When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house. The windows in its upper room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to God, just as he had done before. Daniel 6:10  HCSB

Then Daniel spoke with the king: “May the king live forever. My God has sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths. They haven’t hurt me, for I was found innocent before Him. Also, I have not committed a crime against you my king.”
Daniel 6:21-22 HCSB

The book of Daniel is a wonderful book which chronicles the experiences of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in captivity in Babylon. It is a wonderful account of the events that took place. I took these two verse today because I want to show that Daniel and his friend remained true to God no matter what those around them did. They put God first. Even when there was a law put into place forbidding Daniel to worship God, Daniel continued to worship God as he had done all along. He did not waver. He fully understood that continuing to worship God as he had done in the past would result in his being thrown in the lion’s den, but he trusted God to take care of him and that is just what God did.

Daniel chose to live his life God’s way and it served him well.  God rewarded Daniel time and time again.  This brings us to the issue of the lion’s den.  Daniel and his friends continued to gain favor with the king and many were jealous of them and tried to destroy them. They tried to find corruption in Daniel but couldn’t find any wrongdoing on his part. They tricked the king into issuing an order that anyone who bowed down and worshiped any God other than the king, over the next 30 days, would be thrown into the lions’ den.  Well, Daniel worshiped the one true God so he had a choice to make.  He could put God on hold for 30 days.  He could worship in secret instead of where others could see him. Or, he could do as he had been doing and continue to worship God in the same way he had been doing. Well, once again Daniel made the right choice.  He put God first and let God take care of his enemies.  Did this get him thrown into the lions’ den? Yep it sure did, but it just means he had to endure the smell of the lions’ den for the night.  He was safe and secure because God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths and Daniel was unharmed.

Daniel stayed steadfast and true.  He remained undefiled by the ways of the world.  He didn’t let the world around him cause him to lose his focus on God.  He didn’t let others pull him away from God. In doing so, he found favor in God.  Oh and by the way, his three friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego also stayed true and God brought them through the fiery furnace without even the smell of soot on them.

I talk a lot about God delivering us and protecting us, but I want to make one thing clear.  God’s deliverance and protection doesn’t come without a price.  God expects us to live up to our end of the bargain.  He expects us to bring glory to Him.  He expects us to seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly (Micah 6:8) with Him. But most of all, he expects us to trust Him.  Daniel could have apologized for worshiping the Lord and begged the king for mercy, but instead he walked calmly into the lions’ den knowing that God would take care of him one way or another.  Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did not go kicking and screaming into the fiery furnace.  They trusted God 100%.  They stayed steady and strong.

Now the end of the book of Daniel is entitled “The End Times”.  Daniel had questions about the end times as we all do.  God explained to him that some will be purified and cleansed and others will remain wicked until the end.

So today, you have that same choice.  You can choose to be like Daniel.  You can remain strong and steady and put God first or you can be unwise and follow the ways of the world.  You can remain wicked until the end.

If you choose to put God first then, be prepared to stand strong and not let the world convince you to do otherwise.  Stay steady and strong.  If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31) When you are facing the lions’ den or the fiery furnace, don’t lose your focus.  Honor God in what you say and do and He will take good care of you.

Have a great day!