Daniel - Committed to Worship

Daniel is one of my favorite characters in God's Word and his commitments influence me to keep him at the top of my list of the most admired men in the Bible.  We know he was committed to taking care of his physical body because of his refusal to eat the king's delicacies - rich as they were.  Even more impressive is his commitment to worship the One True God at all cost.

In Daniel 6:3 it states that "Daniel so distinguished himself . . . . by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom." But, as men/women will do, his co-workers became jealous and determined to bring him down.  However, this task was going to be no small job.  "They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent." (Daniel 6:4b)  These men determined that they would have to devise a plan that had something to do with the law of his God if they wanted to bring him down.

These co-workers flattered the king and urged him to sign into law a decree that stated if anyone prayed to someone other than the king for 30 days, they would be placed in the lion's den.  How did Daniel respond to the decree?  Daniel 6:10b states, "Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before."

Daniel was committed to worship even if it meant facing a lion's den.  How important is worship to us?  Are we willing to go to the "lion's den" if we are caught worshiping God?  God is the One True God - the same God Daniel worshiped - the only God who is worthy of our worship and praise.  How committed are we to caring for our physical bodies and how committed are we to worshiping God no matter the cost?

Pleasant Places

I think Psalm 16:6 will have to become one of my memory verses this year because it keeps coming to mind.  "The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance." 

Am I saying that everything is going beautifully in my life right now?  Absolutely not!  But, I have an overwhelming feeling that God has blessed me far more than I deserve.  Everything in my life right now is not pleasant, but overall, my life is still in pleasant places.  It is because of God's abiding presence and His love.  No matter what happens, He is with me and has given me what I need to face all circumstances.  "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness. . . . ." (2 Peter 1:3)  Does that mean I don't get sad, grieve and cry?  Of course not!

When the news came that our son and his wife will be getting a divorce after 18 years of marriage and two teenage sons, it was and is devastating.  It hurts.  It's not pleasant.  The truth that God hates divorce came immediately to mind. But He is All-Sufficient and will see us all through the difficulties that lie ahead. 

My Prayer - well it's just too personal so I will share the end of my prayer:  "Lord, whatever you want to teach me, help me get it.  Quick! Lord."