“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.”
The Bible tells us to follow the rules that are endorsed by our society, except when they conflict with how we worship and obey the Lord. For example: If the law tells me that I can’t ever talk about Jesus to anybody, but God’s law tells me to talk to everyone about Jesus, then I must listen to God! He is my highest judge and the one that I ultimately want to please. Thankfully, there are not many times that this is the case in our society (the United States) today.
But in the times of the Bible, things were very different. God’s people had to live under an oppressive government system that made the King of the land, the ultimate authority. If the King decreed that something was law, then that law was permanent and binding.
One day in Babylon, there were some very jealous men who decided to trick the King into making a law that would get Daniel in trouble. They came into the King’s court and told him that it would be a good idea if he told the people that they could only pray to him for a month! Can you imagine that? The King thought about it and realized that this made him even more important, so he said, “Yes.”
The problem was that Daniel prayed every day, three times actually, to the Lord while he was in Babylon. He did not do this privately. He came to the biggest window, got on his knees and faced Jerusalem. He did this every single day. But what would he do when this action would now get him in trouble? Would he obey the laws that would make him disobey God?
We may never have to make that choice, but we will have to make a choice not to obey certain “laws” that might come from our friends. Maybe our friends will tell us that going to church is not cool and that if we want to be cool, we won’t go to church! How will you respond to that law? Someday, our friends may tell us that they won’t accept us unless we do something that the Bible tells us not to do. How will you respond when your reputation is on the line?
Daniel knew the law had been signed. Did he change his behavior? Did he still pray, but go quietly into a hidden room? No way! Daniel set himself up in the same place, just as he had done since he was young.
Daniel was not afraid to honor his God, even if he was the only one and even if he was arrested and forced to be the lion’s food. Daniel instead, chose to honor God above every other institution and rule. Would you be so bold?
Daniel 6:10
The Bible tells us to follow the rules that are endorsed by our society, except when they conflict with how we worship and obey the Lord. For example: If the law tells me that I can’t ever talk about Jesus to anybody, but God’s law tells me to talk to everyone about Jesus, then I must listen to God! He is my highest judge and the one that I ultimately want to please. Thankfully, there are not many times that this is the case in our society (the United States) today.
But in the times of the Bible, things were very different. God’s people had to live under an oppressive government system that made the King of the land, the ultimate authority. If the King decreed that something was law, then that law was permanent and binding.
One day in Babylon, there were some very jealous men who decided to trick the King into making a law that would get Daniel in trouble. They came into the King’s court and told him that it would be a good idea if he told the people that they could only pray to him for a month! Can you imagine that? The King thought about it and realized that this made him even more important, so he said, “Yes.”
The problem was that Daniel prayed every day, three times actually, to the Lord while he was in Babylon. He did not do this privately. He came to the biggest window, got on his knees and faced Jerusalem. He did this every single day. But what would he do when this action would now get him in trouble? Would he obey the laws that would make him disobey God?
We may never have to make that choice, but we will have to make a choice not to obey certain “laws” that might come from our friends. Maybe our friends will tell us that going to church is not cool and that if we want to be cool, we won’t go to church! How will you respond to that law? Someday, our friends may tell us that they won’t accept us unless we do something that the Bible tells us not to do. How will you respond when your reputation is on the line?
Daniel knew the law had been signed. Did he change his behavior? Did he still pray, but go quietly into a hidden room? No way! Daniel set himself up in the same place, just as he had done since he was young.
Daniel was not afraid to honor his God, even if he was the only one and even if he was arrested and forced to be the lion’s food. Daniel instead, chose to honor God above every other institution and rule. Would you be so bold?
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