Daniel showed tremendous courage by speaking the truth to the king, who of course, had absolute control over Daniel’s life. As you read the impact Daniel eventually had upon the king, it reminds us that seldom will people change unless there is conflict. Jesus caused enormous conflict. Telling people they are sinners isn’t a popular thing to do. We not only have conflicts with others, but we also have internal struggles and contradictions. We have conflicts about doing what God wants us to do, too. Jesus had a conflict in Gethsemane with drinking the cup of crucifixion. A Jesus-follower is often at odds with our culture and its kingdom, with our own kingdom of self, and with the kingdom of darkness.

“My Tribute”, “Through it All”, “Bless His Holy Name,” and “To God Be the Glory” are just a few of Andrae Crouch’s songs. Another goes: “I’ve Got Confidence – God is going to see me through. No matter what the case may be, I know He’s gonna fix it for me.” Believers are not triumphalist (thinking everything always goes our way – it doesn’t!). On the other hand, we are not fatalists. God IS in control. We can trust Him. This text reminds me of Oral Robert’s annual sermon describing who “the fourth man” was in every book of the Bible. The witness of Daniel 3:17-18, “but even if He does not” [save us] reminds me of Job’s trust in God, even if He slays me (Job 13:15). Our confidence is in Christ: 2 Corinthians 3:4-6 = pure gold! - Pastor Tom Harrison

“Interpretation” helps analyze, clarify and explain what is baffling, mysterious, unsolved, inexplicable, perplexing, secret, puzzling, confusing or strange. I marvel at those who speak multiple languages. My Israeli friend, David Assael, speaks Hebrew, Portuguese, Spanish, English and Italian. A good interpreter is essential to explain meanings. Daniel was the right guy in the palace of “the king of the world.” Likewise, believers are to interpret to a babbling world God’s activity through Jesus Christ. It is indeed, confusing. One of my favorite stories is Bruchko, the story of our friend Bruce Olson, who interpreted the gospel to the Motilone Indians in Columbia: the gospel made a huge difference in their lives.

“Resolve” is “a resolution, determination, steadfastness, grit, tenacity, doggedness, firmness and/or persistence.” Resolve makes a decision or takes a stand. As we study Daniel and his Jewish friends living in exile in Babylon, we see what a difference taking a godly stand can make. They had impeccable credentials, while many others in the Bible showed resolve but had some serious lapses: Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, Hezekiah, Elijah, John the Baptist and Peter. We love the uncompromising resolve of: Joseph, Ruth, Hannah, Mordecai and Esther, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Nehemiah, Paul and Jesus. Whether we have lapses or stay true to the end, we all have influence. Let’s make ours count.

It is one thing to be a spectator but something entirely different when we actually get into the game. The Book of James insists upon action. The book in the New Testament following the four Gospels is “The Actions of the Apostles.” Some doctrines and beliefs are noteworthy in “Acts,” but most of the book tells the story of how God acted and the responses that followed. Actions are very important. We are what we do. James insists that believers don’t just hear the Word, but we are to obey it. As Bob Goff wrote, “Love Does.” We also must affirm nobody will be perfect in their actions. We all sin, even after conversion. Yet, our failures do not negate the importance of staying in the game.

Most of us resist discipline. For many, the disciplined life is not our bias. We prefer a “Lazy-Boy recliner” (not a “Worker Boy” – that chair wouldn’t sell). Yet if we don’t exercise discipline, we find discipline exercising us. Unfortunately, sometimes we don’t seem to learn until we have suffered. Discipline is hard, but being disciplined may be even harder. Cooperating with God’s way pays far better dividends than sloth, which is one of the major spiritual inhibitors to growth. Richard Foster’s classic book, “Celebration of Discipline,” is helpful with specific applications on this topic. Jesus used an analogy about pruning the vine to stress discipline. When we discipline one area of life, other areas seem to follow naturally, too.

John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, was emphatic: “I am a man of one book.” This 18th century Englishman was extremely well-read, but the Bible was the authority for his life. Something or someone will be the authority for us, too. The “kingdom of self” is our default. The “kingdom of God” dethrones our natural self-centeredness to create a completely different worldview than our own limited biases. Just as children must be instructed that “mine!” isn’t going to cut it in life, so followers of Jesus must learn a new path. THE authority of our lives must shift from ME to God. We don’t worship the Bible, but this is the book which shows us WHY we worship, WHO we worship and HOW to live.

When we align with God’s will, we can bloom where we’re planted. Communion is our active participation in Jesus. As we are “in Him” through faith, and as He is “in us” through the Holy Spirit, so we are bound together as the Body of Christ and united to believers all over the world. But this bond is conditional – we must believe (trust) in Christ. Then we “work out” our salvation. We must get this right–we don’t work FOR our free gift of salvation–but we live it out. God’s plan is that Christians cooperate and participate with one another for the purpose of reaching the world for Christ. One of the greatest joys of the Christian life is growing through participation in the ministry of Jesus. We grow in faith by participation or we grow in boredom when we don’t make the effort.