Do you long to win God's favor?
Do you desire to have a special relationship with God?
Then dare to be a Daniel!
I was reading the book of Daniel recently and was struck by the fact that in three places the angel Gabriel told him how much he meant to God.
Here's the first:
"While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my plea before the LORD my God for the holy hill of my God, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the first, came to me in swift flight at the time of the evening sacrifice. He made me understand, speaking with me and saying, 'O Daniel, I have now come out to give you insight and understanding. At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out, and I have come to tell it to you, for you are greatly loved. Therefore consider the word and understand the vision'" (Daniel 9:20-23 English Standard Version).
The second time the angel of the Lord spoke to Daniel about God's love was in Daniel chapter ten.
"And behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. And he said to me, 'O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you.' And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling" (Daniel 10:10 & 11 ESV).
The third time the angel of the Lord said,
"'O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you: be strong and of good courage" (Daniel 10:19 ESV).
As I read this third affirmation of God's love for Daniel, I began to search for the ways he'd won God's heart.
Daniel faced misfortune with courage.
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, had come against Jerusalem with his armies, battered down her walls and had carried away the people into bondage.
Daniel's home was probably burned, his family killed or sold into slavery---and Daniel himself was made a eunuch, along with his fellow prisoners, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
Can you imagine what a crushing experience this must have been for Daniel? He was separated from his family, a stranger in a foreign land, made a eunuch (castrated) with no hope of ever having a family, serving as a slave in the court of the king.
Daniel applied himself to study and learning. He was chosen to be one of the elite young men who served in the king's palace.
"Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility. Youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning and competent to stand in the kind's palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans" (chapter 1:3 & 4).
Daniel knew he could do nothing about his position as a prisoner of war. He was stuck in a tough situation. So he needed to make the best of it. A wise lesson for us all!
Daniel took an early stand for clean living.
He knew that many of the things eaten in the king's court were unclean---that wine and alcoholic drinks flowed freely---so he took his stand early. The Bible says, "But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food (meat) or with the wine that he drank" (chapter 1:8 ESV).
And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs. He allowed Daniel and his fellow prisoners of war to eat clean foods and vegetables instead. God also gave Daniel dreams and visions and the gift of interpreting them.
The Bible says, "As for thee four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams" (verse 1:17 ESV).
Daniel maintained an excellent spirit.
When the going gets hard, it's easy to turn sour, begin complaining, and thinking God doesn't care about you. However, Daniel kept his heart right and served three successive kings: 1st Nebuchadnezzar, 2nd Belshazzar and the 3rd king, Darius. The Bible says: "It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps (princes) to be throughout the whole kingdom; and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss. Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other presidents and satraps, BECAUSE AN EXCELLENT SPIRIT WAS IN HIM" (chapter 6:1-3 ESV).
If you and I want to get ahead in life, we must guard our spirit. The Bible says,"A man's spirit will endure sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?"(Proverbs: 18:14).
It is so easy to become disappointed in life. Parents become disappointed with their children; children become bitter against their parents. Employers are let down by their employees, and employees feel used and abused by their companies.
Guard your spirit---stay positive. Don't allow any grudge or bitterness to find root in your life. Be enthusiastic and full of joy. The word "enthusiasm" is a combination of two words: en and Theos. "En" means within and "Theos" means God. Placed together they mean THE GOD WITHIN.
Jesus, the Son of God, lives within you and me. The Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts. Christians, above all people, should be the most enthusiastic people on earth. We are full of joy because:
- Our sins have been forgiven.
- We are heirs of God.
- We're on our way to heaven.
- We will inherit the earth and rule and reign with Jesus Christ forever and ever.
How can we complain? Or be sad?
Jesus said, "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33 ESV).
Daniel intercedes for his people.
In chapter 9, where Daniel prays for his people, we discover that he prays intercessory prayers as if he, Daniel, is the transgressor. He says, "We have sinned and done wrong" (verse 5). "We have not listened to your servants the prophets" (verse 6). "To us, O Lord, belongs open shame" (verse 7) etc.
Daniel understood the key to intercessory prayer is to "stand in" for the guilty by proxy, praying their prayers for them---as if you are the transgressor.
For many years, while our daughter Lisa was running from God, Connie and I prayed prayers, confessing her sins, as if they were our very own.
Have you tried this approach to God? It will help move the Lord, as Daniel's prayers did.
Daniel believed in everlasting life and everlasting death.
The Bible says, "And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to everlasting shame and everlasting contempt" (Daniel 12:2 ESV).
Daniel also believed in the rewards God promises to soulwinners.
"And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above, and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever" (Daniel 12:3 ESV).
It's easy to see why God loved Daniel above others. And the Lord will love you and me with the same zeal if we follow His principles of righteousness.
I don't have space to tell you about Daniel in the lion's den. I'll have to save that for another day. But I'll say this much: Someone suggested to me the reason the lion did not eat Daniel was because he was all backbone!
Here are the six characteristics of Daniel described above put into a summary for you to view.
Let's dare to be a Daniel!