Making a difference – Daniel 1

The book of Daniel starts with an unfortunate episode where it says, ‘the Lord delivered the king of Judah to Babylon’. If you look at the history behind, God always wanted the Israelites to be faithful to Him. But they very often failed and disappointed God by their transgressions. It was during the time of Jehoiakim that the Lord finally gave up and delivered them to a heathen king. It is obvious that during the conquest of Babylon, the Israelites were in the pinnacle of sins. II Kings 24:8 says that “He (Jehoiakim) did evil in the eyes of the Lord, just as his fathers had done”.

A kingdom under an evil king who had followed the evil of his fore-fathers- this was the prevailing scenario. People forgot God and His commandments and were deep down in sin. The later part of this chapter talks about a young handsome man named Daniel. I was so surprised when I read about Daniel because it was during such a state of ungodliness that Daniel still kept his faith in God. Though the Bible doesn’t tell about Daniel’s ancestry, it is surprising to know that He held on to God even when the people around him and the king sinned against God.

I’ve got a message for you! “It doesn’t mean where you are but it is what you are that costs” I could imagine how the youth during Jehoiakim’s rule would have transgressed. They would’ve invited Daniel to be a part of their fun. But Daniel watched his ways and trusted in God. That is why even when he was taken as an exile and was asked to serve a heathen king, he kept his stand to serve the King of Kings.

Today’s world is so alluring. Swanky gadgets, plush malls, fancy lifestyle, exuberant salaries and luxuries. There is nothing that could remind us of God. People who were faithful to God in their little have started fading away from God as their luxuries increased. My question to you today is “What are you today?” An entangled slave of what the world is or a person who makes a difference however the world is?

Look at Daniel! He kept his cool, walked in His ways ignoring how the others were. In further chapters down there comes a situation when the King decreed that no one should worship any other god (6:7). I like the verse which says “When Daniel learnt about this he prayed three times a day as usual”. Remember, Daniel had grown in his status and was in a high position in the kingdom. I am still amazed that his progress in status, money or fame, nothing shook his foundation in his God.

Shouldn’t we be making a difference in today’s world? We can’t blame the world for our callousness. It high time we get back on the highway with God!

Lord, forgive me for my carelessness. Please help me to have the first love and make a difference to everyone around me. Amen

Making God answer our prayers – Isaiah 58:6

Isaiah, one of the famous prophets of the Bible, gets a revelation from God about fasting and prayer. The people of Israel had developed a custom to fast on a particular day in a week. Over the years the meaning of fasting was lost but the tradition was mundane. But people always had a feeling why God does not answer prayers even after following a strict fasting schedule. It is at this period that God speaks through Isaiah in 58:6.

God gives a different perspective to what fasting could mean. I was deeply touched by this chapter because it reminded me of how we today have forgotten the real meaning of our relation with God. We read the Bible and pray everyday and fast once a week. But are we doing it as a custom or with a meaning? Shouldn’t we meditate the word of God instead of reading? Shouldn’t we commune to God through prayer instead of expression of mere words? Shouldn’t we be spreading the fragrance of Christ instead of just being content with the mundane Christian activities?

Hear what God speaks through Isaiah:

"6 Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?

7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness [a] will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. "

God declares that it’s when we do good to others passionately, He will answer us. I love the words that say ‘then He will say, “Here am I”’. What a privilege? Today’s hi-tech jobs provide flamboyant salaries and exorbitant raises. Could we share a little of what we earn to the needy so that our spirituality makes sense?

Lord, thank you for reminding me what I ought to do for you to hear me when I call. Help me to give meaning to my relationship with you by fulfilling your desires as in Isaiah 58:6. Help me to do it with all my heart. Amen.

If you are touched by this passage you could start your first step by sponsoring a child with World Vision India. More details on their website http://www.worldvision.in/. Please note that I am not an ambassador for WV … I’m a sponsor and feel that it’s a divine ministry to make a difference in a child in need.