Coming Home to Freedom: Being People of Integrity

Devotional Reading: Daniel 6:1-28

 When we think of the story of Daniel and the Lion's Den images of a children's story often come to mind.  But if you sit and read the full text of Daniel 6 you'll discover there is much more to this story than a children's Vacation Bible School lesson.  In fact, it is a story that has been played out over and over throughout history: a group of people wanting to take down a person of authority regardless of the person's integrity or good character.  Daniel was such a man.


Daniel lived a live that was above reproach.  His integrity and skill in the political realm allowed him to govern through multiple ruling powers. In this story, Daniel is basically acting as Vice-President to King Darius. His co-presidents and the governors do not like the way he has gained the king's favor and so they decide they are going to find a way to get him out of his place of power.  The problem is that Daniel is a man of integrity and so no fault can be found in him. So, instead they go after his strength - his commitment to God. The king is played the fool and upon the advice of the other vice-presidents issues a decree that puts Daniel in a bind.  If Daniel prays he will be breaking a law.  Daniel prays regardless.

Do you have the integrity to be like Daniel?  Are you willing to stand up for God even if it means prison? Do you talk to God daily? Multiple times in a day?  Do you believe God can save you from your own lion's den?

God, help us to see you in our own times of persecution and let us remember that you are worthy of our devotion. In Jesus name, Amen.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Three Little Pigs - A Spiritual Allegory

Image
Did you ever read or hear the story about the three little pigs?  They each built a house using different construction material.  The first built his house of straw. The second of wood. The third of brick.  A wolf comes along and asks to enter each home with each pig responding that he won't let the wolf in.  So the wolf decides to blow each house down and is successful with the first two, but not the third. In 1 Corinthians 3 we read: 10 " By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11  For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12  If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13  their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work....
Read more

Coming Home to Freedom: Why do you give?

Image
Devotional Reading: 1 Corinthians 16:1-4 Recently a child asked, "Why do they ask for money at church?"  Being a pastor I gave a very lengthy response.  "Well, everything belongs to God, so we give back to God to show our appreciation. God gives us talents and gifts and so we use some of those talents to serve God. God gives us time, so we use some of our time to worship God.  God gives us money, so we give a portion back to God." Of course, the child was not satisfied and responded back "God didn't invent money." Why do we give money at church? Do you know what your answer to that question is? I give because I was taught to give.  My parents gave me a ten dollar allowance and it was routine to take one dollar and put it in the offering plate.  I give because I believe it is what God asks me to do.  It is an act of faithful obedience.  I give because it keeps my priorities in perspective.  If I have open hands with my income than I don't p...
Read more

Forgiveness: Do Not Hold a Grudge

Image
One way to hear God speak is to listen to themes that appear in your life.   I’ve heard a very loud theme this week that I believe I am to share with you as a congregation. On Tuesday, a church member asked me about the part of the New Testament prayer that reads, “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”   This church member was concerned about the “as” part of this prayer and the realization that we generally are not as good at forgiveness as God is. Then yesterday, a different church member brought up this same statement from the Lord’s Prayer and shared how every Sunday when we pray the same person’s name comes to this individual’s mind. Then this morning I went into our new prayer room at Kingston Hill and opened up to today’s date in the Upper Room devotional.   It read as following: “No Records Read Matthew 6:9-13 ‘[Love] keeps no record of wrongs.’ – 1 Corinthians 13:5 (NIV) When I was a child my mom preferred t...
Read more