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Daniel 6:5-6

The administrators and governors sought to find some charge against Daniel, but they could find no charge or wrongdoing or fault against him because he was faithful. Then the administrators said, “We will find nothing against Daniel unless we find it in the laws of his God.”

Personal Challenge

Persecution is guaranteed if we remain faithful to God. Daniel was elevated to a position of great power in his land because he remained faithful to his God and hired his life according to godly principles. By doing this he was blessed and those blessings overflowed to those around him. This generated jealousy by those in his circle of influence which led them to try to overthrown him for their own gain. In the midst of this he remained faithful to God, which ultimately led to that which was used against him in his persecution. Rather than turn away from God, he clung to him even tighter and trusted Him to prevail. And the rest is His story! Glory be to God!

Daniel 3:95 (3:28)

So King Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed is the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who sent His Angel and saved His servants who trusted in Him; for they altered the word of the king and handed over their bodies to be burned, so as not to serve and worship any god other than their God.”

Personal Challenge

We may never know the impact that our lives will have on other people. When we choose to live all out for our God and put our full trust in Him, not only does our life get changed, but so do the lives of those around us. King Nebuchad­nezzar not only abandoned his own unalterable decree that everyone should bow down and worship his statue, but he also praised the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego as the God of gods because of their unfaltering trust in their God. Glory be to God!

Daniel 3:40

So let this be our sacrifice before You today,
And may it be accomplished for those who follow You;
For there is no shame for those who trust in You.

Personal Challenge

The world around us wants us to conform to the way that it is. Living a Christian life is always contrary to this worldly expectation. This is our sacrifice to our Lord, choosing to reject the ways of the world in order to claim the ways of God. It is a sacrifice because it sets us at odds with those around us, even our loved ones at times, who are comfortable with living in the world the world’s way. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

Daniel 3:16-18

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “We have no need to answer you in regard to this thing. For there is a God in the heavens, whom we serve, and He is able to save us from the burning fiery furnace; and He will deliver us from your hands, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods, nor worship the golden image you set up.” 

Daniel 2:45

Whereas you saw the stone cut out of the mountain without hands, it ground to powder the clay, the iron, the copper, the silver, and the gold. Thus the great God has made known to the king what must come to pass after this. The dream is true, and its interpretation is trustworthy.

Encouraging Words

Jesus is referred to as the stone that was rejected that became the cornerstone of the Church. Here in Daniel, the king’s dream is interpreted and he is told that there will be a stone that will destroy all of the kingdoms of the world. This is a prophecy of the coming Messiah, the Son of God, who will overturn all of the kings of man as He sets up His eternal Kingdom. Glory be to God!

Susanna 1:22-23

Then Susanna sighed deeply and said, “I am hemmed in on all sides, for if I do this thing, it is death for me; yet if I do not, I will not escape your hands. But it is better for me not to do it and to fall into your hands, than to sin against the Lord.”

Personal Challenge

Sometimes it feels like life is offering us no win scenarios. In these situations we believe that we have no choice but to take the route that causes us to sin the least. However, as Susanna tells the two men who have trapped her and are pressing her to sin, it is better to stay true to her Lord and trust that He will sort it out. That is a great lesson in the scripture that is unfort­unately left out of many Bibles. Glory be to God!

Ezekiel 37:26-28

I will make a covenant of peace with them. It shall be an everlasting covenant, and I will establish My sanctuary in their midst forever. My tabernacle shall be among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them, when My sanctuary is among them forever.

Encouraging Words

God promises to establish a covenant of peace with His creation that will last forever. Part of that covenant will be the establishment of His sanctuary, His tabernacle, in the midst of His people where He can be worshipped. Jesus ushered in this covenant and He became that tabernacle that is amongst us and eternal. We can seek sanctuary in Him at all times. Glory be to God!

Ezekiel 36:25-27

I shall sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be cleansed from all your uncleanness, and I will also cleanse you from all your idols. I shall give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you. I shall take the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I shall put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My requirements, and you will keep My judgments and do them.

Encouraging Words

When Adam and Eve were created, they were created perfect. God planted in all of creation His perfection. When they sinned that perfection was soiled and has been soiled ever since. God promises us here through the prophesy of Ezekiel, that there will be a day when He will regenerate us. He will sprinkle clean water on us to cleanse us from our uncleanness and our idolization of things other than God. He will give us a new heart and a new spirit. He will fill us with His spirit and will cause us to walk in His ways. For those of who have been baptized into His family, our journey to this regenerated person has begun. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner and forgive me for continually turning back to my old worldly ways.

Ezekiel 34:15-16

I shall feed My sheep and refresh them; and they will know that I am the Lord,” thus says the Lord and Master. “I shall seek the lost, bring back the misled, bind up the broken, strengthen the fallen, protect the strong, and feed them with judgment.”

Encouraging Words

God loves His flock of sheep. Through Jesus and His works, we can all become sheep in God’s flock. As sheep in His flock, He feeds and refreshes us. We will know Him. He seeks after those who are lost, brings back those who are misled, binds up the broken ones, Strengthens the fallen ones, protects the strong ones, and feeds us all with judgment.