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REFUSING TO COMPROMISE

by willetta pilcher  
4/17/2008 / Christian Living

Conspirators tricked King Darius into passing a decree condemning to death anyone who prayed to a god or man except Darius for a period of 30 days. The idea was to entrap Daniel, whom they knew prayed to God daily.

Upon hearing this decree, Daniel refused to compromise. He was condemned to be eaten by lions as a result, though God saved him. Christians today may have to choose between their faith and their jobs, family, or social standing.

1. THE CONSPIRACY

Dan 6:4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
Dan 6:5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.
Dan 6:6 Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live forever.
Dan 6:7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counselors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.

Daniel obviously lived a very righteous life. What a testimony to the godless society in which he lived! This was a heathen country with all kinds of idols and the perversions that went with it. Yet, Daniel remained faithful to God. It caused him to "stick out like a sore thumb" but that was not a concern of his. Faithfulness to God was uppermost in his mind.

Why is it that righteousness is such an affront to those who chose to live unrighteously? Why are they not content to just continue living like they do and let the righteous person do the same? Why is there such hatred toward the believer?

Pondering those questions causes one to come up with only one answer. Righteousness is a "rebuke" to unrighteousness. It requires the unrighteous one to consider his own personal lifestyle and the sin which controls him. It is his own sinful condition that requires him to "self-justify" himself and make himself "OK."

There is a demand in all of us to be "right." When there is an occasion to be confronted with the fact that we are not right, something within us (our carnal nature) rises up in self-justification and then attempts to pull others down so that we may look "OK."

Statements of "you think you're so righteous," "you think you're such a goody-goody," "you think you're so perfect," "what makes you think you have the right to judge me," etc. are often accompanied in the effort to belittle others so that one can appear to be righteous in ones own eyes.

In Daniel's case, these presidents and princes were being passed over for promotion. Daniel had risen rapidly in the King's favor and had been promoted to a high office. So jealousy seems to be their motivation. Rather than dig in and work hard they found it more convenient to try and destroy Daniel.

Don't be surprised when the circles that you move in, including your family, lash out against you when your life is a constant rebuke to them. They will find any fault that they can and remind you that you aren't perfect. What a convenient time to remind them that you are not perfect, that is why you need the blood of Jesus to cover you and forgive you.

Christians aren't perfect, even though we strive for such, we constantly need the purifying presence of the Lord Jesus. That is not to be considered a weakness but a faithful dependency on Him for our very existence!

2. DANIEL'S REACTION

Dan 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did formerly.

One might ask if this was an act of defiance. Did Daniel have the "attitude" of, "no one is going to tell me how to worship," or was it a matter of being faithful to God? He could have excused himself by saying, "The King has decreed and so I must be obedient to my superior," but he didn't. Obedience to God meant more to Daniel than the consequences which might come as a result of his choice

How faithful are we? Do we excuse ourselves to protect our job, our relationships, or our social standing? Do we compromise our convictions to look "normal" to those around us or to save ourselves from being criticized or taunted?

Daniel stands as an example of how we should react in such situations. Most of us do not face the prospect of a lions den experience... although we may in the future. Daniel had obviously made up his mind as to whom he would serve and how faithful he would be, long before the King's decree.


3. THE KING'S COMMAND

Dan 6:16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spoke and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.

I've often wondered how Daniel felt as he stood at the door of the lions den. Did he have second thoughts? Did he struggle with his captors? Did he question his faith?

I doubt that any of those things took place. My reasoning is this... Daniel's reply to the king was strong and respectful.

4.DANIEL'S CONFIDENCE

Dan 6:21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live forever.
Dan 6:22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.

Daniel's confidence lay in God and in his own innocency. His conscience did not bother him. He knew that what he had done was right and therefore his captors bore the fault not himself. He knew that even before the King he had performed his duties well and therefore he was without fault. That is why he could have implicit trust in God at this crucial moment in his life.

How many of us could stand with such confidence at such a moment as this? Our lions den might not be an actual lion's den. It might be standing for righteousness when the boss demands certain variations from truth. Or perhaps the demands of an unsaved (or at least an uncommitted) spouse might make our life very difficult.

But as an end result, Daniel would come forth without a scratch.

5. THE KING'S DECREE

Dan 6:25 Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
Dan 6:26 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and steadfast forever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.

Daniel's faithfulness in the face of imminent tragedy spoke volumes about his faithfulness to his God. His faithfulness and righteous stand caused the King to stand up and take notice. It caused him to declare that Daniel's God was indeed the living God and steadfast forever.

Do you want to see your life effect others and point them to God? Then don't bow to unrighteousness. That does not mean that you will take a prideful or haughty attitude toward those who are unrighteous. That would be just as sinful as they appear to be. But in humility serve God with faith and faithfulness. Sinners take notice of that and when you are faithful in the tough times they too will declare that there is something about your faith that makes you different. It will also point them to the fact that God is steadfast forever.

Willetta has spent most of her life ministering to people. In her late seventies, and a wheelchair now her mode of travel, she now ministers to people through the internet. Her webs are...
www.teachmethyways.org
www.successwithkids.org
www.theseedsower.org

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS

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