Does Society Call the Shots?

We jump right back into Daniel Chapter 6 today!

We'll start at verse three and read through verse ten. Go ahead and read that now.............



Go ahead...........


Okay, Daniel is distinguished among all the leaders (again) and has made it known of his integrity, leadership, and faithfulness to his God. Uh-oh, that becomes a problem.

In verse 4 some dudes were getting jealous of Daniel great distinguishedness (I'm not sure that's a word) anyway, they were out to get him. Just like in the day of Jesus, they went out to find something against him, but "they could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent."

Great things to take on for ourselves. Don't be corrupt...check. Don't be negligent...check...on most things...gerr...I've got to work on the whole don't be neglient when it comes to health, but that is a rabbit I'll chase some other day.

So, they say, "We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God."

They totally knew what it would take to get Daniel. Find what might make him trip, fall, make a mistake, or trap him. Hmmm, sounds like someone we know. I think his name is, yea, pretty sure...THE DEVIL!

So they go to King Darius and get him to sign a decree that if anyone prays to anyone other than the king they get a trip to the lion's den. And we're not talking Simba here. There lions are hungry, angry and trapped and they will kill anything that comes their way.

The decree was set and Daniel heard about it. Dang. So, what does a guy do?

"...he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God just as he had done before."

He was facing death and he knew it, and yet, he kept on honoring his God.

What are we facing in our day? I know we aren't going to the lions if we pray, but my word there are some pretty crappy things around that are persecuting us. Here in America we have amazing freedoms, however, they are being infringed upon and we must not back down. We will not let society dictate our faith.

Society likes to tell us where we came from i.e. monkeys. "But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water." 2 Peter 3

Society tell us we can kill the babies we don't want (HEAR ME--I mean no offense to those who have had abortions, I'm referring to what society tells us is okay) "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb" Ps. 139

Society tells us we can do whatever we want whenever we want for whatever reason "...since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind." Rom. 1

Society tells us to worship whomever we want in the name of freedom and tolerance "For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened." Rom. 1

The list goes on and on, but we cannot fail or grow weak. This is a fight worth fighting for.

How do we then live? Like Daniel. We will do what God has called us to do and we will not apologize for it. Be self-controlled and alert. your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

Stay sharp. Be strong. It is God we serve, not man. Dare to be like Daniel in our society.