Bible League: Living His Word Then the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn't find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy.Daniel was a remarkable man of God. He was one of the Jews of noble birth who had been sent to Babylon with all the other exiles from Judah after the fall of Jerusalem. Despite dwelling in the midst of an evil pagan empire, Daniel prospered and rose up the ranks of the Babylonian administration under King Nebuchadnezzar. His story is a message of hope to any true believer caught up in a situation controlled by non-believers. The first thing to be learned from Daniel's story is that it's possible for a believer to flourish in the midst of a situation controlled by non-believers. Our verse for today tells us that the reason for Daniel's rise up the ranks was that "He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy." These are qualities that serve a person well in any situation and they served Daniel well despite the pagan religious direction of the Babylonian government. Secondly, it's possible for a believer to encounter enemies in a situation controlled by nonbelievers. In Daniel's case, the other administrators plotted his downfall for no apparent reason other than that someone of a different faith was about to be promoted above them (Daniel 6:3). The very qualities that allow us to be promoted force an enemy to look elsewhere at our faith as a reason to criticize and condemn us. Finally, we can learn from Daniel's story that it's possible for a believer to overcome the opposition of enemies in a situation controlled by non-believers. God delivered Daniel from the hands of his enemies and they suffered the fate they had plotted for him (Daniel 6:24). The faith that is used as an excuse to destroy us is the very thing that inspires God to rise up and save us from the hand of our enemies. You may be in a Babylonian situation today. However, you are not alone. Keep being faithful, responsible, and trustworthy. God can help you to flourish and to overcome despite the jealousy of the enemies that surround you. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingPsalm 13-16 Psalm 13 -- How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 14 -- The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 15 -- David's Psalm of Zion NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 16 -- Preserve me, God, for in you do I take refuge. NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Acts 18 Acts 18 -- Paul in Corinth; Third Missionary Journey begins NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Then he said to them, “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me also welcomes my Father who sent me. Whoever is the least among you is the greatest.”Insight Our care for others is a measure of our greatness. How much concern do you show to others? This is a vital question that can accurately measure your greatness in God's eyes. Challenge How have you expressed your care for others lately, especially the helpless, the needy, the poor—those who can't return your love and concern? Your honest answer to that question will give you a good idea of your real greatness. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Exodus 20:25 If thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.God's altar was to be built of unhewn stones, that no trace of human skill or labor might be seen upon it. Human wisdom delights to trim and arrange the doctrines of the cross into a system more artificial and more congenial with the depraved tastes of fallen nature; instead, however, of improving the gospel carnal wisdom pollutes it, until it becomes another gospel, and not the truth of God at all. All alterations and amendments of the Lord's own Word are defilements and pollutions. The proud heart of man is very anxious to have a hand in the justification of the soul before God; preparations for Christ are dreamed of, humblings and repentings are trusted in, good works are cried up, natural ability is much vaunted, and by all means the attempt is made to lift up human tools upon the divine altar. It were well if sinners would remember that so far from perfecting the Saviour's work, their carnal confidences only pollute and dishonor it. The Lord alone must be exalted in the work of atonement, and not a single mark of man's chisel or hammer will be endured. There is an inherent blasphemy in seeking to add to what Christ Jesus in His dying moments declared to be finished, or to improve that in which the Lord Jehovah finds perfect satisfaction. Trembling sinner, away with thy tools, and fall upon thy knees in humble supplication; and accept the Lord Jesus to be the altar of thine atonement, and rest in him alone. Many professors may take warning from this morning's text as to the doctrines which they believe. There is among Christians far too much inclination to square and reconcile the truths of revelation; this is a form of irreverence and unbelief, let us strive against it, and receive truth as we find it; rejoicing that the doctrines of the Word are unhewn stones, and so are all the more fit to build an altar for the Lord. Daily Light on the Daily Path Matthew 12:34 "You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Proverbs 4:23 Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life. Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. Psalm 37:30,31 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, And his tongue speaks justice. • The law of his God is in his heart; His steps do not slip. Ephesians 4:29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Acts 4:20 for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard." Psalm 116:10 I believed when I said, "I am greatly afflicted." Mark 10:32 They were on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking on ahead of them; and they were amazed, and those who followed were fearful. And again He took the twelve aside and began to tell them what was going to happen to Him, Romans 10:10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 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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