September 13 - Daniel 1-3
Each time I read the book of Daniel I am amazed at how God used the four young men who were taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar so he could have them trained for his service. God always speaks to me in a new and fresh way, because His Word is sharp and alive. I hope you heard a distinct message from God as you read this passage today.
How were Daniel, Hanaiah, Mishael, and Azariah used so powerfully in God's service in Babylon? I think it is because they found favor with God, with the eunuch, and with the king. Favor is not complicated. It means that they were accepted and held in high esteem by God and by these people. They were trusted by these people and by God. Do you have favor with God? Do you have favor with other people?
Daniel and his friends had favor with God because they would not compromise their belief in God, and they would not change their actions to fit the Babylonian culture. This showed God their faith. It showed God they could be trusted to do His will, so he told them dreams and delivered them from the furnace.
We are not told why they had favor with the eunuch in chapter 1, but there was something that he saw or heard which caused him to respect them and to listen to them. As Christians, we need to have that kind of favor with people, so we can be a positive influence on them and a witness to them. If we don't have their favor, they won't be inclined to hear what we say.
They had favor with the king because of their wisdom and because he saw the power of God in their lives. In other words they had the king's favor because they had favor with God. This shows us the order of favor. We must strive for favor with God first and then, the favor of others. We must not get it backwards or we will lose the favor of God. He will know we have not given Him our first allegiance. However, when we have favor with God and we lose favor with man, like the fiery furnace account, God can overcome the power of man in our favor. That is why God must always come first.
Stop and ask yourself today, "Do I have favor with God, and do I have favor with those around me?" If there is a problem with having favor, that is a big problem that you must correct before you go on with your life. Let this passage show you about favor with God and man. Realize that even our Lord Jesus grew in favor with God and man, so we must do that, too.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Daniel 4-6.
How were Daniel, Hanaiah, Mishael, and Azariah used so powerfully in God's service in Babylon? I think it is because they found favor with God, with the eunuch, and with the king. Favor is not complicated. It means that they were accepted and held in high esteem by God and by these people. They were trusted by these people and by God. Do you have favor with God? Do you have favor with other people?
Daniel and his friends had favor with God because they would not compromise their belief in God, and they would not change their actions to fit the Babylonian culture. This showed God their faith. It showed God they could be trusted to do His will, so he told them dreams and delivered them from the furnace.
We are not told why they had favor with the eunuch in chapter 1, but there was something that he saw or heard which caused him to respect them and to listen to them. As Christians, we need to have that kind of favor with people, so we can be a positive influence on them and a witness to them. If we don't have their favor, they won't be inclined to hear what we say.
They had favor with the king because of their wisdom and because he saw the power of God in their lives. In other words they had the king's favor because they had favor with God. This shows us the order of favor. We must strive for favor with God first and then, the favor of others. We must not get it backwards or we will lose the favor of God. He will know we have not given Him our first allegiance. However, when we have favor with God and we lose favor with man, like the fiery furnace account, God can overcome the power of man in our favor. That is why God must always come first.
Stop and ask yourself today, "Do I have favor with God, and do I have favor with those around me?" If there is a problem with having favor, that is a big problem that you must correct before you go on with your life. Let this passage show you about favor with God and man. Realize that even our Lord Jesus grew in favor with God and man, so we must do that, too.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Daniel 4-6.