Are we, as Christians, truly embracing our roles as individuals chosen by God? Or are we succumbing to the temptations of a sinful world, losing sight of our true selves? It's not too late to make a change! By consistently performing small acts of obedience to honor God, we are taking part in His grand plans in our lives, our community and our nation.
Good morning. We are still in the series called “Change Makers” here in church where we look into the Bible and rediscover great men and women who serve as examples of lives changed by God. Ptr Ricky in one of the sermons he delivered for this series was careful to remind us that sometimes we listen to a sermon such as this and think of it as a way to learn how to improve ourselves in order to make a lasting change in our lives and our society. But that is not the point of this series. Instead, we need to understand that in every character we study, the message is that there is a Change-Making God who is able to turn the lives of otherwise ordinary men and women for His Glory.
Today, we will look at the character of Daniel. The title of today’s message is Daniel: An Identity Anchored in God. The book of Daniel in the old testament is made up of 12 chapters, and a good amount of which are dedicated to the mysterious visions that God has allowed Daniel to witness. We will not cover all of the book of Daniel, but we will certainly look at the beginning of Daniel’s life, and an incident that happened when Daniel was already at a ripe old age. However, in every chapter of Daniel it is quite clear that there is a consistent character trait that is most evident in the life of Daniel: His identity was certainly rooted in God’s.
Identity is a big word. The Webster dictionary defines it as “the distinguishing character or personality of an individual”.
What’s In a Name?
The first distinguishing aspect of our identity is our name. My wife and I had a pandemic baby - our third child Emma was born on April 3 years ago. We were all in lockdowns then. We really took our time with giving Emma her name. Just recently I researched on what memorable names people gave their babies who were born at the height of the COVID lockdowns. Well, I’m happy to share some with you. Please meet:
Covid Rose from Sultan Kudarat
Covid Bryant from Metro Manila
Also from Manila - Coviduvidapdap Santos
Throughout history, philosophers have long debated the nature of identity. Kwame Anthony Appiah, a British-American philosopher talks about the collectivist nature of identity: "Identity is collective insofar as it is given to us by others, and our social and cultural environment. It is not something we simply decide for ourselves, but is shaped by the groups we belong to, the language we speak, the culture we are a part of, and the historical and political context in which we live."
On the other hand, others believe that identity is shaped by the individual himself. Jean Paul Sarte, a French Philosopher puts it this way: “Man is not only that which he conceives himself to be, but also that which he wills himself to be, and since he conceives of himself only after he exists, just as he wills himself to be after being thrown into existence, man is nothing other than what he makes of himself."
But perhaps nothing appeals more to our modern sentiments about identity than the words of another philosopher by the name of Lady Gaga. “Rejoice and love yourself today
'Cause, baby, you were born this way.” Here, Lady Gaga tells us that identity is something you were born with and there is nothing you can do about it. This has always bothered me because I have always known I have an in-born fear of public speaking. And yet, here I am.
Let us pray. Father, I thank you for the privilege of being able to worship you in this place. We give honor and praise to you for even allowing us today the freedom to open our Bibles and read from your word. Lord, today we ask that as we study the life of Daniel, you give us open minds and soft hearts to hear from you. I pray that you use me Lord, however imperfect I am, to deliver the words that come from you alone. In Jesus name, amen.
POINT 1: I AM WHO GOD SAYS I AM
As we study the life of Daniel, we will hopefully learn three big things. The first one is:
I am who God says I am
We begin the story from the beginning of the book of Daniel.
1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god.
Tower of Babel
To understand the context of the story, let’s turn the pages of history back to a time long ago right after the great flood that covered the whole earth. The Bible says that after the waters receded, the family of Noah repopulated the earth. A group of people decided to build what we know to be the Tower of Babel.
11 Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. 2 As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar[b] and settled there.
3 They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. 4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”
It is interesting to note that the main reason why they wanted to do so was to make a name for themselves. In other words, they wanted to create an identity that they can be proud of. But God saw what was in their hearts.
5 But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. 6 The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.”
8 So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. 9 That is why it was called Babel[c]—because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth.
You can just imagine the scene. One time, this proud race of people were speaking one language, dead set to create this tower that will literally put them on the map, and then suddenly they could no longer understand each other. Some were speaking in Spanish, some in Chinese, some in English, some in Bisaya. Some were probably even speaking in English with a thick Bisaya accent (show Manny Pacquiao’s picture).
The Call of Abraham - A Nation Set Apart
The place that was called Babel is what will later be called Babylon that is a region of what we now know to be the nation of Iraq. A little over 200 kilometers from the site of the tower of Babel is the area of Ur. Here, a man by the name Abram is called by God.
Genesis 12:1-3
The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.
2 “I will make you into a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.[a]
3 I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.”
Of course we now know this great nation that descended from Abraham as the nation of Israel. By God’s own design and divine wisdom, He has decided to set this nation apart from the rest of the world as his special people in order that all peoples on earth will be blessed through them. That means he has given this unique nation a special kind of identity. One that is set apart. Holy as unto the Lord. The identity of this nation is that it is holy - set apart for God.
Last week, Pastor Peter shared with us the story of Gideon. And certainly we knew from there that Israel as a nation was rather sinful, just like us. They fell in love with the many idols of foreign nations. After Joshua officially ushered the whole nation of Israel into the promised land, it entered a period of Judges for around 350 years. After that, it entered into the period of successive Kings for 150 years. They had to endure years and years of God’s judgment under the hands of colonizers.
Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians
During the time of Daniel, the people of Babylon would have established themselves as a strong and mighty military power in the region, enough to colonize the nation of Israel in 597 BC.
3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility— 4 young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians.[b] 5 The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service.
The Babylonians as a people were as proud as the time they built the tower of Babel, and certainly their king Nebuchadnezzar is the proudest among them. History tells us that he built the famous Hanging Gardens of Babylon to make sure his wife does not miss the beautiful plants from her home country. She was the original plant tita.
A change of identity
It was into this culture where we meet Daniel and his friends.
6 Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 7 The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.
Here is the first test of Daniel’s identity. You can just imagine the scene. Daniel and his friends would have arrived in this University of Babylon and someone would have asked them about their name and their culture. Someone would have asked what Daniel’s name meant, he would have said “God is my judge”. Hananiah would have said his name meant “God is gracious”. Mishael “God is mighty”. Azariah “God has helped”.
Contrast that to their “new” names whose meanings centered on several false Babylonian gods: Beltashazzar – Bel will protect; Shadrach – inspired of Aku; Meshach – belonging to Aku; Abednego – servant of Nego.
Since birth, these boys would have known who they are based on their collectivist culture, but out here in Babylon, will they be able to sustain their identity?
Lion King
This brings to mind one of the most famous Disney movies ever created. When it was released in 1994, it was the highest grossing animated movie of all time. When they remade the movie in 2019, it broke its own record and itself became the highest grossing animated movie. The movie is Lion King. Now I am a father of 3, so I am very used to telling stories. So if you have seen the movie, forgive me for retelling it to you.
We all know the story of Simba. After he was convinced by his evil uncle that he murdered his own father, he left his family and forsaken his own identity. He met two friends along the way, the warthog Pumba and the meerkat Timon. In all the years he spent with them, he just about forgot what it meant to be a lion. A famous scene in the movie had Pumba and Timon teaching Simba to eat nothing but bugs. Biologically, this cannot be possible. There is simply not enough calories in bugs to make a lion live - he would have starved to death. But this did not worry him - hakuna matata.
A pivotal scene in the movie is when finally the hear voice of reason - the baboon Rafiki. Rafiki finds Simba. He asked the question to the young lion that would set the tone for what was about to happen next: “Who are you?”. Of course Simba did not have an answer, he has lived on too long not wanting to be a lion, he can hardly remember who he was or what he was supposed to do. Rafiki then led Simba to gaze upon the stars. And there, he heard from his father, Mufasa.
Do you still remember what Mufasa told him? He said, “Simba, you have forgotten me.” The young lion cried, no father, I have not forgotten you. And the wise old king said, “You have forgotten who you are, and so you have forgotten me.” It was the very thing Simba needed to hear at that point, he needed to remember who he was.
Imagine yourself if you were in the place of Daniel. You are far away from the land of your birth, away from your people and way of life. You have been given a new name and are expected to behave so differently from who you are. How do you even begin to have motivation to remain a lion when everywhere around you are Timons and Pumbas subsisting in bugs and insects? Will Daniel and his friends be able to maintain their identity as set apart for God?
Daniel Remembers Who He Is
We shall see in the following verses:
8 But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. 9 Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, 10 but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your[c] food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”
11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” 14 So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.
Notice how Daniel very respectfully appealed to the authority. He was not being proud, but instead gave a reasonable appeal for a controlled test.
15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16 So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.
17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.
I think this is a reminder for you and me. We live in a world that values many false gods. Is it money? Is it the need to accumulate more and more things? Is it ambition? Is it the never ending need to perform in order to gain the approval of people? In the wise words of the Tagalogs, if you can’t perform, japorm! Put up appearances and fake it.
I speak to the young people in the audience. When you have been raised by Christian parents and suddenly find yourselves in a new school which expects you to be anyone else but a Christian. I have been there, you know. I went to a particularly adventurous school where during our freshmen orientation to different clubs and orgs, we were told to explore and experiment with worldviews and even with our own sexuality. I am sure today it is worse, and I empathize with your struggles. I pray that you remember who you are.
Who are you?
So who does God say that we are? These are just some verses from the Bible to remind us:
A Christian boyfriend/girlfriend - My body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who dwells in me.
Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you (1 Corinthians 6:19)?
A Christian spouse
Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her
A Christian worker
Colossians 3:22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
A Christian boss
Ephesians 6:9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.
It is important that we first see ourselves from the perspective of God and not from the perspective of the world that wants us to conform to it. Like Daniel, the world wants to rename us and have us fall into the trap of worshiping the idols of this world - money, sex, power, pride. But in order for lasting change to happen, we begin with identity.
James Clear
James Clear, the author of atomic habits, has an excellent way of illustrating this. He notices that the reason why many of us do not have lasting habits is because we focus too much on the results. For example, if we want to lose weight, we set big goals such as - I have to lose 20 lbs within six months. Once we have set the goal, we then kill ourselves with ridiculous exercise routines that we will inevitably burn out of. Instead, he recommends that we focus on identity:
Most people (myself included) will want to become better this year. Many of us, however, will set performance- and appearance-based goals in hopes that they will drive us to do things differently.
If you're looking to make a change, then I say stop worrying about results and start worrying about your identity. Become the type of person who can achieve the things you want to achieve. Build identity-based habits now. The results can come later.
I think this is also true in our Christian life. If we are more concerned about our identity in Christ, we live our lives with an audience of one - God. This identity-based obedience in the end is what will sustain us even in the most difficult moments of our lives.
POINT 2: I DO WHAT GOD SAYS I DO
The second thing that we learn from the example of Daniel is this:
I am who God says I am
I do what God says I do
Now that we have established our identity in Christ, we now look into our behavior as Christians. It is important that we first establish that our identity dictates our behavior. Let me say that again, it is our identity that dictates our behavior.
But did Daniel’s identity in fact sustain him to be set apart the whole time he was in Babylon? Was it enough to make a real and lasting change in the circumstances he was in?
Let us move forward in time and look at an incident in Daniel’s life when he was perhaps 80 years old. Note that at this point, Daniel would have already served under Nebuchadnezzar, his son Belshazzar, and now Darius. In chapter 6, we read the familiar story of him and the lions.
3 Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. 4 At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. 5 Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.”
6 So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: “May King Darius live forever! 7 The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den. 8 Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” 9 So King Darius put the decree in writing.
Note also that after all those years, his name remains Daniel. But how do we get there? How do we follow the example of Daniel to be so beyond reproach that not even our enemies can find any fault in us?
Athletes and Boredom
James Clear in his book gives us an excellent illustration that I think we can all learn from.
He interviewed the coaches of athletes, some of whom were Olympians. He asked them one question: “What do the really successful athletes do that most don’t?” Of course many of these factors include genetics, luck or talent. But there is one particular trait of successful athletes: they persevere even if they don’t feel like it.
Whether it’s business or sports or art, you hear people say things like, “It all comes down to passion.” Or, “You have to really want it.” As a result, many of us get depressed when we lose focus or motivation because we think that successful people have some bottomless reserve of passion. But this coach was saying that really successful people feel the same lack of motivation as everyone else. The difference is that they still find a way to show up despite the feelings of boredom.
Many of us want to honor God in our lives. But can I be honest with you? Many of us do not want to put in the effort committing to the daily disciplines of obedience to God. We look at a person such as Daniel and we are so amazed at the things God has done in his life, but we do not see the daily, quiet little atomic habits that Daniel committed himself to in order to become the person that he is.
The Building Blocks to Change: The Atomic Habits of Daniel
What are the atomic habits of Daniel’s life? One clear example of this is Daniel’s prayer life.
10 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. 11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help.
During this extraordinary life and death crisis, Daniel is prepared to face it because he has had the habit of prayer just as he had always done. How about us? Last week Pastor Peter made a statement that still stayed with me: Do we wait for the time we get cancer to pray for God? It is a sobering reminder. Prayer is a day to day habit.
Second, we know that Daniel formed around him a group of men that prayed for him. In an earlier chapter:
Daniel 2: 14 When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact. 15 He asked the king’s officer, “Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?” Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel. 16 At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him.
17 Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 18 He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
Here, we see that Daniel had a DGroup! His friends from Judah remained to be his close friends. How about us? Do we belong in a DGroup that we can be accountable to? Or for some of us, are we already leading a DGroup? Many people tell me that they are not ready to start a DGroup yet because they feel they are not knowledgeable enough, or not caring enough, or not loving enough. In short, they think they are not perfect. But I always encourage them to begin with the smallest habit of showing up during the time of meeting, even when there is only one person there. If we want to obey God in the big things, we must first put in the effort to obey God in the small things. The results will follow.
In the same way, if we want a healthy body, we begin with the smallest habit of waking up in the morning and deciding to put our shoes on to exercise. If we want to be more financially secure, we begin with the smallest habit of not going to Shoppee when we are bored. If we want change to really happen, we commit to the discipline of forming habits.
Jerylle
This reminds me of a DGroup member of mine who, upon hearing Ptr Joseph Bayawa speak here on stage, shocked his wife with an important life decision. Ptr Joseph was sharing with us his many church planting initiatives for the church in Mindanao. He made a joke saying, “If you really want to be close to God, you should come with me to Marawi. With all the shooting there, you will really feel you will see God very soon.” Of course it was a joke, but my friend was so moved by this that he became so fired up. He decided he must take the leap of faith and go to Mindanao and be a missionary.
We processed this together of course. I told him that what he is thinking of is a big life change, not just for him but his whole family. I encouraged him that as he prays he looks at his circumstances now, while he is here in Cebu City, and see opportunities to share God to others in his workplace and family. You see, being able to trust God in big things requires us first and foremost to be faithful to Him in the small things. Years after the conversation I had with my friend, I realize God has used him mightily in his workplace to share God, he has parented his children Biblically, and he and his wife are now even DGroup Leaders here in church serving the couples that God has placed under their care. We do not need the big bombastic things to show our faith in God. Today, right now, wherever God has placed you in - there are small ordinary things to obey. So we obey.
Luke16: 10 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
Let us continue with our story:
13 Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is 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.” 14 When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.
15 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.”
16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!”
17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed.
The seal of the den of lions carries the signet ring of the king and the nobles. This means that if someone were to break that seal and rescue Daniel, even if it was the King, he will still need the rings all the nobles in order to cover his tracks. It’s the ancient version of multi-factor authentication. This den is more secure than anything!
18 Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.
The story continues:
19 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20 When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”
21 Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! 22 My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”
What an amazing thing! Just like Simba, suddenly all these lions forgot what they were.
23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
There it is. No wound was found on him because he had trusted in his God. Pastor Peter reminded us last week, you will not trust anyone you do not know. Daniel trusted his God because he knew God. And he knew God not through some bombastic way, but from the daily atomic obedience he has done. It was the trust that saved Him and it was because of the years of habit and discipline in obeying God.
Which leads us to third and final point:
POINT 3: I WILL TRUST IN GOD’S PLANS
I am who God says I am
I do what God says I do
I will trust in God’s plans
When I read Daniel’s experience in the lion’s den as an 80 year old man, I often wondered what was going on inside of Daniel’s head. He was all alone in a dark cave, he would have heard all the lions around him making animal sounds. We know of course he would probably have been praying, as is his habit, but how would it have felt to be so painfully, utterly alone.
Friends, do you find yourself in a similar situation? I have invited a couple to share with us their testimony on trusting God in the most difficult circumstances. Please welcome Bong and Mabel Paredes.
Testimony
When I asked Bong and Mabel to serve in church as ushers, they were very hesitant. I remember the day very well. Mabel said that she was afraid that she does not feel qualified because of all the things that happened. I said, she is the perfect usher, because in this church, we want to make everyone feel welcome just as they are. I always think whenever I see both of them serving the Lord in their own DGroup and here in church that they are a showcase of God’s love for everyone to witness.
I praise God for the lives of Bong and Mabel. I invite you to pray for them with me.
CONCLUSION
What have we learned so far?
I am who God says I am; and because I am who God says I am -
I do what God says I do in the small things; and at the point of deep encouragement -
I will trust in God’s plans
Like Bong and Mabel, we need to be reminded of who we are. And when we do, we face crises of obedience to honor God in the small things that will usher in the change that we want to see in our marriage, our professional life, and even our community and nation. As we form habits of obedience, we will trust in the Lord knowing full well that in the darkest of times, he is there with us.
A plan that includes you
Now I know we already had a testimony sharer with us, but I have a special treat for you. We have another testimony sharer which I invited today. Do you want to know who he is? It took me a long time to book him for this message and it is such an honor to present him to you. Ladies and gentlemen, no less than the boss of Daniel himself - King Darius.
Just kidding, but of course we know King Darius’ testimony too. At the end of Chapter 6, we read his own words:
25 Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth:
“May you prosper greatly!
26 “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.
“For he is the living God
and he endures forever;
his kingdom will not be destroyed,
his dominion will never end.
27 He rescues and he saves;
he performs signs and wonders
in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel
from the power of the lions.”
My friends, here is an amazing fact, and I don’t want you to miss this. It has always been the plan of God that these pagan kings will revere him. God with all the power of the universe could have fulfilled this plan all on his own. But out of his wisdom, out of his divine love, he has chosen that Daniel will be part of that plan. God made himself known to the most powerful man on earth during that time his power with the cooperation of his junior partner - Daniel.
In fact, we read this:
Daniel 9:20 While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and making my request to the Lord my God for his holy hill— 21 while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. 22 He instructed me and said to me, “Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding. 23 As soon as you began to pray, a word went out, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed.
This verse teaches us how much God loves Daniel - he is highly esteemed. In other translations, he is greatly loved or precious in the eyes of God. How is it possible that the God of history who holds the world in his hands would so esteem someone like Daniel enough to care about his thoughts and prayers for a nation he loves?
Friends, do you know that is who you are to God too? I know you and I look around us and we crave for the change that will truly be lasting. Like Daniel, our hearts also break for our nation. Do you know God wants to listen to you pray? I believe the Lord has a plan for our nation. And I believe that plan includes you and me.
But it all begins with the single most important question you will have to answer in your life: Who are you?
In John 1, this is what he said:
John 1: 12 Yet to all who did receive Jesus, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
If you receive Him today, that identity is what you will bring with you from hereon. If it is your desire to receive Jesus into your life, let me pray for you.
….may we always remember who we are. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
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