DANIEL 6:10 – When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.”
THEME OF THE DAY: A TESTIMONY OF CONSISTENCY. When it comes to the Christian life, the two greatest things we give a watching world from our families to our communities are our growing likeness to the image of the Lord Jesus, and a testimony of spiritual consistency, or faithfulness in the things of God.
In conforming to the image of Jesus, the impact on others cannot be overstated. And what is that image? It is His character defined as the Fruit of the Spirit – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23). If we want to see a human example from the scripture, I think we would be on safe ground to say “Philemon” fits the bill. His reputation, affirmed by the Apostle Paul, indicates a man conforming to the image of the Lord Jesus – I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you (Philemon 4-7). A Fruit of the Spirit Christian is influential and will be a “gospel magnet” as people will be drawn to us, not because of us, but because of Jesus and His life lived through us.
The second greatest thing we give others is what Daniel models in today’s scripture – a testimony of consistency. Daniel is about to be persecuted. The pressure is on. The temptation to compromise for the sake of survival was high. Yet, we read . . . He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. Pay attention to the last part of the verse – as he had done previously. Consistency. Spiritual consistency. Daniel would not only refuse to compromise before the heathens, but he maintained a testimony of consistency among God’s people. What do we think the impact was on Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? Strong encouragement as they watched their brother in the Lord maintain an unwavering faithfulness to the things of God. And friends, the same applies to us.
Dads and moms, do our children see within us a testimony of consistency in the things of God? Faithfulness in the Bible? Family prayer? Church attendance? Godliness in the home? Serving others for Jesus’ sake? Grandfathers and grandmothers, do our grandchildren see the same faithfulness as Daniel from us? When it comes to a testimony of consistency, a life of faithfulness, they are built one moment at a time, one decision at a time. May God help us to be such followers of His Son!
PRAYER: “Father, help me to be a consistent believer, never compromising Your truth by a life of inconsistency.”
QUOTE: “A life of faithfulness to the Lord is built one moment at a time, one decision at a time.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim