SCRIPTURE: Daniel 6
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God. [Daniel 6:10]
Daniel new about the law, and he knew about the consequences, but he prayed anyways.
“Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die and hand him over to the Romans. They will mock him, spit on him, flog him with a whip, and kill him, but after three days he will rise again.” [Mark 10:33-34]
Jesus knew what the religious leaders planned against Him, and He knew the consequences of going to Jerusalem, but He went anyways.
To do the right thing, knowing full well the consequences, takes amazing strength and God-confidence!
Have you ever faced a challenge, a choice, like this?
To stand up for a kid in the playground being bullied, even if it meant others would turn against you?
To hide and protect the Jews in your home from the Nazis, even if it meant death if you were caught?
To tell the truth about your actions, even if it meant losing your job?
To refuse to lie or cheat for your boss, even if it meant you were bypassed for a promotion?
To speak to your friend about your faith in Jesus, even if it meant losing their respect?
Life (i.e. God) will put us in places where we have to make hard choices.
This is God’s way of strengthening our character muscles, reinforcing our values and convictions.
These stories reveal that integrity is its own reward, and God will reward integrity in the long run.
It may mean a season among the lions, it may even lead to death (think of the ‘righteous gentiles’ that hid Jews from Nazis, and were caught and killed).
But in the end God will vindicate those who stood firm and did what was right, despite the consequences.
I wish these choices on no one (myself included), but if we do face them, I pray that we will have the courage and faith of Daniel and Jesus to do what is right, to the very end!
PRAYER:
Lord, this kind of courage is not something I can muster for myself. May Your Spirit make me strong on the inside, to do the right thing no matter what!