Balls and Strikes

 

Daily Reading:  Daniel 2:31 – 49

The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings…

                                                            Daniel 2:47

               Daniel’s life was not ideal by any measure.  He was living as a free man in Jerusalem when he watched the city fall. After the fall, he was captured and taken to Babylon.  There he was recognized for his learning, wisdom, and understanding, only to face execution with the rest of the wise men.  Following the telling and interpretation of the king’s dream, the king, who had ordered his execution, withdrew the order, and set him up as a ruler over the entire province of Babylon. The pendulum swings of Daniel’s life were wild and would continue, but we would do well to take stock of the circumstances surrounding this shift from nearly executed to ruler.

               Daniel was a man who sought to obey God no matter the fallout.  To the world around him, his obedience manifested as boldness.  He was willing to say and do what many would not. Boldness is not a natural attitude most men are born with.  The Apostle Paul was a zealous man, but even he prayed for boldness (Ephesians 6:19 – 20). Most men flee from boldness and settle for passivity like Adam in the garden.

               Daniel faced execution but asked for time to pray and wait on God.  After receiving an answer to his prayer, the path forward did not get easier.  The dream and interpretation were not exactly what King Nebuchadnezzar would want to hear. Nevertheless, Daniel boldly stands before him and informs him God had given him his kingdom (Daniel 2:37). This is significant because Nebuchadnezzar, the pagan god king had captured Jerusalem where God’s Temple sat.  It would not appear to Nebuchadnezzar like Daniel’s God had the power to give him his kingdom.  Daniel then informs the king that his kingdom would be replaced by an inferior kingdom (Daniel 2:39).  If that is not bad enough, Daniel finally tells the king that God will establish an eternal kingdom and that this all will happen with certainty (Daniel 2:44 – 45).

               This dream and interpretation had to be unsettling for the most powerful man in the world, but Daniel spoke to him with boldness.  He stood there and called balls and strikes with his life on the line. In the end, Daniel’s life is spared, but more importantly he demonstrated to all who will listen the obedience and boldness God desires from each of us.

A Case Study in Conflict Resolution

 

Daily Reading:  Daniel 2:1 – 30

Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:

                                                            Daniel 2:20

               There will be times in our lives where we find ourselves in serious trouble.  Sadly, sometimes those wounds are self-inflicted.  Other times, circumstances are beyond our control.  We did nothing to cause this situation, and yet here we are. How will you react, or better yet, how will you respond?  The difference between reacting and responding is about 3 seconds.  It is always better to respond.

               Daniel found himself in serious trouble, none of which he caused.  In fact, up until this moment, he was one of a handful of Israelite slaves living in Babylon who chose to not eat the king’s meat.  Most  Israelite men chose to just go along…to comply. Daniel ordered his life in obedience to God’s commands.  Now he faced execution at the hands of an angry king through no fault of his own.

               Daniel’s response throughout this predicament should be a case study for us all.  He begins by meeting the problem head on with, “counsel and wisdom” (Daniel 2:14).  He did not run around to everyone else to talk about the problem or put off talking to the people involved while gathering support.  No, he met his executioner and talked with him.  Arioch, the man tasked with executing the wise men of Babylon, then sent Daniel directly to the king to plead his case.  Again, Daniel did not shy away from this responsibility. Men need to learn to not run from problems.  That just leads to more of a problem that someone else may have to deal with.  It is an act of cowardice.

               Daniel is given time by the king, and his next move needs to be etched in our minds.  Daniel and his friends pray for the mercy of God (Daniel 2:17 – 18).  So often, people say, “All I can do is pray”.  What should be said is, “All I need to do is pray.”

               In Daniel’s situation, God answered quickly.  That is not always the case.  What is more important was Daniel’s response.  Daniel 2:19 ends with, “Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.”  Daniel understood who alone deserved all the honor, glory and praise. Do you?

Daniel was Measurably Better...are You?

 

Daily Reading:  Daniel 1:17 – 21

“And in all manners of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.”

                                                            Daniel 1:20

               The book of Daniel opens with Daniel controlling the controllables in his life.  With so much out of his hands, he and his three friends determined that they would not eat the king’s meat or drink the king’s drink. It was the one area where they could plant their flag! This was a pattern, a habit, that these committed men repeated throughout their lives. 

Taking a stand builds muscle memory as that exercise is repeated in life. However, make no mistake, the opposite is also true.  When men choose to not stand, we also strengthen that muscle. Choices matter!

God honored these faithful souls by giving them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom (Daniel 1:17).  The effects were measurable.  They were ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers in the kingdom where they were now enslaved.

  In our lives today, God also offers us wisdom.  Proverbs 2:6 says, “For the Lord giveth wisdom.” However, it is up to us to get it according to Proverbs 16:16 and then apply it according to Colossians 4:5-6. The Bible is the ultimate source of wisdom in every aspect of our lives.  When we choose to get the wisdom of God’s Word and then apply it in our lives, we will be considered fools by the world (I Corinthians 3:18), but the difference it will make in your life will be measurable, just like it was when Daniel and his friends planted their flag. Plant your flag on the wisdom of God’s Word in your life!

Daniel's Line in the Sand

 

Daily Reading:  Daniel 1

“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank:  therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.”

Daniel 1:8

Daniel would one day hold the third highest position in the kingdom of Babylon, but Daniel 1 does not describe that season of his life.  At this stage, he was simply a young man from Jerusalem carried away captive.  He held no rank, position, or authority.  He had been stripped of everything including his freedom.  Even his name was replaced with the Chaldean name Belteshazzar; a name that meant protects his life.  Bel was a Chaldean god.  This was a concerted effort by the conquerors to erase the heritage of these newly enslaved people and mold them into Chaldean society where they were to stand before the king after their years of indoctrination.

At this point, most decisions were out of Daniel’s hands.  He was living through many unknown and uncontrollable circumstances, but Daniel made a choice.  It was his line in the sand.  His decision stands as a testimony to the name he carried from his birth.  Daniel means God is my judge and he understood that he only answered to Him. This decision could have led to his death, and I am sure Daniel understood the gravity of that choice. Ultimately Melzar, the price of the eunuchs, accepted Daniel’s request, but that is not important.  What matters is that Daniel determined to stand no matter the response. 

In this life, in this generation, this world needs Daniels.  The church needs Daniels.  Your friends need a Daniel.  Your home, your marriage, and your children need a Daniel.  Be the faithful one who is willing to draw the line in the sand.  The one who will say, “Here and no further!”  There are plenty of things in this life that are beyond our control but never fear standing alone with God…no matter the outcome.

The Lord Our Guide

 

Daily Reading:  Psalm 31

"For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me." 

                                                    Psalm 31:3 (KJV)

 

    David wrote Psalm 31 during one of the most heartbreaking seasons of his life. As he fled from his son Absalom, who sought to take his throne, David experienced betrayal, fear, and sorrow. Yet, even in this dark hour, he declared his trust in God as his rock and fortress. David recognized that the Lord’s guidance was not only a matter of survival but also a testimony to God’s glory—"for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me."

     In our own lives, we will face seasons of trial, when circumstances seem to crumble beneath us. These moments remind us of our inability to navigate life’s challenges on our own. Like David, we must turn to the Lord, our unchanging foundation, for guidance. But the need for God's direction extends beyond difficulties; we also need Him to guide us in times of peace and prosperity, ensuring we stay aligned with His plans and purposes.

     Paul echoes this truth in his letter to the Romans: "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God" (Romans 8:14, KJV). Just as David sought the Lord’s leading during his trials, Paul emphasizes the privilege and responsibility of being Spirit-led as children of God.

     As we surrender to God’s guidance, we find not only a path forward but also the ability to guide others. Whether as parents, mentors, or friends, our reliance on God becomes a testimony to His faithfulness and a light for others to follow.

     In both good and difficult times, let us trust the Lord as our rock and fortress. His Spirit will lead us, strengthen us, and equip us to guide others in His name and for His glory.

One of a Kind

Daily Reading:  Job 1:1 – 8

And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, 

that there is none like him in the earth 

                                    Job 1:8

        The Lord asked Satan to consider His servant Job. While we may find it odd that God would put Job in Satan’s crosshairs, have you ever paused to consider Job? Scripture describes him as perfect and upright. Those alone are high praise from an inspired book. These are God’s words not man’s words.  Perfect speaks of his purity and wholesomeness. He was a man of moral integrity. Upright expresses rightness or correctness that is pleasing.  This man lived his life with integrity, that others might follow. 

        Job was more than perfect and upright.  Those attributes were obviously the result of a man that feared God.  Job held the Lord in highest regard.  It was not lip-service, but genuine reverence.  Because of reverence, Job was turned off and withdrawn from evil.

        Job was a physically blessed man. He had many children, servants, and riches.   Despite all that he had, or perhaps because of all that he had, he never lost sight of God.  Job 1:5 shows Job’s great compassion and concern for the spiritual wellbeing of his children. He did not pass this responsibility to his servants or even to his wife. This was his responsibility alone, and he took it personally. Job continually offered burnt offerings for each of them. This is time well invested, because unbeknownst to Job, their lives were about to be cut short.

        Are you personally invested in the spiritual wellbeing of your children?  If you are not, why not?  if you do not have children yet, that invest in your own spiritual wellbeing so if God blesses you with children, you are equipped to invest in them...to lead them...to love them.  

        Job was one of a kind in his generation of the earth.  That does not mean God could not say of you, “there is none like him in the earth” in this generation.  

We All are the Lord’s

Daily Reading:  Romans 14:1 – 14

So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

                        Romans 14:12

Across Christianity, there is a spectrum of beliefs genuinely held by sincere brothers in Christ.  Often those beliefs are in error and are the result of confusion due to a failure to see and apply the truth of II Timothy 2:15. A failure to rightly divide can lead to a lot of problems.  In those instances, we have a duty to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) so that those in error might, “Come to the knowledge of the truth” (I Timothy 2:4).      

With that duty also comes great responsibility.  This is a responsibility that is often ignored among believers; even among believers who claim to understand the grace of God.  Our duty to be right overrides our responsibility to be loving, gracious, and accepting of a brother in Christ who holds a different conviction.  Among the Roman believers, there were apparent differences regarding what could be eaten and what days were important.  These differences had the potential to divide brothers in Christ.  Some were walking in liberty, while others were clearly allowing aspects of the law to limit their liberty.  If we are to lead others into that liberty, we must avoid driving out brothers.  

To avoid condemning those with different beliefs, while at the same time speaking the truth in love, we must apply the key truth of Romans 14:8 to our life and to our view of their life.  We ALL are the Lord’s!  

Obviously then, leading others does not require creating perfect duplicates of yourself unless you are insecure or prideful.  God can and truly does work through our differences, even doctrinally, for His honor and glory.  In fact, is it possible that God can work though a humble servant with some doctrinal problems more that a prideful person who has all his doctrine “perfect” by someone’s standards?