Today's Reading - Daniel 2

 

Able to Reveal This Mystery

In today’s passage, we see Nebuchadnezzar, the mighty king of Babylon, so awestruck by what he has witnessed in Daniel’s life, that he falls on his face and declares that Daniel’s God is the One and Only true God: “The God of gods.” He is the One who made you able to do this.

The evidence of God’s reality in Daniel’s life was so strong that the king was compelled to acknowledge that reality. Daniel wasn’t just a man who talked about God and His mighty working power. He was so in touch with the presence of God that the evidence of that presence was evident to all around him (including the king). The evidence that overwhelmed Nebuchadnezzar was Daniel’s uncanny and supernatural ability to interpret and explain dreams.   

The question for you is… are you so in touch with the presence of God that the evidence of that presence is evident to the people around you? Most likely, you don’t have the gift of dream interpretation as Daniel did, but your changed life should still display the mighty working of God in some way to those around you. Do others just hear about God from you, but don’t see any real evidence of His reality? Or is your transformed-life a testimony that Jesus lives and is the One and Only true God: “The God of gods.”?

When people look at you, they should see evidence of a life that has been rescued from sin and is being transformed by the Holy Spirit!  Do they see joy where there was once sorrow? Do they see kindness where there was once harshness? Do they see growing victory over sin where there was once bondage? Do they see love where there was once hate? Do they see peace where there was once anxiety and worry? Do they see wholesome words where there was once profanity? Are they so befuddled by these visible changes in your life that they can’t explain it any other way than to acknowledge that Jesus is real and is making real changes in your life.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). When people see this fruit in your life, they, like the king, will be compelled to declare that your God is the One and Only true God.

Today's Reading - Daniel 1

 

Purposed in His Heart

The word “resolved” in today’s verse comes from a Hebrew word which means, “to set firmly in place.” In the King James version, this word is translated “purposed in his heart.” In this context, it means that Daniel made an INTENTIONAL decision to be a man of conviction. He set this decision firmly in place within the core of his being.

Daniel took to heart the command of God in Deuteronomy 6:18, “You shall do that which is right and good in the sight of the LORD.”  He chose not to follow that which was right to people, or the culture in which he lived, but rather to stay true to God’s will for his life. Even if this meant that he would face ridicule, rejection, pain, and/or punishment for his choices.

Have you purposed in your heart not to defile yourself? Have you made a firm conviction within the depths of your being to stay true to God’s will for your life and to always do that which is right and good in the sight of the Lord. Even when those around you don't agree? To do so may cost you dearly in this present life, but staying true to God will bring immense eternal rewards in His kingdom.

Daniel was a man of conviction— he stood strong, feet planted firmly within God’s will for his life and within His commands and statutes. Through his conviction, Daniel strove do what was good and right per God’s standards, which always represent true goodness.

 Be like Daniel.