I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. In order to make that possible I read the passages and write my thoughts a day in advance. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.
After the conquest of Babylon by the Medes and Persians, Daniel once more was appointed to a position of authority. The other administrators and government officials sought out ways in which they could manipulate and/or blackmail Daniel into supporting their interests. They were unable to find anything to use against him, except for his faith. So, they went to the king and flattered him into outlawing worship of any being or thing other than the king for thirty days. Despite the law, Daniel refused to change his practice of praying to God and he made no attempt to conceal this fact. The other officials watched Daniel and as soon as he carried out his practice they returned to the king and demanded that Daniel suffer the punishment written into the law, which was to be thrown into a den of lions.
The king realized his mistake too late. The law had been written and could not be changed. So, he had Daniel arrested and thrown into a lion’s den. He expressed his hope that Daniel’s god would protect him from the lions and returned to his palace, refusing to eat. In the morning when the king returned to the lion’s den, Daniel was still there, unharmed. The king ordered Daniel’s release and had the officials who had conspired against Daniel arrested and thrown into the same lion’s den. The lions immediately attacked and killed the conspirators.
Daniel was targeted despite his integrity (and in my belief because of his integrity). His enemies used that same integrity against him, yet even so, Daniel refused to compromise his beliefs. Both Daniel and his enemies knew that if they could separate him from his routine of prayer and worship of God, they could crack his otherwise unimpeachable integrity. Daniel had a regular, daily routine of connecting with God. This gave him the strength to remain faithful to God in all that he did. It is the same for us. If we want to be people of integrity(and as followers of Christ, we are called to be people of integrity), we need to have daily communion with God.
Peter wrote that some will scoff at the idea that Christ will return. They will tell us that things have been as they are since the beginning of time. They overlook the fact that right in that statement is a testimony to God. Time began when God created the universe and the earth within it by His word. By His word, he destroyed the earth with water in the flood. Now, by His word, the earth and the universe are awaiting the day He will destroy them by fire. God is not constrained by time and does not view it as we do. Christ will return at the time which God has already determined, but it will not be at a time that we, as humans, will expect. It will not be by our timetables nor according to our understanding. Any delay we perceive in His return is not a result of God being slow. Rather it is a result of God’s grace and patience. God wishes for everyone to repent and is giving us time to reach out to our friends and neighbors.
A day of great destruction is coming, but we should not dread that day. Rather we should look forward to it with great hope and anticipation, because it will be followed by the creation of a new heaven and new earth. This new creation will be filled with righteousness and the sin and destruction of this earth will be destroyed with it. With this hope, let us live peaceful, blameless lives as an example to others whom God is patiently calling to come to Him. God is giving people time to be saved. Let us not waste the time which He is giving us, but let us reach out with His Spirit to those who do not yet know Him.
God’s laws are perfect and trustworthy. They do not require advanced degrees, or esoteric studies. Those who seek to understand God’s commands and will need only study His word to achieve understanding. The study of God’s law provides the light necessary to understand it. Even the simple-minded can comprehend what God desires. Actually, sometimes it is easier for the simple to understand what God wants than it is for those of great human understanding. I want to understand God’s will for my life, so I will turn to Him in prayer. I will pray and cry out to God. I will study His word and listen to His voice, then He will give me understanding of what He wishes me to do.
It is wrong to show partiality, even though some people will do wrong for the most miniscule of perceived gain. Hoarding wealth in order to grow rich leads to poverty, always of the soul and often material as well.