A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
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Tuesday,
September 17, 2019
An
early morning scene in Lancaster County on
Edisonville Road near Strasburg.
The
huge Sight and Sound Theater is in the background.
(Click
to enlarge)
"Just
As He Had Done Before"
"Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before" (Daniel 6:10).
Message summary:
May God help us all to cultivate a Biblically-based
standards of behavior and a personal devotional life
and maintain them whatever the cost may be.
"Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before" (Daniel 6:10).
Dave is
a friend who runs a local business who is paying a
price due to his adherence to His Bible based beliefs.
Forces of darkness and ignorance have targeted
his business using the social media mob tactics. But
he is remaining strong and unwavering.
All
through history people of faith have paid a price for
their stand in a hostile world. It of course continues
in our own age in a variety of ways. Today let us
consider an example from Daniel.
For most
readers Daniel is best known as a prophet and for the
Bible book that bears his name. However, he had a
long, distinguished career in civil service serving
with several administrations and worldly kingdoms.
He made
a decision as a youth that he would remain true to his
faith and standards. "But Daniel resolved not to
defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he
asked the chief official for permission not to
defile himself this way" (Daniel 1:8). This was
likely an expression of his obedience to the Jewish
laws.
The
daily text takes place late in his life. Some
troublemakers were out to get him. But the standard
tactics didn't work since, "The administrators and
the satraps tried to find grounds for charges
against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs,
but they were unable to do so. They could find no
corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and
neither corrupt nor negligent" (Daniel 6:4).
What a testimony! Oh for politicians and government
officials in our age to have the same record.
"Finally
these men said, 'We will never find any basis for
charges against this man Daniel unless it has
something to do with the law of his God'"
(Daniel 6:5). He was about to face a similar test as
he did in his youth.
Essentially
the troublemakers played up to the king to issue a
decree regarding prayer, "That anyone who prays to
any god or human being during the next thirty days,
except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into
the lions’ den" (Daniel 6:7).
In our
daily text Daniel demonstrated his faith in God by
praying. Notice the final phrase in the verse, "just
as he had done before". Other versions state, "as he
had been doing previously" (Amplified), "as
he did aforetime" (KJV), "just like he
always did" (CEB).
Daniel
was not doing it just to make a statement or to test
the resolve of the king's decree that forbid the act
of prayer. This had been his ongoing practice.
It was this act of obedience that led to Daniel's
being cast into the lion's den. In fact the decree was
merely intended by his enemies to be a trap.
May God
help us all to cultivate a Biblically-based standards
of behavior and a personal devotional life and
maintain them whatever the cost may be.
Be
encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, we
are grateful that the story of Daniel is included in
Scripture that we might learn from his sterling
example. As Your devoted follower He formed the
habit of praying to You three times a day in an
environment where allegiance was not directed to the
one true God but to others gods and to the king. He
withstood the godless orders of the day and stayed
true to You "as He had been doing previously". May
our faith and our habits of devotion to You
not be deterred by man's law but keep us trusting
You even more when others trust You less. In the
name of Jesus we pray, Amen.
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, we
are grateful that the story of Daniel is included in
Scripture that we might learn from his sterling
example. As Your devoted follower He formed the
habit of praying to You three times a day in an
environment where allegiance was not directed to the
one true God but to others gods and to the king. He
withstood the godless orders of the day and stayed
true to You "as He had been doing previously". May
our faith and our habits of devotion to You
not be deterred by man's law but keep us trusting
You even more when others trust You less. In the
name of Jesus we pray, Amen.
We pass
this barn north of
Quarryville, PA
and especially
noticed the very
narrow structure
in the front which
appears to be for
some kind of
storage.
Our area
has many of these
displays selling
decorative fall
items.
Fisher's
Greenhouse on N.
Star Road near
Strasburg changed
their display to
fall which
includes many
ornamental
vegetables and of
course mums.
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Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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