From: November 27, 2024
“Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity” (Daniel 4:27 ESV)
After Daniel interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s second dream, he boldly added advice that the king repent of sin and heed God’s warning. What a special relationship God had given Daniel with the king, that he could be so bold without the king’s reprisal! Yet, Nebuchadnezzer didn’t repent, and after a year went by, his nightmare became a reality. God humbled the prideful king.
I wonder why God chose to give this pagan Babylonian king such revelations? And why did God provide not only dreams, but also a faithful interpreter in Daniel? It reminds me of how God gave the Egyptian Pharaoh a dream, and then sent him Joseph to interpret it. What was God’s overarching purpose in giving such revelations to pagan kings and providing godly men to interpret them?
Perhaps it was at least twofold: 1) God revealed Himself to them that they might repent and believe. 2) God provided godly prophets to find favor with the pagan kings, so that God’s people might prosper even while exiled in a foreign land.
How might Daniel’s relationship with Nebuchadnezzar be applied to how we relate to worldly kings, presidents, governors and employers today?
PRAYER: Dear Father, we acknowledge that You are sovereign over kings and presidents, over nations and kingdoms, over even the whole creation of which You are Creator. We worship You and give You thanks. Help us to be like Daniel in speaking truth to power. For we are Your ambassadors. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: November 27, 2023
“And it is only right that I should keep on reminding you as long as I live. For our Lord Jesus Christ has shown me that I must soon leave this earthly life” (2 Peter 1:13-14 NLT).
Peter knew his time was short. For the Lord Jesus had told so. In the meantime, he was determined to continue stirring up the faith of those the Lord had entrusted to him, reminding them of the gospel and the promise of eternal life.
Peter knew the manner of his death from the Lord Jesus Himself, who showed him of it after His resurrection (John 21:18-22). Peter had declared his willingness to die for Jesus on the night of the last supper, but had instead denied Him three times. When Jesus reinstated Peter, asking him three times whether he loved Him, He essentially let Peter know that he was going to get his chance to give his life for Jesus after all.
According to the early church fathers, Peter was crucified in Rome under Nero. He was crucified upside down at his own request, since he saw himself unworthy of being crucified as Jesus was. Peter may have stumbled early in his faith, but he finished well. He has laid aside his earthly tent, awaiting the Day when all the saints shall put on new ones fit for eternity.
Therefore let us stay awake and stir one another up and all the more as we see the Day approaching. For we are a forgetful people and need to constantly remind one another of the gospel.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we give You thanks this day for all your blessings. Strengthen us to stay awake and stir one another up to love and good works. For we know that these bodily tents will one day be laid aside until that Day when we are raised to be with You forever. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: November 27, 2022
DID GOD REALLY SAY?
The apostle Peter viewed holy Scripture as God’s very Word. He described its authorship simply as God spoke and men wrote. He said that their pens were not moved by their own wisdom nor initiative, but by the Holy Spirit.
The apostle Paul agreed with Peter’s high view of Scripture writing, “All Scripture is God-breathed” (2 Tim. 3:16). “God-breathed,” or “inspired by God” is the translation of the Greek word “Theopneustos.”
It reminds me of the way God created Adam, forming him from “the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life” (Gen. 2:7). In a similar way, God breathed life-giving words that the Holy Spirit “moved” men to write down.
Yet the first Satanic strategy is to cause people to doubt God’s Word. Remember how the Serpent began his temptation of Eve? He asked, “Did God really say?” (Gen.3:1). He knew that if he could get her questioning the validity of God’s Word, the rest would be easy. Like a ship without an anchor, she would be cast adrift without the truth of God’s Word. And so she was and her husband and all mankind with her.
What do you believe about the Scriptures? Do you believe them to be God’s Word? Peter did. Paul did. And more importantly, Jesus did. When He was tempted by Satan, He responded, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4). Jesus believed the Scriptures to be the very Word of God.
Did God really say? Yes. I firmly believe He did. And He still speaks today to those who would study His Word and believe.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we are so thankful for the Bible. For it is Your love letter to us. We believe You inspired it and preserved it that we might know Your life-giving words. We thank You, Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: November 27, 2017
Peter referred to his mortal body as a “tent,” recognizing its temporal nature and the promised hope of exchanging it for an eternal one at the Lord’s return. In the meantime, he was determined to continue “stirring up” the faith of those the Lord had entrusted to him. Peter knew the manner of his death from the Lord Jesus Himself, who “showed” him of it after His resurrection (John 21:18-22). Peter had declared his willingness to die for Jesus on the night of the last supper, but had instead denied Him three times. When Jesus reinstated Peter, asking him three times whether he loved Him, He essentially let Peter know that he was going to get his chance to give his life for Jesus after all. According to the early church fathers, Peter was crucified in Rome under Nero. He was crucified upside down at his own request, since he saw himself unworthy of being crucified as Jesus was. Peter may have stumbled early in his faith, but he finished well. He has “put off” his tent, awaiting the Day when all the saints shall “put on” new ones, fit for eternity.
From: November 27, 2016
After Daniel interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s second dream, he boldly added advice that the king repent of sin and heed God’s warning. What a special relationship God had given Daniel with the king, that he could be so bold without the king’s reprisal! Yet, Nebuchadnezzer didn’t repent, and after a year went by, his nightmare became a reality. God humbled the prideful king. I wonder why God chose to give this pagan Babylonian king such revelations? And why did God provide not only dreams, but also a faithful interpreter in Daniel? It reminds me of how God gave the Egyptian Pharaoh a dream, and then sent him Joseph to interpret it. What was God’s overarching purpose in giving such revelations to pagan kings and providing godly men to interpret them? Perhaps it was at least twofold: 1) God revealed Himself to them that they might repent and believe. 2) God provided godly prophets to find favor with the pagan kings, so that God’s people might prosper even while exiled in a foreign land. How might Daniel’s relationship with Nebuchadnezzar be applied to how we relate to worldly kings, presidents, governors and employers today?
From: November 27, 2015
I’m thankful that the apostle Peter was “careful to ensure” that we have “reminders” from him to “stir” us up for the Lord. He surely had assurance from God that his writings would endure as they had been inspired by the Holy Spirit and were given for our encouragement and edification. Peter knew that he would not always be present, but his letters would live on. He wrote with an awareness of his soon “decease” (Greek: ἔξοδον, “exodus” – death, departure), knowing as the Lord Jesus had told him, that he would shortly “put off his tent.” Peter and the other apostles left us the spiritual legacy of the New Testament Scriptures. I’m thankful to God that He gave them not only the inspiration, but also the commission to write, so that we might “always have a reminder of these things.”
From: November 27, 2014
Why head out into the darkness without a light to shine the way? Every morning we face a new day. Perhaps we think that the experiences of the days behind us will inform our direction forward, but who knows what a new day holds? Only the Lord. Stop stumbling and groping through life, blindly facing another day. Let God’s Word light your path.
From: November 27, 2013
Peter wrote that the gospel message that he and the other apostles preached was not man made myth, but eyewitness testimony. He knew that he would not live long in the flesh, so he was determined to make this clear before his passing. He saw the unveiled Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration, he witnessed the empty tomb and the risen Savior, he joined him walking on the water. Peter knew the message he shared was true because he was there to see it. We can know that it is true by believing his testimony.