November, 3 2020
FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
THE BOOK OF DANIEL REVEALS HOW GOD USES VARIOUS MEN TO FULFILL HIS WILL
“The first four chapters of Daniel narrate the MEANS by which God secures the allegiance of Nebuchadnezzar. [He never employs deception, compromise of principle, coercion, intimidation, craftiness, deception, confusion, or persecution].
“First of all, God needed a man who would be a FIT REPRESENTATIVE of the principles and policies of heaven at the court of Babylon, so He chose Daniel to be His personal AMBASSADOR to Nebuchadnezzar.
“The means God employed to bring Daniel, a captive, to the favorable attention of Nebuchadnezzar, and the means by which Nebuchadnezzar came to have confidence, first in Daniel and then in Daniel’s God, illustrate the MANNER in which God uses men TODAY to accomplish His will on earth.
“God could use Daniel BECAUSE Daniel was a man of PRINCIPLE, a man of STERLING character, a man whose chief business life was to live for God!
“Daniel ‘purposed in His heart’ (Dan. 1:8) to live in harmony with all the REVEALED will of God. First, God brought him ‘into favor and tender love’ with the officials of Babylon (v. 9). This prepared the way for the second step, the demonstration of the PHYSICAL superiority of Daniel and his companions (vs. 12-15). Then followed a demonstration of INTELLECTUAL superiority. ‘God gave them all knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom’ (v. 17), with the result that they were considered ‘ten times better’ than their closest competitors (v. 20).
“Thus in Personality, Physique, and Intellect Daniel proved to be markedly SUPERIOR to his fellow men, and thereby WON the confidence and respect of Nebuchadnezzar.”
For me, this is what the children’s song, “Dare to be a Daniel” really means—much more than “daring to pray” when it was outlawed or bravely, without murmur, doubt and complaint to be “thrown into the hungry lions’ den!”
(More follows tomorrow). God bless all, NMF