"And he said to me, 'O Daniel, man greatly beloved,...Do no fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words.'" (Daniel 10:11, 12)
Notice some oft ignored characteristics of a Believer, "set your heart to understand," and, "to humble yourself before your God." Could we say that, "[his] words were heard," because his "heart-set?"
At the beginning of each quarter I am in the Book of Daniel. One thing which impresses me about Daniel is that he just was. He didn't "go to church;" he didn't preach, pass out tracks, conduct missions conferences, seminars. These can all be good, but not the end all of Kingdom living. The outstanding characteristic of Daniel was in his personhood. His presence in the Babylonian and Media-Persian super powers had national and international significance. Daniel is a classic "poster child" for "favor." Most people talk of favor in a selfish manner, i.e., what God does for them and theirs. People in Scripture who manifested the favor of God were people for others, for nations, for, "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven."
Daniel was not passive, though, and neither were his three friends They daily walked with our Lord Jesus Christ (remember the fourth man in the fiery furnace and the One Who came to Daniel in the den of lions?). Daniel's "ministry" was not primarily talking, nor seminars, nor conferences. His impact came as a result of his daily "job," if you will, you know, sort of like what you and I are supposed to be and do as Followers of Jesus Christ.
I encourage you to study the Book of Daniel, not for the prophecies this time, but to take notice of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ in our day to day activities, relationship with others, our personal relationship with the Lord God. Daniel's life is a great example how to conduct ourselves in our daily lives. You and I may not be counselors to presidents or to leaders of nations, but we are salt and light. I pray that you and I can have the same thing said of us as was said of Daniel, "We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God."
Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for opening my eyes-------------- again. Amen.
*********************
Great article by Carolyn Glick on the current Mid East situation: www.jerusalemberlinwashington.blogspot.com
Notice some oft ignored characteristics of a Believer, "set your heart to understand," and, "to humble yourself before your God." Could we say that, "[his] words were heard," because his "heart-set?"
At the beginning of each quarter I am in the Book of Daniel. One thing which impresses me about Daniel is that he just was. He didn't "go to church;" he didn't preach, pass out tracks, conduct missions conferences, seminars. These can all be good, but not the end all of Kingdom living. The outstanding characteristic of Daniel was in his personhood. His presence in the Babylonian and Media-Persian super powers had national and international significance. Daniel is a classic "poster child" for "favor." Most people talk of favor in a selfish manner, i.e., what God does for them and theirs. People in Scripture who manifested the favor of God were people for others, for nations, for, "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven."
Daniel was not passive, though, and neither were his three friends They daily walked with our Lord Jesus Christ (remember the fourth man in the fiery furnace and the One Who came to Daniel in the den of lions?). Daniel's "ministry" was not primarily talking, nor seminars, nor conferences. His impact came as a result of his daily "job," if you will, you know, sort of like what you and I are supposed to be and do as Followers of Jesus Christ.
I encourage you to study the Book of Daniel, not for the prophecies this time, but to take notice of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ in our day to day activities, relationship with others, our personal relationship with the Lord God. Daniel's life is a great example how to conduct ourselves in our daily lives. You and I may not be counselors to presidents or to leaders of nations, but we are salt and light. I pray that you and I can have the same thing said of us as was said of Daniel, "We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God."
Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for opening my eyes-------------- again. Amen.
*********************
Great article by Carolyn Glick on the current Mid East situation: www.jerusalemberlinwashington.blogspot.com
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
