From: November 26, 2024
“But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter day” (Daniel 2:28 ESV).
Daniel introduced Nebuchadnezzer, king of Babylon, to the God of heaven. He made it clear that what the king had asked of his wisemen was an impossible task, but the God of heaven had revealed the answer. For Nebuchadnezzer had asked that his wisemen tell him his dream and also give its interpretation. Failure to do so would result in all of the wisemen being executed. A death sentence hung over their heads until the Lord gave Daniel the answer that the king sought.
The divine title, “God of heaven,” is only in the Bible 23 times. It is in the Old Testament 21 times, occurring primarily in those books where the Jews were interacting with men of other religions, stressing that their God was no mere tribal deity, but the true God who ruled over all creation from His throne in heaven. The title appears only twice in the New Testament, both times in the book of Revelation, and again to show God as the one true God over all creation.
Daniel informed Nebuchadnezzer that it was the God of heaven who had given the king the dream and had revealed its secret to Daniel. Not only that, Daniel told the king that it was actually the God of heaven that had given him his throne. Nebuchadnezzer was so affected by Daniel’s words that he proclaimed, “Truly, your God is the greatest of gods, the Lord over kings, a revealer of mysteries” (Dan. 2:47). This was just the beginning of Nebuchadnezzer’s pronouncements concerning Daniel’s “God of heaven.” For before Daniel’s account of his reign is done, the prideful and polytheistic Nebuchadnezzer will humble himself, declaring that the Lord is the “Most High God” and the “King of Heaven” (Dan. 4:34-37).
PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, we are like Daniel in the sense that we too are exiles in this world. Teach us to declare Your Name to the nations, so that they might humble themselves and glorify You. Strengthen our resolve and give us wisdom to reach our generation with the Gospel. Send revival to this land. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: November 26, 2023
“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another” (1 Peter 4:10 NLT).
The apostle Peter reminded believers of the importance of loving and serving “one another.” This instruction included being hospitable. In other words, be friendly and welcoming to one another, giving of yourself and your substance as others have need. Open up both your homes and your hearts to one another. Peter further instructed to do it cheerfully, without complaining.
Complaining expresses a heart of ingratitude. It is an attitude that defeats the action of hospitality. For it shows that the gift was given begrudgingly. But when we are hospitable with gratitude in our hearts, the gift is given and received with joy and love.
So on this wonderful holiday weekend, remember to be hospitable (giving) to one another with gratitude (thanks). When you put them together, you have THANKS + GIVING!
And remember one more thing. There are 59 “one another” commands in the New Testament, but you can’t do the “one anothers” without one another! So make sure to get together with one another as often as you can and even more as the Day of Christ’s return approaches.
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for Your many blessings on us. We are overwhelmed with gratitude. Help us to show hospitality and thanks this day by the way we share our lives with one another, giving You all the glory and thanks. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: November 26, 2022
THE LOVE THAT COVERS SIN
The apostle Peter emphasized the importance of staying together as a Christian community in the face of increasing persecution. He wrote that the “most important” feature of such a unified community is love. For love doesn’t look for offense or imperfection. Indeed, it overlooks such things, keeping “no record of wrongs” (1 Cor. 13:5).
In Genesis 9, Noah’s son, Ham, saw his father’s drunken nakedness and told his brothers about it. However, Shem and Japheth backed into Noah’s tent, covering him with a robe, not wishing to see their father in such a state. Which of the sons acted in love? Wasn’t it the ones who covered their father’s sin?
Peter’s instruction is a reference to the Proverb, “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins” (Prov. 10:12). This is not an encouragement to cover-up, compounding one’s sin by lying about it or failing to confront it privately. No, it is a covering of love that patiently seeks to maintain relationship through thick and thin. It looks for the best in others, rather than fault-finding. Love helps the sinner make things right.
It was God’s great love that moved Him to send Christ to be the covering for our sins. For Christ is our covering. His blood has covered our sins. And we are hidden in Him, having “put on Christ” (Gal. 3:27), we are now all one in Him. And since our sins are covered, there is no need for a cover-up. We can be ourselves in Christ, knowing that we are deeply loved.
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for loving us even while we were still in our sin. For it was love that moved You to send Your only begotten Son to save us. Fill us with Your love that we might love one another as You have loved us. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: November 26, 2016
Standing firm for your faith against an idolatrous culture often leads to persecution. Yet, the three Hebrew exiles, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, chose to remain faithful to God in spite of the threat of execution. They expressed their sincere belief that God was able to rescue them from Nebuchadnezzar’s fiery furnace if He so willed. But they also proclaimed their firm determination that they would rather burn than bow to false gods. They recognized that their true fate was not in a worldly king’s hands, but in God’s hands.
From: November 26, 2015
A good word for the season. Be “hospitable” (Literally in the Greek, “lover of strangers”). And do it without “grumbling” (murmuring, complaining, the opposite of gratitude). Put them together and you have: THANKS + GIVING. Be ‘giving’ towards everyone, especially strangers and do it with a ‘thankful’ heart. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!