Power

The story of Daniel in the Lions’ den shines a light on the strength and majesty of our God. Think about the sheer, raw power of a lion. Now escalate that power by the motivation of a hungry stomach.

A few statistics to flesh out the picture, so to speak. An average male reaches a length of nine feet. Pair this with a weight of 350-400 pounds. Picture the thirty teeth in that enormous jaw, each capable of tearing flesh to pieces. Should you feel that a quick dash may be the answer to avoid capture, realize a lion is capable of 30 miles an hour. Forget leaping to safety, the lion can just follow along leaping twelve feet vertically or thirty-six feet horizontally. And while humans are not their primary prey, they are able to bring down small elephants if need be. This isn’t just a lion den, this is a lions den with an “S.”

This is a dire situation for the prophet. The numbers are in, there is no saving him. And yet that morning when King Darius rushes to the den and calls out into the emptiness, “Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions?” A voice answered. “My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight.”

The lions’ mouths are shut. Daniel is safe. Take a few minutes and let that sink in. Daniel is safe, because of the power of God. So often we focus on God with us, and God as Father. But Daniel chapter six is a vivid picture of a God who is transcendent and glorious. A God who is omniscient and powerful. He is the one who can create a world with the word of his mouth. This is the one true God. The God Daniel risked His life to worship.

Conversation starter with God: Reflect on where you see God’s greatness and hand of might. After this reflection and time of recognizing who God is, worship Him in response.

The Mystery of the Incarnation

Noticing the decline in museum attendance, a group of individuals gathered to brainstorm ways to handle the problem. How could they invite a new generation to engage with and appreciate these ancient masterpieces? One idea came to the forefront to help the paintings come alive: to take a one-dimensional picture and make it three-dimensional through the use of actors.

Their living art put costumes, wigs, and makeup on actors. Then they added props and positioned the actors to reflect the painting. Now standing before the backdrop of Renoir's garden scene actors took their place. Instead of a lady reading a book painted on the wall, now in front of it lay an actual woman reading the same book. The little boy playing a game of croquet now stood in the matching shorts and suspenders. The Mona Lisa became a real person, with her eyes following guests around the room. The actors brought a one-dimensional painting and made it come alive.

It worked! Attendance increased as people saw pictures in a new way. Their understanding of art raised as they connected artwork from the past with their lives today. Sometimes we must see something living and breathing before we can understand its value.

It is the same with the great mystery of a God who loves. And yet our God did not want this mystery to be so far removed from us that we could not connect. So God sent his son through the incarnation. An infinite God who chose to communicate his character and essence with finite minds. His goal, that we might begin to comprehend who God truly is. John 1:14 “So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.”

Conversation starter with God: Talk with God about how you see His character. You may want to choose a story of Jesus from the gospels to read and pray over. Look through the lens of the incarnation to see who God truly is.

The Mystery of the Incarnation

Noticing the decline in museum attendance, a group of individuals gathered to brain storm ways to handle the problem. How could they invite a new generation to engage with and appreciate these ancient master pieces? One idea came to the forefront to help the paintings come alive: to take a one dimensional picture and make it three dimensional through the use of actors. Their living art put costumes, wigs, and make up on actors.

Then they added props and positioned the actors to reflect the painting. Now standing before the back drop of Renior’s garden scene actors took their place. Instead of a lady reading a book painted on the wall, now in front of it lay an actual woman reading the same book. The little boy playing a game of croquet, now stood in the matching shorts and suspenders. The Mona Lisa became a real person, with her eyes following guests around the room. The actors brought a one dimensional painting, and made it come alive.

It worked! Attendance increased as people saw pictures in a new way. Their understanding of art raised as they connected art work from the past with their lives today. Sometimes we must see something living and breathing before we can understand its value.

The same is with the great mystery of a God who loves. And yet our God did not want this mystery to be so far removed from us that we could not connect. So God sent his son through the incarnation. An infinite God who chose to communicate his character and essence with finite minds. His goal, that we might begin to comprehend who God truly is. John 1:14 “So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.”

Conversation starter with God: Talk with God about how you see His character. You may want to choose a story of Jesus from the gospels to read and pray over. Look through the lens of the incarnation to see who God truly is.

The Mystery of the Incarnation

Noticing the decline in museum attendance, a group of individuals gathered to brain storm ways to handle the problem. How could they invite a new generation to engage with and appreciate these ancient master pieces? One idea came to the forefront to help the paintings come alive: to take a one dimensional picture and make it three dimensional through the use of actors.

Their living art put costumes, wigs, and make up on actors. Then they added props and positioned the actors to reflect the painting. Now standing before the back drop of Renior’s garden scene actors took their place. Instead of a lady reading a book painted on the wall, now in front of it lay an actual woman reading the same book. The little boy playing a game of croquet, now stood in the matching shorts and suspenders. The Mona Lisa became a real person, with her eyes following guests around the room. The actors brought a one dimensional painting, and made it come alive.

It worked! Attendance increased as people saw pictures in a new way. Their understanding of art raised as they connected art work from the past with their lives today. Sometimes we must see something living and breathing before we can understand its value.

The same is with the great mystery of a God who loves. And yet our God did not want this mystery to be so far removed from us that we could not connect. So God sent his son through the incarnation. An infinite God who chose to communicate his character and essence with finite minds. His goal, that we might begin to comprehend who God truly is. John 1:14 “So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.”

Conversation starter with God: Talk with God about how you see His character. You may want to choose a story of Jesus from the gospels to read and pray over. Look through the lens of the incarnation to see who God truly is.

As Was His Custom

When you meet Daniel in the Bible you see a man who is deeply committed to his God, and is equally committed to his work. In Daniel chapter 6 a group seeks to remove Daniel from his job. And the more they follow his work, the more they realize the only place they can find fault with him, is in his relationship to God. So this is where they attack. And in spite of a law that precluded praying to any other than the king, Daniel follows his custom and prays to God. In verse ten it says he prayed, “as was his custom since early days.”

This was just what Daniel did. He prayed. Every day, whether in challenging times or in time of blessing, he prayed. This practiced grew his relationship with God. And because of that connection, Daniel prayed even at the risk of his own life.

Think about the customs in your life. Perhaps it is how you welcome your children home from school, or another deeply engrained habit. Now think about your status as a child of God. What habit will you grow today to build your relationship with God up? Choose today to follow in the steps of Daniel and create a custom that connections you to God and builds your relationship and dependence on Him.

What is the Pastor reading now?

It is that moment when you cross paths with someone of different beliefs that you wish for more skill in Christian persuasion. The goal of the book Fool’s Talk: The Art of Christian Persuasion is all about how to do the best job when you are confronted questions about your faith. This is the job of apologetics, to speak in support of your faith. And the author of this book, Os Guinness, distills his forty years of experience in the field to this very readable volume. “He sees apologetics in its noblest form—a way to lead others to Christ.”

This is our goal as Christians, to lead others to a relationship with Christ. But often we are confronted with questions and attacks that we don’t know how to handle. Os Guinness challenges us to ask questions, to form relationships, to win the war instead of the battle, and to be prepared in and out of season to present the reason for our hope in Christ Jesus.

If you are looking for a book that will stimulate your mind intellectually, and engage you in a thirst for evangelism, then this book if for you. The author helps you walk away from the book with a deeper commitment to Christ, and the courage to speak His name. From real life stories, and snapshots of testimonies in the lives of historical figures, the author will walk you through an understanding of how to reach the heart and elicit an interest in God.

Make Your Choice

The hand moved across the white plaster wall, the letters left behind glowed and arrested the attention. This was a message of doom. A liquidation sale. A calling to account. Belshazzar’s knees trembled and his heart fainted. And yet he had a choice. The words were clear, he was held to account for his treatment of God. What would he do? At this moment that God encountered and challenged, would Belshazzar yet repent and confess?

The story in Daniel 5 holds us spell bound. We image what it would be like to be confronted by the God of heaven with our mistakes. To see a hand move without an arm, to see words appear and burn into our minds our judgment, is frightening. And yet God’s call was redemptive. God reached out to Belshazzar elaborately and called for him to acknowledge Him.

The same happens in our lives. God will confront us with our sinfulness. Even point out where we put other gods in His place. All of these are pleas to acknowledge Him as Lord and Savior. When you see God’s invitation, what will you do? Will you choose to bow in humility and confession? Will you choose to accept God’s judgement and leading? What will you do when you read the handwriting on the wall?