2007-05-20 - Daniel

Installment 52 ~ Chapter 6

Daniel uses his account to reinforce his basic premise. God is sovereign over history, over governments, and over kings. God proposes. God disposes.

How can we live, demonstrating the same kind of faith we see in Daniel? Well, first of all - Daniel had tunnel vision. That is, his only concern was his responsibility to God. He looked to God for motivation and direction. Therefore, Daniel's actions were not subject to the whims of a fallen society. His concern wasn't pleasing the two other rulers, or even Darius. His only concern was pleasing God.

"Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ" (Galtians 1:10, NIV).

We know what God expects in the Christian walk, and therefore we have no need to look at society for direction. Christian couples must remain faithful and married, regardless of the values of society. The unmarried must remain sexually pure in a society which stands for sexual 'freedom.' Parents must bring up their children in the Lord, not with the latest educational theories. We must proclaim the truth of Scripture wherever the Lord directs, even though that truth may be rejected. We must live this way because we are children of our heavenly Father and indwelt by His spirit.

"You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.

Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation--but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live,

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings, in order that we may also share in his glory." (Romans 8:9, 12-13, 16-17, NIV).

Comments or Questions?
Geoff

GKragen@aol.com
http://www.cfdevotionals.org