Stand for Truth

I am thoroughly enjoying reading through Daniel right now. It comes on the heel of Ezekiel which I had a hard time with this time around, but as I turned the page to Daniel God so encouraged my heart with his plight. I know the stories of Daniel are taught over and over and so we can approach it with a dull “I already know this” attitude. But, God gave me a newness as I have been reading, a refreshing as He opened my eyes to the realness of the emotions Daniel would have felt as he stood steadfast for His God.
As he and his pals headed to the furnace he said: even if God doesn’t save us I won’t turn away. It also says that the king had the furnace heated to 7 times it’s normal heat, it was so hot that the soldiers leading them to the fire were killed. The king was in awe because 4 men could be seen in the fire (what kind of furnace must this have been for them to be able to see inside and contain that kind of heat?). They went in fully clothed, turbans and layers and all. When they came out there was nothing singed nor did they smell of smoke. They didn’t even smell like smoke!!! How cool and awesome is our God?!
I have only read the 1st 6 chapters and already Daniel has been highly sought by 3 kings. Not only was Daniel highly sought after, but because of his steadfast devotion, these kings saw the real and living God. These pagan kings praised, honored and glorified God. And, not because Daniel’s life was easy and made of comfort, but because no matter what he faced, he stood for God.
He had real fear. He had to interpret a death sentence to one of the kings. It says that he was stunned when he saw what he had to interpret; I’m thinking I’d have been shaking in my boots. But he gave the king the interpretation and he was given a position of honor and power and the king fell dead.
The next king was tricked via his ego and made an edict to worship the king or die. Well Daniel continued to fall to his knees daily to his Lord and was ratted out. The king could not deny his edict and threw Daniel in the lions den and sealed it with signet rings so there would be no doubt that he was properly locked up. That king was so twisted up that he fasted and didn’t sleep a wink but also didn’t order up entertainment so that he could ignore his feelings. He raced out at dawn to see Daniel. Then the king issued a decree that everyone must tremble in fear before the God of Daniel.
I am just blown away by how God was magnified! A faithful man in the deep sea of sin and depravity, a pagan nation ripe with idolatry, witchcraft, mediums and sex for hire made a massive difference in 3 generations of kings and their kingdoms. A faithful man. More and more I have this deep-seated feeling like the church will soon be required to stop straddling the fence. The time is coming when we must pick a side and stop warming seats. Will we be found like Daniel? Oh, how I want to be found like Daniel. The one matters. If you host a small group and only one shows up, it matters. If you have lunch with one and change the protectory of their life it matters. Jesus left the 99 to find the one lost sheep. One matters. Who can you impact today? You don’t have to be famous or have a huge following, it matters that you are faithful where God has you right now.
#titustwojourney #journeyingtogether #journeywithme #Daniel #faithful #standforTruth