Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had a disturbing dream that caused him to seek council. His magicians, sorcerers and the like, could not give the king adequate answers. This led the king to order the execution of all the wise men in Babylon. However, there were a few truly wise men, especially one named, Daniel, who were followers of God.
God was merciful to Daniel and his friends who prayed with him by revealing the king's dream and it's interpretation. Daniel confessed to the king that he had no such wonderous powers by himself, but the highest praise was due his God for revealing these things to Daniel. So, as a result, the king spared the lives of Daniel and his praying friends. The king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him.
Further into the story we learn that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up an image of gold for all the people to fall down before and worship. Daniel’s three friends were not rebels, but they could only give their worship to their God. When faced with their disobedience, the king ordered them thrown into a blazing furnice. However, even the threat of death by fire did not move their steadfast faith in God. They were miraculously spared by God because of their faithfulness.
Proud people think too highly of themselves. Even if awards are given, or accolades proclaimed, humility is the only appropriate response to success because everything that we can accomplish in this life is through God's power and grace. To place oneself in the position of honor is to take honor from God in the sight of men. There is no way that a person with an attitude like that could also place God first in his life. Vanity is a creeping thing that can worm its way in, all the while zapping and depleting our desire to serve our Creator.
The humble and modest, as opposed to the proud, realize the true source of all that is good within themselves. Our abilities and strengths come from the Lord, our God, and we must know it. The Holy Spirit teaches us wonderful things as we yield control to Him. Being full of the Holy Spirit and being led by His directives creates for us a consistently precious lifestyle. If we truly desire a closer walk with Jesus, we need only to repent of our pride and stubborn self-reliance. So, choose to lean totally on God and be humble in His sight.
Today’s meditation: Pride and humility cannot coexist.
When children pray, they never hesitate to ask God for whatever they want. They are too young to filter their requests as adults often do. They are not concerned with asking within reasonable limits, nor do they try to appear unselfish in their requests. Children are open and honest when they pray. Maybe that is why the bible tells us to come to God as little children.
So when you pray, reveal your heart, realizing your own inability to provide what it is that you need. Ask with humble confidence because God is ever disposed to give mercy to His children. And when you sometimes must wait on God, persist relentlessly as a child would do, until God grants you answers. Remember, though, that His answer is not necessarily always going to be the one you were hoping for. But be assured that He will always do what is best for you.
Jesus said that if you remain in Him and His words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. Give it a try and see if the Father isn’t happy to be that involved with your true heart’s desires.
Today’s meditation: Ask, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
When we accepted Jesus as our Savior and invited the Holy Spirit into our lives, did we also receive all the kindness and all the truth of God? Now that's a good question. We acknowledge that God didn't send his Son into the world to condemn its people. He sent Jesus to save us by teaching us to revere God and to love people and truth. People can be difficult to love sometimes and unless we are actively seeking God's truth for our lives by learning what His Word teaches, we are not living out God's best for us.
Christ was truly God. But he didn't try to remain equal with God. Instead he gave up everything and became a man, when he became like one of us. Christ was humble and good. He obeyed God and even died on a cross as a living sacrifice for our sins. Jesus is everything to the Christian. His birth is celebrated because His life was full of kindness and truth. Our faith in Jesus, along with our study of the behavior He wants to impart to us, makes us so very glad that we have been chosen to follow Him. Christians can choose kindness and truth this Christmas and for the rests of our lives.
Today’s meditation: Celebrate the birth of kindness and truth!
What an awesome plan God devised to bring our lost and broken world back to Himself. He used an innocent young girl to produce the Messiah, Jesus, who was born in a stable with the animals. There were so many extraordinary circumstances that surrounded the conception and the birth of Mary’s son. Mary must have wondered about each circumstance and its importance as she loved and anxiously protected the welfare of her miracle child. What an incredible woman Mary must have been to find such favor with God that He selected her to give birth to the world's Savior.
Jesus lived an exemplary life, teaching God’s peace to everyone, and commissioning a dozen or so simple men to spread His message of love. Eventually Jesus consented to die as a sacrifice for our sins. Those first shepherds verified what the angels told them by traveling to Bethlehem and seeing for themselves the child asleep in a manager. They had evidence that would satisfy others, so they became the first to spread the Good News - Today, though some will still reject Him, Jesus is still waiting to be born again in some new believer's heart.
Today’s meditation: Tell everyone the Savior's story!
It is only an ever growing trust in and love for God that can enable a person to endure the temptations of life and remain content without complaint. Every one of us experiences various types of trials, and because of that, we are all candidates to either stand or fall.
The prize for enduring and overcoming our temptations will be the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to us. Our holy God desires to build our character and strength against evil temptations. However, He will always deliver us from the punishment of hell. We are to trust God for all our provision and remain steadfast in our love for Him. Our heavenly Father has sent us trials so that we may grow. He has used seemingly harsh trials to teach us to abandon the easy path and cling to truth, wisdom and justice. He is constantly refining those traits in us.
Today’s meditation: Our trials are temporary and endurable.
Even those who continually pursue mischief and follow the wrong path, who refuse to turn from their sinfulness, can be restored by God's infinite mercy. Rather than cutting off those who are lost, His long suffering is intended to lead them to repentance. Because God is so faithful, He fulfills His promises and covenants made by His mercy. All those who turn to God find forgiveness and grace. He delivers all the mercies and blessings He has promised.
Everyone who honors God's name, can trust Him because He is faithful to all who put their faith in Him. From heaven the Lord looks down to see if anyone is wise enough to search for Him. No one becomes Christ's follower without desiring it and seeking it with their whole heart - A Believer must earnestly seek Him. The invitation to believe in Christ's salvation is for everyone. His forgiveness is for all sinners, but we must first accept Christ's sacrifice and His Lordship. The knowledge of God is of inestimable value. His love is now given freely and completely. However, the time will eventually come when it will be impossible to obtain His favor.
Today’s meditation: Seek the Lord while He can still be found.
We, who have received the gift of salvation from Christ, have within us the living, Holy Spirit, who is our eternal spring of life. Believers have the Lord's doctrine, explaining and promising the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit, which proceed from Jesus our fountain, dwelling in our believing hearts. Christians who receive Christ's doctrine and believe in Him, will be perfectly satisfied. All the guilt of our sins have been blotted out and our souls have been purified before God. Since we are able to love Christ with all our hearts, we are also able to rest fully and happily in our God.
Like a spring that is continually supplied with water from the great deep, with which it has interaction, so will the soul of the genuine Believer be supplied with love and life - And all the other graces of the indwelling Holy Spirit, from our indwelling Lord Jesus. Like the heart distributes blood to every part of the human body, so God, by Jesus Christ, conveys the life giving streams of His providential goodness to all who believe and trust fully in Him.
Today’s meditation: Believers are supplied with Christ’s thirst quenching springs of life.