Monday March 7, 2011

Read Daniel 6:1-5

When we choose to live for the Lord and make a firm decision to be deliberately distinctive, we WILL face opposition.  The Scriptures assure us that we will have trouble (John 16:33) and that if we want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus we will face persecution (2 Tim 3:12). The reason is simple.  It is revealed to us in 1 John 5:19 that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.  Satan can and will use the people of the world  to attack those believers who stand out brightly for Jesus.  Yet Luther, the great reformer, used to find solace in  these very attacks because they were an encouragement that he was doing great damage to the kingdom of darkness through his life and preaching.

How do we fight these battles? How do we prepare ourselves? For Daniel  there was at least a two pronged attack. The first attack was prayer . Daniel had resolved to meet with his God at least three times a day. He had been conscious to start each day with God as had the biblical greats like Abraham (Gen 19:27), King David (Psalm 5:3) and even Jesus himself (Mark 5:3). For Daniel, prayer was not incidental but essential. It was not fast food takeaway but his staple daily diet.  If you and I are going to weather the attacks of the world we must, must must must, must spend time with the Lord each day. We must start the day with the Lord and seek His face regularly throughout.  We will never be spiritual warriors if we give God 15 tired and worn out minutes before we fall into a deep exhausted sleep at the end of the day.

The second means of attack is to walk in holiness.  Daniel had proved himself to be a trustworthy man. He was neither corrupt nor negligent.  He conducted himself in excellence and qualities.  If we heed the NT and work at all things as though working for the Lord (Col 3:23) we will close the door on possible attacks and render null and void many of the attacks of the evil one. To be holy and blameless is to have both private and public integrity. We must consciously choose to put aside sinful tendencies and practices in our public life but also when nobody else is watching. To be ready for battle and to ward off the enemies attacks, I need to turn off the TV late at night when scantily clad or naked women are being shown. I need to stop viewing inappropriate sites on the internet and on the phone. I need to stop harbouring bitter thoughts of revenge and payback. I need to put aside the coveting of the neighbours things. I need to walk in holiness whether I am being watched or not.

Prayer:-

þ Pray for the work of Teen Challenge and Life Free (Tassie) as they seek to battle addiction in the lives of teenagers and young adults.  Pray that God would bring victory to those affected.

þ Pray that God would bless the work of Straight Talk.