Right Judgment
2 kings 6:11 “The king of Aram… demanded, “Which of you is the traitor? Who has been informing the king of Israel of my plans?” 12 “It’s not us, my lord the king,” one of the officers replied. “Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel even the words you speak in the privacy of your bedroom!”
The background to today’s scripture reference is, the king of Aram was at war with Israel. The Bible says that whatever battle strategy Aram came up Read the rest of this entry
Be Discerning
Isa.11: 3 “And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears” [KJV]
Everything rises and falls on leadership [huge responsibility] and so every leader must be able to see the invincible and hear the inaudible. Read the rest of this entry
Build Up
Dan.6: 10 “But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room… He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.” [with emphasis].
We see from scripture that Daniel knew that a law had been passed that clearly put his life at risk. Yet, Daniel still prayed three times a day “as usual”. If you were in Daniel’s shoes, would you wait a few weeks before Read the rest of this entry
Acceptable Response
Dan.6: 14 “Hearing this, the king was deeply troubled, and he tried to think of a way to save Daniel. He spent the rest of the day looking for a way to get Daniel out of this predicament.”
There is such a huge contrast between Darius’ and Nebuchadnezzar’s responses to “defiance”. The reason is, Dairus obviously had experienced Daniel and had respect for him. Nebuchadnezzar on the other hand, had obviously not experienced the three young men and had no respect for them. In addition to that, Nebuchadnezzar had ulterior motives. His decree was out of his insecurity. Darius on the other hand yielded to “yes men” and discovered his error. However, favour and honour made Daniel a target. Some people’s response to favour is to avoid it all together and just coast through life. Some pray that God would reduce their measure of favour so that they will not attract attention. If you are favoured please be humble but embrace it and do not apologize for it or cut yourself down. You are not doing anyone a favour by making yourself look small. Stop it!
I know a family that would always train the domestic staff that they employ. They sponsor the person up to university level and give them a chance to make a life for themselves. So, they took in a boy, very intelligent chap, and started him up on the same path. He got into school and was excelling. One day, the boy’s mother showed up and started crying. She was convinced that the family wanted her son dead because if the people in the village hear of the boy’s progress, they will kill him. She pleaded with them to let him remain at the level of a domestic staff so that she can have her son in old age. They tried to point her to God’s protective covering that is available for her and her son. But when the woman saw that they were not accepting her proposition, she let it be. Then one day, she just showed up and took the boy back to the village.
Some people feel they need to wear rags to prolong their life. I am not saying you should become arrogant but if God’s favour on your life makes you a target, God Himself will protect you. We also see from the responses of the other administrators and high officers, that when people do not respond positively to the favour on another person, they became breakfast for lions. I pray that you will respond well, and those that become jealous of the favour on your life will be breakfast for lions in Jesus Name. If God is blessing your neighbor, He is in your neighborhood, so rejoice!
Prayer: O Lord, fight those fighting me; declare war on them for their attacks on me. Put on your armor, take your shield and protect me by standing in front, in Jesus Name. Amen [Ps.35:1-2, TLB]
Priority Focus
Dan.6: 26 “I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel. For he is the living God, and he will endure forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed, and his rule will never end.”
Our discourse for today flows from where we concluded yesterday, which is the responsibility of headship. Men, do not let this become a cause of condemnation to you or become a weight on your shoulders. Instead, just Read the rest of this entry
Head-Sheep
Dan.6: 24 Then the king gave orders to arrest the men who had maliciously accused Daniel. He had them thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. The lions leaped on them and tore them apart before they even hit the floor of the den.” [with emphasis]
We have to be very careful about our alliances and the choices we make. It was the fathers alone that took a stand against God and against Daniel. It was the fathers alone that took a step but when the punishment came, their wives and children were thrown into the lion’s den with them. Women, if your husband is behaving like a vagabond, it is in your best interest to ensure that he does not follow others to plot against or formulate negative reports about “Daniel”. Some people are “Daniels”; when other people come against them, those people and their families are destined for the lion’s den. Women, you be the “Abigail” [1 Sam.25] and warn him against that course of action. If he insists on going against Daniel, go behind him and settle with Daniel, David, or king Dairus as the case may be. That was what Abigail did and her life was preserved.
Secondly, it shows the power of headship. Your husband is your head, which means that it is in your own interest that it is well with him. If it is well with him, it is well you. If you think that it will be well you if it is not well with him, you are deceiving yourself. I know this is very sobering for women. But it is also deeply instructive for men because it puts you face to face with the responsibility of headship. Now to the single ladies, be careful who you marry because as his destiny goes so will yours. I am sure every woman, single or married, wants to know what she can do in such situations. The main thing you can do if are already married is to go on your knees and pray. If you are not yet married, then you are better positioned – be watchful! If love is the only thing you are basing your decision to marry him on, love alone is not enough.
It is so sobering that the man alone took a step and his entire family paid for it. That was how it worked particularly in those times because the king knows that if he kills the father alone, the son can rise up to take revenge. So, in a bid to protect himself, the king would rather wipe out the entire family. It is a very huge thing. So, ladies, that is why you have to pray for your husband. Pray like your life depends on it because it actually does. Pray that it will be well with him. It is only a foolish woman that would think it is a case of, “I told you so!” Guess what? It is going to affect both of you; that is how it works. In marriage, it is, rise together or fall together. I pray that you would keep rising in Jesus Name. As a man, the best thing is to follow Jesus’s leading – be His sheep!
Prayer: Father, I pray that my spouse will not judge by the sight of the eyes or the hearing of the ears, but that he will be led and ruled by Your Spirit alone, in Jesus Name. Amen!
Take Root
Philip.1:20 “For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ… And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die.”
Let us remember our commitment from yesterday and follow through on our commitment to join a Life Group, resume a Life Group, encourage and Read the rest of this entry
Better Together
Heb.10:24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near
These three boys could easily have bowed to protect their livelihood and their lives, then repent afterwards. This is what a lot of people do because they have convinced themselves that it is okay, God understands. Just bow, Read the rest of this entry
In The Details
Dan.3:27 “Then the high officers, officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke!”
The Bible included such detailed description of the men after they emerged from the fire to show us that God is the total deliverer. In Daniel 3:1-7 [please read], Nebuchadnezzar requiring his leadership to bow down Read the rest of this entry
