Last week, we saw how God preserved Daniel in the lions' den. Lest anyone think that the lions were passive or uninterested in human visitors, we read, "At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones" (Daniel 6:24). God had truly intervened and protected Daniel and, if the book had ended there, we would have been satisfied with the many lessons we learned from some fascinating stories in Daniel's life.
Yet, we are only at the halfway point of the book when we reach the lions' den.
Daniel was and is considered not only a great administrator and leader but also a prophet. In the midst of the craziness of Babylon and its idolatrous ways, Daniel sought the Lord for wisdom and received insight not only into dreams and administration but also for the Lord's people and purpose in the coming centuries.
NO CEILING
When I worked in the prisons, I would point out to the inmates that they were surrounded by walls, fences, barbed wire, alarm systems, and guards. There was little chance for anyone to escape and anyone coming to see them from the outside had to pass through multiple checkpoints. Yet, I reminded them that there was no ceiling—nothing between them and the God of heaven. That meant they had free and open access to God through prayer, and God could then shower them with blessings, wisdom, and revelation concerning His will and ways. I urged them not to wait until they got out to grow and learn to seek the Lord, but rather to do it while they were in.
This is important for all of us because the tendency is to wait until conditions are perfect (or at least better than they are now) before we look to thrive in the things of God. We will take the missions trip when we have more money, or go back to school when the kids are done with their education, or pursue purpose when we retire. No, the key to success and productivity in God is to learn how to make the most of what you have now, and use that as the foundation for fruitfulness.
Armed with that truth, I saw many inmates return to school, write books, learn a trade, pray for others, lead small group studies, or preach while they were incarcerated. They were often surprised at how much they could grown and how God could and would use them while they were in their own Babylon and not after they got out. They followed in the steps of Daniel who did the same thing.
REVELATION
God showed unusual things to Daniel in Babylon. There was no way to keep God out of the lions' den, the royal chambers, or Daniel's prayer room. What's more, Daniel kept close records of what he did and saw and received tremendous insight, as we will see in the next few weeks. Daniel undoubtedly suffered in Babylon, but that pain was the foundation for a ministry that has impacted God's people for many centuries since. Daniel learned the truth of what James, the brother of Jesus, wrote many centuries after Daniel:
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business. Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him (James 1:2-12).
Are you waiting for your circumstances to improve—till you have more money, or more time, or more favor with your supervisor, or until you feel better, more inspired, or more motivated—before you step out to do God's will? Can you see that your current circumstances are adequate for you to learn more about the Lord and thrive in HIs will? If Daniel could receive such insight and understanding in his Babylon, can you have the faith for the same in yours? The writer of Ecclesiastes summed it up when he wrote:
Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap; As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well (Ecclesiastes 11:4-6).
In the next few weeks, we will examine Daniel's specific revelation in Babylon, but for now, let it sink it that your time to shine and be purposeful is not in some future idyllic scenario; it is now. If Daniel did it, you can too for you serve the same God Daniel did, and He will help you, like He did Daniel, be all you can be regardless of how oppressive or uncomfortable your Babylon is. Have a blessed week!
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BOOK DRIVE FOR KENYA: I am collecting books for my libraries in Kenya through January 15. Check out what I need and how to get them to me in this post.
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