Verse 3 - In all that we do, we should do it for God. It will make us shine. Daniel is said to have a spiritual life - with powers, but he was only brought to authority because he had "distinguished himself".
John 15: Remember the word that I said to you. A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me they will persecute you.
Will the promise of persecution stop us? Or we will carry on to live on God's word?
1) Pride and self worship - will blind us to what is right
2) It is a strong temptation to use other people to boast our "glory"
Verse 7 - How could Darius have possibly not known that Daniel was worshipping God? OF COURSE Daniel would not abide by this new law! His enemies knew this, and this would be the only way to get him into trouble! Darius wasn't thinking/seeing clearly because of his pride.
Can we be like Daniel who, in verse 10, continued to serve his God despite the man made law? Are we willing to be ostracised and faithful to God?
End of verse 10 states "Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before." We can only be faithful one day at a time. It takes a process.
Throwing a man into a lion's den is no less certain of resulting in death than throwing a man into a fiery furnace. His opponents think that they have won, but all of a sudden, it is them who are thrown into the den. Evil is punished straight away.
This passage also foreshadows for us God punishing everyone who does not believe in Him by sending them to hell. Because God is good, He will punish us for our sins. But in His great love, God sent us Jesus as a substitute sacrifice to those who will believe.
Daniel lived in Jesus's light despite living in a harsh culture.
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