Faith Like Daniel

Two weeks in a row now, at two different churches and from two different preachers, my wife and I have heard sermons based out of Daniel 6.  This particular chapter of the Bible is about the famous "Daniel and the Lions Den" that many of us who were raised in Sunday School have heard.  I feel that God is trying to tell me something but I'm not quite sure what.  Being in the situation, hearing the same thing from two different men twice has put my mind in motion to praying and think about what it is God is trying to say.  Still not sure if there is anything deeper than simply driving home a point, God has revealed to me lesson in which I think we all could learn from.  Daniel was saved from the mouths of the lions because of his faith.  As a result the king praised God, the God of Daniel for who He is!  What if Daniel wasn't as faithful?  Not just in that moment but throughout his life.  When he was first taken into captivity by the Babylonians he was faithful and didn't want to "defile himself with the king's food." (Daniel 1:8).  Daniel was also faithful when he interpreted the dreams for king Nebuchadnezzar for the glory of God! (Daniel 2).  He continually went to God throughout the day to pray while under king Darius (Daniel 6:10).  What if he wasn't faithful?  Maybe he wouldn't have been in such a predicament, but then he would not have had so many opportunities to build his relationship with God as he was shown such incredible love by God.  Maybe the king wouldn't have had the chance to see the mighty and miraculous hand of God in Daniel's life which he, king Darius, then turned back to praise for God.  This is what I have been thinking about.

So often the younger generation of Christians are looking for what God has in store for our lives and we want to make such a great impact for Him.  But in our blindness to His plans, we only see the end and what all we want to do for God.  So often we miss the opportunities throughout our life to show our faithfulness towards our God and go day by day with Him.  We are His servants and ultimately our story is His story.  Our lives are not about us but about Him.  My goal for myself is to keep a keen eye for opportunities, small or large, to show my love for the LORD and faithfulness to my God and I challenge you to do the same.  Look for these opportunities in the now, not just for where you think God is ultimately taking you.