April 20: IF YOU LOVE ME
“Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.” Therefore King Darius signed the written decree. Daniel 6:8-9
The law that landed Daniel in the lions’ den was established in writing by a king who loved Daniel. He did not perceive the agenda of those who composed the law – that Daniel would be targeted – until the gears were engaged. The work of Satan is accomplished by control of some people and deception of others. In this case, we know that King Darius had not even a shred of hostility toward Daniel.
The lesson of true loyalty and faithfulness toward God for our time is no different than in Daniel’s day. The value of this lesson is infinite. We should expect the time to come soon when legislation will be enacted that compels Christians to go against divine law. The great deceiver will attempt to lead the world to unite in dishonoring God.
In a reversal of our country’s stated purpose of having a government without a king and a church without a pope (for these are the two horns like a lamb of Revelation 13:11), our nation will begin to speak like a dragon. It will be disguised as a necessary step to “bring this nation back to God.”
But Christ gave no example in His life of people being forced by law to worship in a certain way. He did say: “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15).
The great principle upon which the United States was founded was freedom of conscience. As a nation, we have failed on many occasions to live up to it. Nevertheless, the high and worthy ideal needs no alteration.
It has been said that if you are not thinking, someone else is doing your thinking for you. Let that sink in. We live in a world where a usurper seeks to manipulate your thinking for his evil purposes; he took the New Testament church on a terrible detour of compromise and apostasy. But God is calling each of us back to Him in a love relationship. Do you love Him enough to believe what He says? Beloved, make sure that you believe all of His word (see Matthew 4:4) and live it out – then leave the consequences to Him.
The king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.” Now the king was exceedingly glad… Daniel 6:20b-23a