Daniel

A confession of Christ means something more than bearing testimony in social meeting. Daniel is an example to believers as to what it means to confess Christ. He held the responsible position of prime minister in the kingdom of Babylon, and there were those who were envious of Daniel among the great men of the court, and they wanted to find something against him that they might bring an accusation against him to the king. But he was a faithful statesman, and they could find no flaw in his character or life.

“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” (Daniel 6:5). So they agreed together to ask the king to make a decree that no one should ask any petition of any God or man for thirty days save of the king, and if any disobeyed this decree, he was to be cast into the den of lions.

But did Daniel cease to pray because this decree was to go into force? No, that was just the time when he needed to pray. “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 aforetime” Daniel did not seek to hide his loyalty to God. He did not pray in his heart, but with his voice, aloud, with his window open toward Jerusalem, he offered up his petition to heaven….

We may know that if our life is hid with Christ in God, when we are brought into trial because of our faith, Jesus will be with us. When we are brought before rulers and dignitaries to answer for our faith, the Spirit of the Lord will illuminate our understanding, and we shall be able to bear a testimony to the glory of God. And if we are called to suffer for Christ’s sake, we shall be able to go to prison trusting in Him as a little child trusts in its parents. Now is the time to cultivate faith in God.—The Review and Herald, May 3, 1892.
Ye Shall Receive Power p. 269
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Prayer Requests
—-E and children need your prayers. R
—-Please continue to pray for Richard and Sarah. He has started chemo and radiation and she had a major seizure because of all the stress and is still having problems because of it. Rose
—-Please pray that them trying to shut down the currency will be delayed because this is going to affect everyone. Rosemary
—-Prayers for my friend Jaclyn. She has recently had her 3rd seizure of the year. Docs think she may have a form of epilepsy and are trying to get her in for a sleep study to diagnose. Prayers that she gets answers and healing. It’s hard for her as a single mom because she cannot drive until cleared by her doctor. It seems like when she’s just ready to get cleared, she has a setback. She’s extremely discouraged right now. Jennifer
—-Please continue to pray for baby Wyatt. Mary
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Dear Friends,

Ever since my mother took me to the Cave of the Mounds when I was nine, I have taken cave tours whenever I could. Some years ago, when we were on vacation in South Dakota, Esther suggested that we go to Jewel Cave. I was ready for a wonderful view of God’s handiwork under the earth despite the fact that I had been warned about that cave a few years before. Somehow, I just forgot all about that.

When the person at the ticket counter told us that there were 723 stair-steps in the cave, I asked if the tour guide went slowly and if the stairs were short flights interspersed with level areas. After being assured that was the case, we paid for the tickets. We began the cave tour by joining the rest of the people who were waiting for the tour to begin.

When we descended into the cave, however, I knew I was in trouble. Most of the path was either up or down on metal stairs. The “short flights” of stairs were not short at all. There were few level places to catch our breath. To add to my misery, the tour guide was a young, tough, no-nonsense type girl who could run a marathon without any exertion. She walked so fast, that I felt like a child trying to keep up with the long strides of a tall adult. I asked the guide if they ever had to call the paramedics. She replied, “Not often.” That was no comfort. Even worse was the fact that most of the cave was uninteresting limestone. There were very few crystals, even less flowstone, and only tiny stalactites and stalagmites in one area of the cave. Basically, it had two small areas that were “living.” About half-way through, I felt like I could go no farther. My legs felt like jelly. Thankfully, Esther came to my rescue. She got behind me and literally pushed me up the stairs. Seeing out dilemma, some nice man and his wife helped with the pushing. I was too tired to be too humiliated. I was just thankful when we got out of that place.

How often we need a helping hand spiritually just like I needed one physically in the cave. Paul tells us, “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Phil 2:1-8 Just as Jesus set aside His Own position as King of the Universe to come to this dark and cave-like world in order to serve mankind because of a love for us, so we must, from a heart of love help others on the path of life. He says to us as He said to His disciples when they were striving amongst themselves who would be the greatest, “Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” Matt 20:25-28; John 15:12-14

“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” 1 John 3:18

Rose