What a tremendous blessing it was last Sunday to hear Simmi share about the great work happening in India. To realize that God is at work in a very hostile and spiritually dark environment is encouraging on many fronts.
We have been looking at several of the familiar stories from the Old Testament narratives over the past two months and are being reminded that they have an educational and a moral intention. Listen to what the Psalmist says in the opening of Psalm 78: “0 my people, hear my teaching, listen to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from of old, what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done. He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands. They would not be like their forefathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to him.”
Today we are looking back at the story of Daniel. It is the story of a godly young man who was forced to live out his faith in a very pagan culture. The message gives us divine insight into living a God honoring life in a pluralistic and often antagonistic environment. My hope and prayer is that by being reminded of God’s faithfulness in the past with the heroes of Scripture we have been pondering, and in the present with our church planting partners in India, we will be encouraged to stand firm and present a clear and powerful message to our community. A message of hope and love. The message of Jesus and His transforming power. He is looking for today’s Daniels, Nehemiahs, Ezras and Esthers. I believe there are some in our midst today. May their tribe increase.
Blessings,
Rick