Civil Disobedience
Christians are to follow the laws of their country, except in the cases when the law requires us to sin by doing the wrong thing or not doing the right thing according to God's Word. When we have to disobey the laws on this basis, we call it civil disobedience. Daniel being thrown into the lion's den is an Old Testament example of this. Daniel continued to pray to God three times a day, even though he knew the king had signed a law prohibiting prayer to anyone but himself. (Daniel 6:10) We are now in a time when we may have to practice this civil disobedience in America, too.
Daniel's custom was to pray three times a day. He went before the Lord to thank Him and to raise his requests. He had understood this to be God's will for many years, so he was faithful to fulfill God's will. He did not let the king or fear of punishment deter him from doing God's will. Even though he knew the sentence would be to be thrown in the den of lions, he was faithful. God delivered Daniel, but he could have been killed. The important thing was to be faithful to God and not to give in to the pressure from the government to sin.
What would you do in a similar circumstance today? Have you made up your mind to be faithful no matter what happens? I believe we all need to make that commitment to God now, so that if we are called to practice civil disobedience, we will be strong and faithful to God.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Daniel 7-10.
Daniel's custom was to pray three times a day. He went before the Lord to thank Him and to raise his requests. He had understood this to be God's will for many years, so he was faithful to fulfill God's will. He did not let the king or fear of punishment deter him from doing God's will. Even though he knew the sentence would be to be thrown in the den of lions, he was faithful. God delivered Daniel, but he could have been killed. The important thing was to be faithful to God and not to give in to the pressure from the government to sin.
What would you do in a similar circumstance today? Have you made up your mind to be faithful no matter what happens? I believe we all need to make that commitment to God now, so that if we are called to practice civil disobedience, we will be strong and faithful to God.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Daniel 7-10.