Bible Ballistics: BBs #284 A Mindset Of Service And Love!!!

One of my favorite men of scripture is Daniel—a mighty man of faith, devotion and service from his youth and through his entire life. In fact even his enemies had something to say of him that I hope can be said of me.

“Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. 4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. 5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.” Daniel 6:3-5

These men were Daniel’s enemies because they were jealous that the king “preferred” this Daniel, even though the king was new to the kingdom. This tells me that Daniel’s character was such that the righteousness of his life shone through all that he did. Daniel at this time was somewhere upwards of 80 years old, and he was still faithful to God in all his ways. He wasn’t just a “One-day-a-week” believer in God—He was a “full time” believer!!! Daniel had been faithful from the beginning of his encounter with the Babylonians and now, in chapter 6, with the Medes and Persians. What made Daniel such a faithful man?

“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the 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. 9 Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.” Daniel 1:8-9

Daniel “purposed in his heart” to be faithful to his God, no matter what! He had made up his mind to be true to his God regardless of where he was, or what he was called to do. While our relationship with God is one of “faith”, it also requires a mindset of faithful devotion, commitment and service; and Daniel knew how to make a commitment and hold to his faith regardless of what it might cost him. And we see in verse 9, that God was right there providing for Daniel and his three friends through their entire life in Babylon.

They were three teenagers, away from home (no one would see, no one could tell their families), they were offered the best of the world’s delicacies and yet they determined to keep their commitment to God in all their ways. They chose to hold to God’s law, and yet they did it in a way of respect and submission to the authorities over them. When you follow the actions of Daniel and his friends, you don’t see cocky, arrogant teenagers; you see men of faith, humility and respect, who display their faith at every turn. We also see God providing for them at those turns. We can learn so much from these young men.

How are we ordering our steps? Are we living according to God’s Word or according to our own lusts and desires? We Daniel’s character in the verses at the beginning of this article, and we also see his dependence on his God as danger confronts him. He is about to be thrown into the Lion’s Den, and yet he clearly is depending on God, and even the king has seen in this man something that has made a real impression on him, even in regard to Daniel’s God.

“Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.” Daniel 6:16

And what had put Daniel in such peril? Without going into the whole story, Daniel continued to pray to his God even though it was “against the law”! But the thing I want us to understand, the thing that America MUST understand—Daniel didn’t START praying then—He simply continued to do what he had been doing ALL the time. What about us? If it became illegal tomorrow to pray to Jesus and Father God, would it make any difference in your life? Would it make any difference in how you relate to God now? Or would it not affect you, because you’re not praying now?

“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed,

he went into his house;

and his windows being open

in his chamber

toward Jerusalem,

he kneeled upon his knees

three times a day,

and prayed,

and gave thanks before his God,

as he did aforetime.” Daniel 6 10

Does your/my life reflect the sovereign dependability of our God, or do we waver and hem and haw around God and His Word. Do you know Him well enough to cling to who HE is, and trust to what HE has said? Do you know what HE has said? Have you rested and depended on HIM to meet your needs? Or are you running around trying to “fix” your own life issues? I challenge each of us today to live a life that can join with Daniel and be able to proclaim to the world.

“My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.” Daniel 6:22

It’s your choice– Integrity or Indulgence– It will show!