This week, Heather and Levi and I are on vacation. We’re taking the time to spend a couple hours each day reading and discussing a book of the Bible. We chose to work through Daniel. While this is not a “study”, as I would study the text to teach or preach on it, we are simply seeing how God reveals himself and what He is saying to us individually and as a family.

We spent most of the morning reading through the first few chapters of Daniel (Levi took a very long morning nap). There were many things to observe and learn from. For example, the book starts off by commenting on the sovereignty of God. Verse two says, “And the Lord gave Jehoiakim, king of Judah into his hand.” (the hand of Nebuchadnezzar). This again is echoed by Daniel when he interprets Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. Daniel says, “He removes kings and raises up kings;” (2:21). Paul also wrote about God’s control over governments and kingdoms in Romans 13 in which he says that all authorities are established by God. Here in the United States, we have a rather important “thing” coming up in the next few months. In November, the American public (probably 50% or so), is going to go to the polls and elect a new President of the United States. Already, I have heard some Christians express grave concern over what might happen to this country if Obama is elected. The point is not to advocate or denounce any one candidate, rather to affirm God’s sovereignty in this matter. So let’s say Obama wins and becomes the next POTUS. Is God not in control of that? Did God not put him there? Certainly we have a vote and should use it, but we must ultimately understand that God has a plan; a plan to build His kingdom and a plan for this country. It is God who blesses and depresses this country (and all countries). Perhaps if we spent as much time reading God’s word as we do reading the newspapers, or if we were as concerned over the lost as we are over political rallies and plans, we would understand that our vote is not the way to change the heart of unbelievers, rather we should be obedient to live according to the Bible and invest in the relationships we have with unbelievers to share the Gospel and demonstrate the love of Christ.

Another observation of Daniel is that he refused to defile himself by eating the king’s choice foods (he only ate vegetables and drank water). Daniel said to test him for ten days and see if he is any worse than those eating the finest foods and wine. At the end of the test, he was better off than the rest of the men and they were put on the same diet. Daniel could have had the finest of the foods having already been chosen for service to the king. At first glance, what may have seemed to be a simple matter, was not a simple matter at all, rather, it was a spiritual matter. Was there anything wrong with the food? No, there was no specific prohibition of food choice, nor any health concerns. The issue was that the food served by the king was used to worship idols. Daniel wanted nothing to do with that because it was a compromise to the call God had given him; first, God’s call to Himself, second, God’s call to obedience, third, God’s call to worship. Today, we view too many decisions as “simple” rather than “spiritual”. As a result, it is very easy to get into an action of defilement. Daily we “consume” things from the culture. Do you ever think about what it is you’re consuming? Surely, I can point out the obvious, TV, music, internet, but what about those subtle things we consume? How about your usage of time? How about how you spend your money? How about how you deal with co-workers in a secular workplace? How about your hopes and aspirations? Do you compromise your call as a Christian to achieve a goal you have set? As an elder at OBC, I am charged with directing and protecting the church. I must be sure not to defile the church. Many modern church movements are an example of a type of defilement that threatens the church. The evangelical church may say that if you do action X Y and Z, you can boost your growth. Church growth is good, but how you get it is the concern. Many churches and church movements see growth because they become like the culture claiming that it is the only way to reach the (lost) culture. I think Daniel teaches otherwise. Daniel may have lived in the culture of the king, but he didn’t succumb to that culture, rather he remained obedient to God and did not defile himself. As a result, Daniel became an extremely influential person because the king saw the true God through the actions of Daniel, which were really no more than obedience to what God had called him. Nebuchadnezzar made Daniel a ruler over the whole province. As a church, we must be obedient to what God has called us. This obedience (being devoted to preaching and teaching the Word) will be a testimony to God. Personally, I too face the very same challenges. Heather and I believe that God is calling us to full-time ministry. We are now in the interview process with a church that we like very much. As we work through this process, Heather and I remain careful not to defile ourselves for the sake of this hope. For example, as we approach this potential change, we have to think about our current employer and how we will transition. This may seem like a simple, “I resign” decision, but this is really a spiritual matter. We can resign in an honorable way that glorifies God and where others, at our secular place of employment will see how we are obedient to God in how we treat our students, co-workers, and bosses, and thus see God, or we can leave in a dishonorable way which would not only hurt the schools, but would damage our testimony to God. I think Joseph is a good example of the principle we see here in Daniel. Joseph, after being sold to Potiphar, had control over everything. He could have indulged in Potiphar’s possessions, including his wife, but Joseph remained faithful to God and was honorable in the responsibilities given to him. Even through false accusations and two years in jail, he remained faithful and was honorable in all things. Because of this, the Lord elevated him to a position equal to Pharaoh (the throne being the only difference) and his service was a testimony to God. Ultimately, God was praised by all. This is how I should approach this potential change. My desire should be, and is, that God would be praised by all. This brings me to my final observation from Chapter 3 of Daniel. It’s best summed up by, “God IS able and MAYBE willing.”

Because of Daniel’s interpretation of the king’s dream, the king praised God (although short lived). In short, the king made a gold statue and ordered everyone to worship it. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego refused and were ordered to death in the furnace. It’s easy to look and see God’s miracle of saving them, but something else caught my attention. Something that not only sets and example for us, but teaches us about who God is. Before being thrown into the fire, the three (S,M,A), said to the king, “we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image, which you have set up.” (3:16-18). These three set quite an example of faith. Returning to the point of defilement, these three chose to give God unadulterated worship, rather than compromise and save their earthly lives. Jesus told the disciples in Matthew 10 that this (the example set in Daniel) is exactly what must happen. In verse 39, Jesus said, “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my said will find it.” I don’t know about you, but I’ve struggled with this with much less than a fiery furnace. God used our recent mission trip to grow the fire I have for Him. The blaze in my heart has been stoked. Stoked for God and stoked with a love for the lost. This begs the question, what is your heart on fire for? We give ourselves to things all the time but are we giving ourselves to God? The second observation of their faith and subsequent statement to Nebuchadnezzar is God is sovereign and able to do anything, including, saving them from the fiery furnace, but He may choose not to save them. God is able, but may not be willing. At this point, you’re going, well duh, God is sovereign. Yes, but are you living like it? Better yet, are you living with the perspective that God may have purposed things to NOT work out well for you here on earth? Certainly we have a living hope in a resurrected Lord that eternally we can be secure, but there is no such promise here on earth. Peter wrote that we will suffer various trials. Are you okay with that? Really, think about it . . . are you content with that? Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were. They truly expressed contentment in their Lord, the true God. Whether their lives were saved or lost, they wanted God to be glorified and they wanted the king to know it. Essentially, they were saying the Nebuchadnezzar, you may kill us, but God is bigger than us, you will still have to deal with Him, and He will make himself known. Do I really count my life as nothing, as Paul wrote in Acts 20:24? When we begin to understand that our lives are not about our achievements, our works, our positions, or our conveniences, we can yield ourselves to God and be content in His plan, whether to our loss or gain.

Ultimately, God saved these three men of faith. Nebuchadnezzar didn’t stand in awe and say, “What? What happened? How did they not die?”, rather he said, “Praise be to the God of Sharach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued hi servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.” (3:28-29).

Do you want to be salt and light to the world? Then don’t defile yourself and be like the world, rather be obedient to God and His word. Do you want to bring glory to God? Then trust in Him and ONLY in Him and God will bring glory to himself.

Last week, we met to talk about how we initiate a conversation with someone to present the gospel and what we should say when we present the gospel.  Here are some good videos to watch in addition to what we discussed.  Follow the link below and you can watch the streaming videos.

http://www.wayofthemaster.com/videolessons.shtml