Bible League: Living His Word Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel.Daniel is a good example from the Bible of what the favor of God can accomplish. Daniel was one of the young men of Judah's royal family and other noble families who had been brought to Babylon as captives by Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. The Book of Daniel tells us that Daniel was "highly esteemed" by God (Daniel 10:19). Despite the fact that he lived in the midst of an evil pagan empire, and despite the fact that he maintained his spiritual integrity in that context, Daniel was given favor with the authorities of the realm and moved up the ranks as a result. The favor of God can be described as the esteem and approval of God that leads to blessings of one kind or another. In Daniel's case, the favor of God led to favor with the official. Favor, however, can be manifested in many ways. For Mary, it meant being selected as the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:28-33). For Moses, it meant receiving God's continuing presence and guidance for leading the people of Israel (Exodus 33:12-17. For Noah, it meant being saved from the Great Flood (Genesis 6:8). How does one get the favor of God? Isaiah 66:2 quotes God as saying, "These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word." God shows favor to those who seek His favor by loving Him, respecting Him, honoring Him, and taking delight in His Word. This does not mean one must be perfect. None of the people of the Bible who are recorded as receiving God's favor were perfect. It does mean, however, that one must have a heart for God. II Chronicles 16:9 says that "the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him." One can also receive the favor of God simply by asking for it. Psalm 119 says, "I entreat your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise (Psalm 119:58 ESV). Today, as you live the life God has given you, why not ask Him for favor, like Jesus had, "with God and man" (Luke 2:52). Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingNumbers 28, 29 Numbers 28 -- Daily, Sabbath and Monthly Offerings; Passover and Feast of Weeks NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Numbers 29 -- Offerings of the Seventh Month NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Mark 9:1-29 Mark 9 -- Jesus is Transfigured, Heals a Boy with an Evil Spirit; Who Is the Greatest; Do Not Cause to Sin NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion He will rescue the poor when they cry to him;he will help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them. He feels pity for the weak and the needy, and he will rescue them. He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their lives are precious to him. Insight God cares for the needy, the afflicted, and the weak because they are precious to him. If God feels so strongly about these needy ones and loves them so deeply, how can we ignore their plight? Challenge Examine what you are doing to reach out with God's love. Are you ignoring their plight or are you meeting their needs? Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Ephesians 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.The apostle Paul felt it a great privilege to be allowed to preach the gospel. He did not look upon his calling as a drudgery, but he entered upon it with intense delight. Yet while Paul was thus thankful for his office, his success in it greatly humbled him. The fuller a vessel becomes, the deeper it sinks in the water. Idlers may indulge a fond conceit of their abilities, because they are untried; but the earnest worker soon learns his own weakness. If you seek humility, try hard work; if you would know your nothingness, attempt some great thing for Jesus. If you would feel how utterly powerless you are apart from the living God, attempt especially the great work of proclaiming the unsearchable riches of Christ, and you will know, as you never knew before, what a weak unworthy thing you are. Although the apostle thus knew and confessed his weakness, he was never perplexed as to the subject of his ministry. From his first sermon to his last, Paul preached Christ, and nothing but Christ. He lifted up the cross, and extolled the Son of God who bled thereon. Follow his example in all your personal efforts to spread the glad tidings of salvation, and let "Christ and him crucified" be your ever recurring theme. The Christian should be like those lovely spring flowers which, when the sun is shining, open their golden cups, as if saying, "Fill us with thy beams!" but when the sun is hidden behind a cloud, they close their cups and droop their heads. So should the Christian feel the sweet influence of Jesus; Jesus must be his sun, and he must be the flower which yields itself to the Sun of Righteousness. Oh! to speak of Christ alone, this is the subject which is both "seed for the sower, and bread for the eater." This is the live coal for the lip of the speaker, and the master-key to the heart of the hearer. Daily Light on the Daily Path Hebrews 4:9 So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.Job 3:17,18 "There the wicked cease from raging, And there the weary are at rest. • "The prisoners are at ease together; They do not hear the voice of the taskmaster. Revelation 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, "Write, 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!'" "Yes," says the Spirit, "so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them." John 11:11,13 This He said, and after that He said to them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, so that I may awaken him out of sleep." • Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking of literal sleep. 2 Corinthians 5:4 For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life. Romans 8:23-25 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. • For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? • But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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