Christ Church Daily Devotion March 22 2024

Daniel, a faithful servant of God, continued to pray despite a decree forbidding it. His actions were reported to the king, who was distressed but felt bound by the law to throw Daniel into a lion's den. Daniel knew the danger but remained steadfast in his faith. We may not face such extreme situations, but we will encounter tests of loyalty to Jesus. Like Daniel, we can find courage in knowing that God will be with us in our own "lion's dens" of life. Welcome to Christchurch's Daily Devotion for March 22, 2024. Today we will be reading from Daniel, chapter 6, verses 10 through 16. Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room, where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree. Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, your majesty, would be thrown into the lion's den? The king answered, The decree stands, in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed. Then they said to the king, Daniel, who is the one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, your majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day. When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed. He was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him. Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, Remember, your majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians, no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed. So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lion's den. The king said to Daniel, May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you. The trap had been set. It was time to find out just how dedicated Daniel was to his God. But the guys who set the trap already knew. They took the king into establishing this new law because they knew that Daniel would go against it. They knew there was no way he was going to stop his faithful practice of daily prayers. And Daniel had to know the danger in staying faithful. He had to know that he was sacrificing his life by continuing that practice. But he did it anyway. Have you ever asked yourself if you would have done what Daniel did? I think I would have kept on praying, but I question whether I would have changed my mind when they opened the gate to the lion's den. It is unlikely that you or I will be put in a situation where our life is literally on the line because we are a Christian. However, it is very possible that we will face times that will put our loyalty to Jesus and his way to the test. Maybe you can recall some of those situations when that happened in your life. Be assured that you never face those situations alone, just like God was with Daniel. God will be with you, whatever your lion's den looks like. Your personal worship option today, to pray for courage to stay faithful to our Lord when you have to face the lion's den of life.