Pride

"And you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven." -- Daniel 5:22-23a 

The events that occurred in the life of Nebuchadnezzar were well known throughout the kingdom. His son, Belshazzar was quite aware and was finally held accountable for his knowledge. The lives of others serve as signposts on the road of life, but they are only as valuable as they are heeded.

The son saw the hand of God fall upon his father and still ignored the possibility of that same hand falling upon him. Not only didn't Belshazzar humble his heart, but he also lifted himself against the Lord. Pride will lead one far from God and to eventual destruction as in verse 30, "That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed."

What have you learned from the lives of others my friend? Yes, there are some that have given you positive examples to follow, but there have also been those who served as warnings. When it comes to pride, be wise and heed the signposts and Scriptures that say in Proverbs 16:18, "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall."

But if not...

"If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” -- Daniel 3:17-18

The events recorded in this chapter are quite helpful for our study. We often focus on the Lord's presence in the flames, or the amazing deliverance from the fire. But I would like to look at the incredible faith of these three servants of the Lord. Their faith was strong and vibrant, even in the face of death. They believed that God was able, but they were surrendered to the "if not" of God's sovereignty.

Is this the kind of faith that lives within your heart my friend? Or does your faith need to be reaffirmed with God's regular provision of your desires? Will you trust the Lord and reject all others in the event of "if not"? Are you fully surrendered to the sovereign will of God, no matter what? There was another prayer much later in the New Testament that shared the same commitment of faith... "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39) Do you trust Him even when "if not"?

Undeserved Mercy

"Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon." -- Daniel 2:17-18

What should we do in the face of threatening storms? Daniel was a wise and yet humble man of prayer and he took very careful steps in response to the King's edict. He sought the prayers of others, and he sought the mercy of God. The humble heart knows the need for help and undeserved mercy.

When the wind and rain comes hammering at your door, do you just kick back and relax, or do you seek the help of others? As Jesus taught, where two or three are gathered in His name, there He is in their midst (Matthew 18:19-20). Also, in such circumstances, do we believe that God is under some obligation to save us, or do we rest in His infinite mercy?

As you face every overwhelming challenge my friend, seek the prayer support of others immediately. And as you pray, come before the Lord in utmost humility, seeking His undeserved mercy. Daniel was a great man of God because he was a great man of prayer.

Being Different

"And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom." -- Daniel 1:20

While working my way through Bible College, the plant where I was employed always looked for students from our school. The reason was quite simple: our daily production was always twice the amount of the other shifts. The students were faithful workers for the Lord and His blessing came upon them and the business.

When we honor the Lord He blesses us in many ways. Such blessings will often overflow into the lives of others. This is all part of a living testimony. The impact that Daniel and his friends made lasted through many years and administrations. Making a difference in our world begins with being different for the Lord.

My friend, are you conformed to the world or to the Lord? Is your lifestyle so distinct and honoring to the Lord that it brings blessing to you and others? The world is often drawn to those who are true to their convictions, and eventually drawn to their Lord. Does your lifestyle draw others to the Lord?

Trustworthy?

“And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem.” -- 1 Corinthians 16:3

Trust is highly valued. The real curiosity is that we find this quality referred to in this passage. Paul called for God’s people to lay aside weekly gifts to help others in need. The transport of this gift would require not just anyone, but individuals accredited by a letter of trust. Shouldn't this have been the case with everyone in the fellowship of believers?

Isn’t honesty and trust a no-brainer for all God’s children? Why would someone need a letter of accreditation at such a time in the early church? Is it possible that trust is a quality that comes over time? Is it possible that trust is part of spiritual growth and maturity? And last of all, is it possible that trust was and still is a very important issue in ministry activities?

Are you trustworthy my friend? And do you seek to use those who are honest to carry out ministry activities? Ours is a divine stewardship and the level of trust should rise above all other circumstances. As Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 4:2, “Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.”

Never in vain

“Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” – 1 Corinthians 15:58

Well, if you work harder for the Lord as we read in this blog yesterday, will it be worth the effort? My dear pastor, mentor, father-in-law and friend, George Bogan, gave the above verse as his parting words to the congregation that he served for twenty-eight years. His thought was clear… giving ourselves to the work of the Lord is never, never, never in vain.

The end of this life is only the beginning of a bright and glorious future filled with new opportunities of service and worship. We will be raised with new bodies and unending energy to work for the glory of God. All this will come as an honor and privilege for the faithfulness given in this life.

Honor the Lord in this life my friend and He will honor you in the life to come. Such honor will be far more than eternal wealth; it will be an open door to join the Master of the Universe in His great and eternal work. Be true to your earthly calling and your heavenly calling will be great. Take note: There is no work done for the Lord that is ever in vain!

Work Harder

"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me." -- 1 Corinthians 15:10

Ah yes, we are what we are by the grace of God. Such is a profound truth that should keep us focused every day of our lives. But, as a result, do we work harder? In another place we read, "for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13). We love His grace and HIS working, but what about OUR working?

Evangelicals have battled so much over "grace alone" for our salvation that we forget about the fact of Ephesians 2:10, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." God gives free grace, and we should freely work.

How about it my friend, are you working harder today because you are what you are by the grace of God? Are you so devoted to His cause that you work with unlimited diligence? In the words of our Lord, "As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work." (John 9:4) By the grace of God, work harder.