Preaching Daily - May 25

 

Today's Word for Pastors...

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. 
Psalms 100:4

Today's Preaching Insight...

Daniel-like Consistency

The single characteristic of those who succeed in the challenges of life is [the] element of consistency. Joseph, in an Egyptian dungeon, did not give up. Paul, in a Philippian jail, did not give up. Daniel, in Babylonian captivity, did not give up. And God did not forget any of them.

So often in a culture that is crumbling like ours we're tempted to ask, "Where is God?" He was there with Daniel and He is here with us. Note the quote, And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand. (Dan. 1:2) Note that God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs. (Dan. 1:9) Note that God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom. (Dan. 1:17). God was in control of every one of Daniel's circumstances and situations.

I love what the Bible says in Daniel 1:9, Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs. When we establish standards like Daniel, God shows up on our side. Daniel had purposed in his heart. Daniel had made his choice. Daniel had set his mind. In the very next verse we find God intervening. It was not Daniel's stand that influenced the chief of the eunuchs, it was God Himself. Remember, God has the remote control in His hand. He can turn us up or turn us off. He can change our channel or mute us if He so desires. He is in control.

Many are prone to give up what they stand for when they're out in the culture. Some of us seem to be geared to think that if we do not compromise we might lose our position or even our promotion. Daniel had figured out who he wanted on his side. It was not his boss, it was his God. He knew the truth of Proverbs 16:7, When a man's ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

So, what is the point? If we're going somewhere in life we need to learn some lessons from our friend Daniel. Don't play politics. We should live our lives in such a way that they line up with the Word of God and please him in the process. And then we can watch Him work on those around us as he did in Daniel's day. It is not enough to simply be resistant if we're not consistent. Some start well but give up and go with the crowd around them.

Oh that we could grasp Daniel's spirit.

(To read the entire article "Don't Give Up... Be Consistent" by O.S. Hawkins at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

This Week's Laugh

Picnic

Two good ol' boys are riding around looking for a place to have a picnic. One of them says to the other, "Hey, lets have a picnic over there under that tree."

The other good ol' boy says, "No, no, let's have it in the middle of the road."

They fought about this for the longest time and came to a decision to have it in the middle of the road.

Not long afterwards a car came speeding towards them, swerved off the road, and ran into the tree.

The second good ol' boy says, "See if we'd a-been over there we would be dead right now."

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