Faithful – Famous
There is a certain order of life. For example when babies are born, they are pretty much helpless. They don’t have to get and go to the bathroom. They don’t have to get up and go eat. Everything is pretty much done for them. They are taught to behave a certain way as they grow. Babies cry out when they are hungry or when they have soiled their diapers. They are totally dependent on someone else for their care. When I first came to know the Lord, I was pretty helpless as a Christ follower. I’m learning that the Lord wants me to learn to be dependent upon Him. He wants me to consult with Him on everything.
One of my favorite Bible stories as a kid was Daniel and the Lions Den. I was reminded this morning that this story was easy to follow. The leaders who were jealous of Daniel tried to legislate his faith. They made it a law to pray ONLY to King Darius’ gods for 30 days. Check out Daniels first priority….
10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened towards Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. (Daniel 6:10-11 NIV)
I believe this prayer time was something Daniel practiced daily. He may have gone home early that day anticipating the show down that was coming. His faith was being attacked and tested. He passed the test with the One Who mattered. He had violated the king’s law so He was punished. The king had him punished according to the law and Daniel was thrown into the Lions Den. The king was so stressed because He leaned on Daniels’ wisdom often. Check this out…
19 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20 When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, ‘Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?’
21 Daniel answered, ‘May the king live forever! 22 My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.’ (Daniel 6:19-21 NIV)
The king was so excited to hear that Daniel survived the Lions Den. He was also frustrated that Daniel’s jealous counterparts had duped him, so he had them and their entire families thrown into the den. The king made the Lord famous throughout the land for what He had done for Daniel. Check this out….
25 Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth:
‘May you prosper greatly!
26 ‘I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.
‘For he is the living God
and he endures for ever;
his kingdom will not be destroyed,
his dominion will never end.
27 He rescues and he saves;
he performs signs and wonders
in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel
from the power of the lions.’ (Daniel 6:25-27 NIV)
As I walk through the Word of God, I see that the first priority for me is to seek God with all my heart. I want to trust Him with ever facet of my life. I don’t seek to be famous, but I want to make Him famous. He has saved me. He has sustained me. He is Powerful. He is Gentle. He is Patient and Understanding. I want to make the Lord famous for Who He is and all that He’s done for me!!
Pressing On!
Dwayne