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Text: Daniel 6
When we think of exiles, we might think of something like a political exile. Or maybe some of us might think of someone who has been exiled to prison. But the truth is, as Christians, we are not called to be of this world. Our home is not what we see and experience around us, the creation of this world is simply the way that God chose write His story and bring His people to Him. So when we talk about being exiles, we really are exiles in this land. Exiled from the intimacy of God our Father because of the fallenness of sin, yet on a journey of reconciliation through Jesus.
So what does it mean to be a faithful exile? Daniel shows us a highly righteous and pious way of living, likely giving an example that is unachievable for most of us these days. Even though Daniel maybe didn’t always agree with his captors, he still treated their wealth with the same amount of respect as he did his own. Being a state accountant, this was obviously a character trait highly valued by those he worked for. His whole life, every action he took, was shaped by his faith. And even when persecuted for it, he remained steadfast. Now I’m not saying Daniel wasn’t dry heaving in the corner of that lions den. You can absolutely pray and be faithful while getting rid of your breakfast because you’re also terrified. Or that he wasn’t more than a little palm sweaty. But what I am saying is, look at his reaction when the stone that sealed him in was rolled away:
“21 Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! 22 My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”
That’s a faithful man’s reaction. That’s a man who has experienced a saving miracle of our all powerful God. So the question we should ask ourselves is: is my life shaped by my faith in God? Are the bible passages that I read and study actually represented outwardly to those around me? Would people that don’t know me be surprised I am a Christian?
We are all living in a ‘lions den’ of sorts, lets wrap ourselves in Gods word and hold fast to the faith we are called to live in.
For additional content, check out the latest episode of The Clearer Thinking Podcast.
-Written by Kate Tigchelaar
And p.s- If you’ve read Daniel 6 and you’re wondering – a Satrap is a provincial governor, kinda like an MP or an MPP.
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