We’ve got your daily encouragement, written by Matt Chow.
Bible Reading:
“When a man’s ways please the Lord,
he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”
Word:
Do you believe that God can bless your most difficult relationships? The verse today says, “When people’s lives please the Lord, even their enemies will be at peace with them.” (Proverbs 16:7)
When I think about this I turn to the story of Daniel and the burning furnace. This story can be found in Daniel, chapter 3. At the time King Nebuchadnezzar created a golden image and required all the people to bow down to worship it. Daniel and his friends knew the law, but also knew that this was a sin before God’s eyes. They refused to bow down to the golden image. They did not want to live a life to please man, which in this case was King Nebuchadnezzar.
Daniel and his friends obeyed the one true KING, and their lives were lived out to please him. Even in the face of death, they did not waver in their beliefs. As a result, they were thrown into a fiery furnace. But God was with them and delivered them from the furnace without a burn or scratch. The king was so impressed that he issued a new decree allowing the Jews to worship God.
When we live our lives according to God’s will, it has a far greater impact than just on us. Think about all the lives Daniel impacted that day. Daniel’s actions impressed the King so much, it led the King to create a new decree that went against his old one. His decision to trust God, allowed all the Jews during that time to freely worship God. I’m sure there were a lot of Jews that might have been scared to not listen to the King. Now they could all worship God freely. And even in the end the King had peace with Daniel.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for your words and guidance. I pray that I use my life as an example for others to follow. I will not live a life to please man, but instead live a live to please the KING. Let your will be done in my life today and forever, AMEN.
Skillwork:
Seek God’s word for all matters of your life. There are so many “Truths” today, but we all know the bible is the only source of the truth. There’s so much darkness in this world today, seek to be a light. Maybe in the process you can even transform the heart of one of your enemies.
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