Week 2
Israel turned from following God’s ways, and therefore stopped experiencing the blessing of
living with God. They turned to the world’s ways of living, and so experienced the results of
living that way. Another nation, Babylon, conquered them, and carried many of the citizens of
Jerusalem back to Babylonia to try to force them to become Babylonians. The nation of Israel
would then cease to exist. Yet, many of the Israelites held onto their way of living and turned
back to God. Daniel was one such young man.
Daniel was chosen to receive the best food and Babylonian education so that he would adopt the Babylonian’s way of living. It was a great opportunity for him to become “successful” and gather much power and wealth. Yet Daniel was not willing to give up God’s ways for power and wealth. He stuck to following God’s ways and found that he progressed faster than all the rest. But it was not Daniel’s intention to outpace everyone else. He just wanted to be faithful to God.
Of course, some of the Babylonians became jealous and created a plan to do away with Daniel. Daniel is faced with the choice of giving up his way of worshipping God for 30 days or be killed by being thrown in with hungry lions. This is what Daniel does.
Daniel was chosen to receive the best food and Babylonian education so that he would adopt the Babylonian’s way of living. It was a great opportunity for him to become “successful” and gather much power and wealth. Yet Daniel was not willing to give up God’s ways for power and wealth. He stuck to following God’s ways and found that he progressed faster than all the rest. But it was not Daniel’s intention to outpace everyone else. He just wanted to be faithful to God.
Of course, some of the Babylonians became jealous and created a plan to do away with Daniel. Daniel is faced with the choice of giving up his way of worshipping God for 30 days or be killed by being thrown in with hungry lions. This is what Daniel does.
Daniel 6:10 (NIV)
[10] Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.
[10] Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.
Daniel decided that it would be better to die than to give up his worship of God. Daniel could
not imagine living one day without his close relationship with God. So he continues to worship
God and does not try to hide it. In the end, God saves Daniel from the lions and glory is given to
God.
It is tough living in Babylon. The world wants us to conform to its ways. Not everything that is done in the world is bad. But there are many ways in which we are either tempted or demanded to adopt ways that go against what God teaches us is right. God does not expect us to be perfect. Yet each time we choose for him, we experience the blessing of living in his presence. We also set an example for other people to see God in our lives more clearly. It is what Jesus described as living in the world, but not of the world (John 17:15-16)
We are all living in Babylon – a world that is much different than what God intends for us. In what ways are we conforming to the ways of Babylon? What things are we turning to for life, yet it is sucking the life out of us? In the Father’s house is life. Our relationship with him is what truly makes life worth living.
Time of Prayer:
1) 1 min – What is God saying to me through this devotional?
2) 1 min – What am I going to do about it?
3) 1 min – What do I want to say to God?
4) 2 min – Listen for what God wants to say to you now.
It is tough living in Babylon. The world wants us to conform to its ways. Not everything that is done in the world is bad. But there are many ways in which we are either tempted or demanded to adopt ways that go against what God teaches us is right. God does not expect us to be perfect. Yet each time we choose for him, we experience the blessing of living in his presence. We also set an example for other people to see God in our lives more clearly. It is what Jesus described as living in the world, but not of the world (John 17:15-16)
We are all living in Babylon – a world that is much different than what God intends for us. In what ways are we conforming to the ways of Babylon? What things are we turning to for life, yet it is sucking the life out of us? In the Father’s house is life. Our relationship with him is what truly makes life worth living.
Time of Prayer:
1) 1 min – What is God saying to me through this devotional?
2) 1 min – What am I going to do about it?
3) 1 min – What do I want to say to God?
4) 2 min – Listen for what God wants to say to you now.