In Daniel 6, we read the familiar story of Daniel in the lions’ den. Daniel 6:3 clues us in on the kind of man Daniel was – he distinguished himself above others because “an excellent spirit was in him.” Because he was that kind of man, he found favor with the king and was set to become second in command over the whole kingdom.

One truth we cannot escape, one that is illustrated throughout the Bible is that we reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7). Daniel was in a position to receive God’s blessing because he consistently demonstrated whole-hearted daily commitment to God. While he found favor in God’s eyes, and in eyes of the king, he fell into disfavor with his colleagues who grew jealous of Daniel’s rise to prominence in the kingdom.

Living for Jesus will not ensure that we will avoid critics and detractors. In fact, Paul warned Timothy that all of those who desire to live godly lives will suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3:12). In Daniel’s case, through the scheming of those who despised him he found himself thrown into a den of lions. Miraculously, God closed the mouths of the lions.

If you are living a godly life, you, too, have your detractors. You know what it is like to be criticized for being who you know God wants you to be. Your detractors have their own lions – slander, criticism, negativity, ridicule, just to name a few. Just remember, if you are living a faithful life for Jesus, those “lions” say more about your detractors than about you.

My encouragement to you…stay faithful. The only “fault” Daniel’s detractors could find in him was his faithfulness to God (Daniel 6:4-5). Stay faithful and entrust your lions’ den to God. Pray that He will give you strength to stay faithful, that He will shut the mouths of your lions, and that He will deal with your detractors in His way and in His time.