I am sorry this is a day late – but the truth is, when I came rolling in (literally) from the Nigerian Spoonfest last night I was more stuffed than the Thanksgiving turkey!
I loved reading Daniel! What an example those four young men were. In the first chapter they refused to eat the extravagant food from the king’s table, choosing instead to eat vegetables and water. (They were not vegetarians – there simply weren’t any meats available that had been prepared according to the Jewish dietary laws.) They prospered under this diet (not because of the food – but because of God’s joy in their faithfulness to Him) and at the end of chapter one the king is asking for their advice. In chapter two, Daniel tells King Neb what he dreamed and then told him what the dream meant. At the end of Chapter 2, Daniel is governing from the royal palace; his friends are administrators throughout Babylon. Chapter 3 was a little hairy, but didn’t your heart just leap with the statement of faith made by these three men when King Neb was going to have them tossed into the furnace? "Your threat means nothing to us. If you throw us in the fire, the God we serve can rescue us from your roaring furnace and anything else you might cook up, O king. But even if he doesn't, it wouldn't make a bit of difference, O king. We still wouldn't serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up." In Chapter 4, after his own rough time, King Neb acknowledges and worships God.
The lesson that is shown to us is simple. These men were faithful to God, even when apparently none of the other Jewish captives were. Because they were faithful in the little things, when the time came, they were faithful in the really big things (their very lives). And as a result of their faithfulness, a soul was brought to the knowledge of God.
Our readings in Revelation had me on my knees, praying that Father help me to be faithful in the little things now – just in case I have to face those things later. Chapters 20 and 21 had me in tears of joy as I imagined the beauty and glory of my real home.
This week’s readings:
Sonday, Sept 17…….Ezek 42-44; Rev 22
Monday, Sept 18……Ezek 45-46; Lk 1
Tuesday, Sept 19……Ezek 47-48; Lk 2
Wed. Sept 20……… Dan 5-6; Psalm 130; Lk 3
Thurs, Sept 21………Dan 7-8; Psalm 137; Luke 4
Friday, Sept 22…… Dan 9-10; Psalm 123; Luke 5
Sat. Sept 23………Dan 11-12; Lk 6