Have you ever made a commitment to do something by a certain deadline and had no idea how to do it? How did it turn out? If you're like most, it probably turned out better than you expected. You created the need for the information in faith and then set out to achieve your objective.
We have been looking at Daniel the last few weeks and will do so for a few weeks more. Daniel made a similar commitment to do something he didn't know how he would do, and it saved lives and changed the course of history. Let's look at what he did and see what you and I can learn from what I am calling Purpose Faith.
WHO CARES?
When Israel was conquered by Babylon, the conquerors relocated Daniel and his friends to Babylon to assimilate them into their culture.They changed Daniel's name, forced him learn a new language and culture and made him a eunuch! You can say that Daniel went through a major life transition.
Then the king had his famous dream that troubled him. He wanted his wise men to interpret the dream, with one catch: The king refused to tell them the dream. He wanted them to tell him the dream and its meaning. That seems pretty unreasonable to me. When they could not, the king threatened to kill them all.
When Daniel heard about the predicament the king had created, he could have said, "Who cares? I didn't want to be in this heathen place anyway. Let them all die!" Yet that was not his heart and spirit. Instead, here is what Daniel did:
At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him (Daniel 2:16).
Daniel had faith that God would show him the dream and the interpretation! What happened next always boggles my mind when I read it. I am sure it will boggle yours, too.
GOD CARES
Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven and said: "Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his" (Daniel 2:17-20).
Obviously God cared about the lives of the king's advisers, for He showed Daniel the dream and its meaning. What faith Daniel had to commit to do the impossible! He put high expectations on the Lord and God came through.He was not afraid to draw on God's infinite wisdom.
Which brings us back to you and me. How high are your expectations in the Lord? What are you asking God to do that seems impossible to others? What have you committed yourself to that, if the Lord does not come through, you will look foolish? What need have you created for new information you don't have today so you can do new things tomorrow?
Daniel was a remarkable man with great faith, but he applied that faith to everyday life. It is no wonder that God exalted him to a high place, for Daniel learned how to partner with God to make the impossible ordinary. You and I would do well to imitate his example and then set our expectations high so that God will empower us to do great things for Him in the power of our purpose. Have a great week!
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KENYA UPDATES; The container was picked up and our stuff is off to Kenya, due to arrive on June 8. You can read the update and see some pictures, along with an update from Pastor Francis, at the usual place. Then please give an Easter donation toward the work in Kenya using PayPal through my website or by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882. Thank you and may you and yours have a blessed Easter holiday as you celebrate Jesus' resurrection.
UPCOMING SEMINAR IN PITTSBURGH: I am hosting my quarterly purpose profiling seminar in Pittsburgh (at right is a picture from the last one held in October, 2013) at Allegheny Center Alliance Church on Saturday, May 3 from noon to 4:30 PM. Once again, the seminar is free but you need to register by writing to let me know you are coming. If you can't make this one, the next one is on June 7 at the same time.
MISSIONS EVENT: I am speaking at the African Christian Fellowship fundraising luncheon at noon on Saturday, April 26 here in Pittsburgh at the Wyndham Hotel in Oakland. I was invited by my good friend Emmanuel Ike from Nigeria. Admission is free but, as always, you need to let me know you would like to come.
PURPOSE ASSESSMENT: Don't forget that there is a free purpose assessment on the home page of my website. Once you take the assessment, you will hear from me with your score and with suggestions for the way forward.
ONLINE RADIO: I now have three weekly Internet radio shows, to which you can listen live or access all of the archived interviews and download them to listen to on your mobile device or on your computer. The three shows are:
- Leadership Talk: Friday at 4PM (U.S. Eastern Time Zone)
- Urban Heroes: Wednesday at 8AM
- Ministry Beat: Tuesday at 4PM
FACEBOOK: When you have a chance, please go to my Facebook ministry page and register a like so you can follow me there.
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