#DailyDevotion Would To God We Would Be Convicted Of Being Faithful Christians
November 26th
Read Dan 6:1–28
Dan 6:3-5 Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. (4) Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him. (5) Then these men said, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.” …7 All the high officials of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions…10When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. (11) Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God.
Would to God that the only fault anyone would find with us is our devotion to our Lord Jesus Christ! Daniel was of such character that he was excellent in all his work that was set before him. True, his performance was assisted by the power of our God, but his character insofar as the world was concerned was flawless. But this type of character should not be characteristic of people like Daniel. We ordinary Christians should exhibit such character in our lives.
St. Peter writes to us, 1Pe 3:13-17 “Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? (14) But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, (15) but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, (16) having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. (17) For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.”
St. Paul writes, Tit 2:7-8 “Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, (8) and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.”
This is to be our Christian life through faith and by the grace that is in Christ Jesus. We should note that their trap for Daniel did work. It is better to obey God rather than man. Daniel turned to the Lord and prayed to him three times a day and gave thanks. He did this knowing the persecution he would have to endure and indeed, Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den. Know this too, and Saints Peter and Paul tell us, while we should not give any reason for men to curse God because of us or blaspheme our Lord Jesus Christ because of our lives, when we do live such blameless lives before men, you may suffer persecution for doing good. Do not fear them. Greater is the one whom you have faith in than those who are in the world. The worst they can do is kill the body. But at our Lord Jesus’ return he shall raise those bodies from the dead and those who mistreated you shall be put to shame and enter into everlasting contempt.
Lord Jesus Christ, may your Holy Spirit so guide and govern our hearts that we may live such lives that give praise and glory to your name so whatever evil speak against us is only because our devotion to you and good works towards our neighbors. Amen.