Redeemed in exile: Faithful service – 29 July 2020

One Saturday morning, when I realised that bread and milk supplies were low, I decided to go out early to replenish them to allow for a more relaxed day at home. How little did I know! Hardly two kilometres from home, while crossing an intersection, a car, similar in size to mine, collided into me at great speed and my car was spun around and flipped over onto its side, while his landed on its roof. I had checked all ways before entering the intersection and this car had been nowhere in sight. From the moment of collision time seemed to be suspended; I was calm and remained unhurt, but my mind didn’t know how to process this new experience.

We can never know what each new day holds for us, but if we, like Daniel and his friends, know Who holds the day, we will always be well-prepared, and held by Him from the moment we awake each day. Although in service to the king of Babylon in exile, Daniel and his friends remained committed to praying to the King of All in all circumstances. We are also ‘in exile’ in our world, and our circumstances call for the same commitment.

When Daniel awoke one morning, he didn’t know that a den of lions awaited him. He knew that there was risk in taking problems to God in prayer since the issuing of the new decree forbidding anyone to pray to any god other than the king, but he trusted God more than he feared the decree.

Jealousy because of Daniel’s excellence in character, and high position, had led to government officials conspiring against him to get King Darius to ‘legally’ sentence him to death. Daniel had not allowed this to deter him or change his routine of going down on his knees three times a day to pray, and give thanks to God, and he was caught.

The king was anguished at what he had to authorize and prayed, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!” (Daniel 6:16) as Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den; but the next day he was overjoyed when Daniel told him, “ ‘My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions.’ And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.” (Daniel 16:22)

Daniel’s example can only inspire our service to our King; and his faithfulness in prayer, the foundation that we need in building our relationship with Him.

Prayer: Lord, may we always be faithful in prayer, that our relationship with You may grow and we may serve You faithfully all of our days on earth. Amen