DAY 275- BIG PICTURE IN A YEAR - THE EXILE
Reading: Daniel 6
Have you ever wondered if you would still remember, worship, and acknowledge God if your life was fantastic and you lived like a king? Daniel endured this kind of testing and came out with God still at the centre of his life.
Under Nebuchadnezzar, life was good in Babylon, especially for someone in such a high position as Daniel eventually rose to. Babylonians built their houses out of unbaked brick and the roofs consisted of mud and tree branches supported by palm poles. Their diet was similar to that of the Hebrews. Grain and dates formed the staple foods. The primary grain was barley, but wheat and millet were also used. Fruits and vegetables included dates, pomegranates, grapes, figs, lentils, chickpeas, beans, turnips, leeks, cucumbers, watercress, lettuce, onions, and garlic, abounded. Cattle, sheep, and goats provided meat, milk, and cheese, while those who lived near rivers and canals ate fish in abundance. The city itself was beautiful with magnificent double walls and nine richly decorated gates and many waterways. The famed Hanging Gardens did exist and, along with the 50 ornate temples and ziggurats, formed a lush and pleasing environment.
We can be sure that Daniel enjoyed all that this beautiful, sophisticated city had to offer – yet, he remained relentlessly devoted to the Lord. In our Reading for today, we discover that part of Daniel’s daily routine was to kneel towards Jerusalem in front of his window and pray to God three times a day. Of course, this is the reason that he was later, under King Darius, thrown into the lion’s den! Literally, nothing was more important to Daniel than his relationship with God. Everything in his life revolved around God.
We can learn from this example. Have you heard the analogy of a wheel on a bike? The case for far too many Christians is that instead of being the central part that all the spokes revolve around, God is merely another spoke. He’s merely a part of our lives. Right along with sports, academics, hobbies, etc. This wasn’t the case with Daniel, nor should it be the case for us in our Christian walks today. He should be the fundamental, most important part of our lives, with everything else revolving around Him.
To answer the question posed at the start of this devotion, if God is at the centre of everything in our lives, our circumstances won’t impact us too terribly much.
Prayer
Lord, I want to be like Daniel. Faithful from start to finish. I need Your grace and help for that.
FOR THE FAMILY
Watch any one of these videos about Daniel