Showing posts with label #129. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #129. Show all posts

Saturday, March 15, 2014

The Lion's Den - Now Think On This by Steve Martin


The Lion's Den
Now Think On This
by Steve Martin


“Then the king arose at dawn, at the break of day, and went in haste to the lions' den. When he had come near the den to Daniel, he cried out with a troubled voice. The king spoke and said to Daniel, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you constantly serve, been able to deliver you from the lions?"

Then Daniel spoke to the king, "O king, live forever! "My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths and they have not harmed me, inasmuch as I was found innocent before Him; and also toward you, O king, I have committed no crime."

Then the king was very pleased and gave orders for Daniel to be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den and no injury whatever was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.” (Daniel 6:19-24 NASU)


We are all quite familiar with the story of the Jewish young man Daniel, who was with those taken captive from Jerusalem by the Babylonians during the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar. Born in 623 BC, he was raised in Jerusalem before the captivity. During his teen years there in that foreign land, in what is now Iran and Iraq, he was educated in Chaldean thought. However, he never converted to Neo-Babylonian ways, but held to the true convictions in his godly heart.

A time came when the king ordered all of his subjects to obey his commandments of whom to worship. Daniel refused. He knew the Living God of his fathers, and was not going to bow down to any false gods. As a result, he was thrown into the lion’s den. We are told in Scripture that the Lord delivered him from the lions, uninjured, because he had trusted in his God.

Lions are ferocious beasts, who can consume a human body in a very short time, if given the opportunity, and it is time to eat.

Our enemy is portrayed as one who goes about as a lion, seeking to destroy whom he can. “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8-9 NASU) Notice that he prowls like a lion, but he isn’t one. Only the Lion of Judah is the true One, with all power and authority.

You and I might not get to experience the lion’s den adventure, or be at the consumed end of the African lioness who has found her daily meal. But I know that you and I have experienced the prowling of the one who seeks to destroy and kill mankind. 

All around us, on the national and local news, we see and hear of those who have been devoured by the wanna-be lion. Drugs, alcohol, murder, sexual attacks, mistreatments of all imaginations. No doubt, we have experienced that false lion’s efforts in trying to destroy us in our faith and commitment to the Lion of Judah Himself.

Even in some job situations, there can be that boss continually riding us, beating down our spirit through accusations, ridicule, or lies spread about our beliefs. That can be just as painful and hurtful as having a leg bitten off by a real animal of prey. The spiritual ones can have lasting effects on our mind, will and emotions.

How do we guard against such actions? How do we keep from bowing down to the false gods, fearful of losing our life, possibly in the natural as well? The God of Daniel has shown us the way.

When confronted with the choice of choosing the present escape or the eternal reward, Daniel chose the One who would grant him life everlasting. He had prepared himself on a daily basis, so that when the lions gathered around him, ready to tear him apart, his eyes and heart were kept fixed on his Lord, Who would deliver him.

My encouragement today is that we too stand in the midst of our attackers, both in the natural and the spiritual, who seek to devour us. We can stand strong in our convictions, the truth we know, the way and the life, by being with the Lord daily. If you know Him in your daily walk, you will have that trust, hope and faith that He will bring you through all that the enemy of our soul, spirit and body throws at us.

Trials and tribulations come. Sometimes we wonder if we are going to make it through this one, this time. Knowing that our Deliverer Himself made it through the trial, the whipping, and the crucifixion, we can base our eternal hope on His promises, that He will be with us during ours too.

We are going to be in the lion’s den at some point, if not already. We will stand strong during the time if we have spent time with Him prior to that time.

My prayer is that you do. Know Him who is the One who delivers.

Steve Martin
Founder
Love For His People. Inc.


Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA humanitarian organization started in 2010 to share the love of the Father in the nations.

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Now Think On This #129  “Lion’s Den” by Steve Martin 
Date: In the year of our Lord 2014 (03.15.14) Saturday at 5:30 am in Charlotte, NC).

All previous editions of Now Think On This can be found on this Blog, and on our newest website: Now Think On This