faith, in Jesus Christ, can deliver us from this den of death!
The world will put us into situations that will try to steal, kill, and destroy us, but through our faith and reliance on Christ, we can and will overcome! Much like Daniel's faith lifted him from the den, Jesus Christ will lift us out of our pit if we believe, repent, and surrender to Him!
I love how Daniel's faith impacted the heart of the king who put him in the pit in the first place! Let me tell you, I have seen this play out in my own life! My mom's faith has inspired, edified, encouraged, and strengthened my own faith in the Lord! Watching her walk through trials, heartache, and pain and never waiver in Who Jesus Christ is in her life speaks right to my heart! Not only that, but watching God’s faithfulness to her because of her faith encourages me that He sees and is there for His children!
This verse and so many others prove that your faith can change not only your destiny but those around you! Both faith and fear are contagious. Which one will you share today?
2 Timothy 1:5 - I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
God bless! I love you all! Glory, Honor, and Praise forever to God Almighty, King Jesus, and the Holy Spirit!
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