In THIS Jungle The Lion Never Sleeps

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.

Before You Give Up, Read This

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What tempts you to give up?  In whatever desired activity – fitness, sports, reading, relationships, getting your life in order, anything that requires a sustained effort – we all face the occasional temptation to give up.

The same holds true of our Christian life.  Most of us meet the subtle opposition and obstacles of our enemy as he tries to derail our Christian life.

In just 52 days, Nehemiah and his helpers rebuilt from rubble the broken down walls of the once great city Jerusalem. You can read the story in Nehemiah 6.  From his experience, let me offer three challenges to help us face our opposition.

First, don’t be DISTRACTED.  Nehemiah had work to do, and to meet with his enemies, as they offered, would mean he would have to stop working.  Beware of the devil’s attempt to get you busy doing so many good things that you have no time, energy, or resources to do what God specifically wants you to do.  Every good thing is not necessarily God’s thing for you.

Second, don’t be DISCOURAGED.  Nehemiah’s enemies started a nasty rumor about him, intending to get him in trouble with the Persian king.  Nehemiah recognized their attempt to intimidate him and halt his work.

Winston Churchill famously said, “You have enemies?  Good.  That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.” 

The Bible reminds us in 2 Timothy 3:12 that all who desire to live Godly lives for Jesus will be persecuted.  Nehemiah did not pray that God would deliver him FROM the opposition but that God would strengthen his hands to keep working IN SPITE OF the opposition.  Good advice for us.

Finally, don’t be DECEIVED.  Nehemiah’s hired a local to convince Nehemiah to hide in the temple.  The problem with that was that Nehemiah wasn’t a priest and didn’t belong in the temple. His enemies tried to make him become something he was not.  Don’t allow your enemy to use subtle rationalization try to get you to deviate from who God is making you.

Even after the project, Nehemiah’s enemies didn’t give up.  Our enemy doesn’t give up either.  But then . . . neither should we.