My dears
Every so often when I read Daniel I am struck by the incongruity of it. A pompous king who has allowed his ego to convince him that he is God; spends the night FASTING for his servant’s life. Because his servant dared to deny his god-ness! So having prayed all night (to himself?), the demigod rushes off to ‘SEE’ the condemned prisoner-servant! Despite the death sentence, what is his expectation? Consider today’s Holy Nougat
“When he got there, he called out in anguish, “Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions?”” Daniel 6:20 NLT
In his anguish, the demigod declared his humanity – he acknowledged Who God is (the Living God) and recognizes that life and death is ultimately God’s affair not for us mortals to make. And this reveals something about Daniel’s character.
It wasn’t just that Daniel’s prayer life was regular; but even the king realized the power and integrity that accompanied Daniel’s faith. He KNEW that Daniel’s God was pretty awesome based on the sincerity of his faith.
He trusted Daniel’s integrity so much that he the king preferred to lose face as god if it meant Daniel lived. And, despite spending the night in prayer; it was Daniel’s prayers that he relied on to make the difference!
How do others respond to our lived faith; especially in times of adversity? This isn’t about what God does; although that too is important, as it is about what we do and say before, during and after.
It’s not simple. I’ve let God down at ALL points along the way. Ironically, when we do disappoint God; it then is about God – for then it’s about how God restores us unto God.
In Abundance or Adversity … how do others see us?
In Christ’s love and grace . . .
