Are You Missing Your Blessing?

Sometimes God uses adversity to trigger blessings. He puts a challenge before us with the intent of blessing us for responding to His glory. Those times can be some of the most difficult, because they are often fraught with very real danger.

Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion or fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. Then said these men, “We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.” – Dan 6:4, 5

Daniel was a very intelligent and honorable man. He was looked on with great favor by king Darius; and therefore, despised by those who wanted his power and position. Sound familiar? It is one of those things many of us face daily.

In this time of self-entitlement it seems there is almost always someone who believes they have more right to what we have than we do. Coveting is alive and well with some going to great extremes to take what isn’t theirs. It’s not uncommon for them to do just about anything to get it, either. In Daniel’s day these men were so intent on relieving him of his status that they plotted to take his life.

All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains have consulted together to establish a royal statue, and to make a firm decree that whosoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. – Dan 6:7

Now they did this knowing full well that Daniel routinely petitioned God three times a day, every day, and they knew he would continue to do so despite any decree they might come up with. So it was a challenge, a gauntlet thrown down before Daniel. “Do you love your God so much that you’d risk your very life for Him?”

They already knew Daniel’s answer would be, “Yes.” They had watched him carefully, and they knew he would continue to do what he had already been doing. So, they considered that Daniel was already dead. They considered him defeated by his unwavering attachment to the holy God of Heaven.

What they did not know was that Daniel fully understood what they were up to. He realized they wanted him gone, and would do anything to see to it that he did not survive. Yet, he considered that God was still God, that He had not ceased to be all-powerful simply because these men desired his life.

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three time a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. – Dan 6:10

After Daniel knew he was in danger, he still went before God to openly petition Him. He considered it could cost him his life, but he desired God more than his life. This kind of commitment usually comes from long-term priorities. It’s not to say that the “baby Christian” can’t have it; but rather, than it is seen more often in the mature Christian. Daniel was mature. He had spent his life seeking and desiring God. Now, he served an ungodly, earthly king; but his heart was far above. His heart – his whole heart belonged steadfastly to God. He could no more abandon his proclivity for seeking God than he could stop breathing. It was that intense a relationship. So, when these men set him up using his relationship with God to trap him, Daniel’s reaction was: My God first, then my life!

Then answered they and said before the king, “That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his position three times a day.” – Dan 6:13

As expected these evil men were quick with their accusation, and the king, though it displeased him greatly, was forced to put Daniel in with the hungry lions.

Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, “Thy God, whom thou servest continually, He will deliver you.” – Dan 6:16

Right here is where Daniel began to receive blessings from God. All true servants have an abiding desire to honor their Master. We don’t put ourselves at risk because we enjoy danger, nor to draw attention to ourselves. No, we do it because honoring and obeying Him is that important to us. We’re like little children who adore their fathers. We live to please Him. So, when this heathen king encouraged Daniel to look to His God, and assured him that He surely would deliver Daniel; I know Daniel was deeply blessed in his spirit. He must have felt an overwhelming sense of joy, knowing that his witness had made this man realize who God really is. Even with the lions looming before him, it had to be quite satisfying.

Now, Daniel survived the lion’s den just fine. They men who had sought to harm him? They and their entire families turned out to be the lion’s real meal, and king Darius went on from wanting people to worship him as a god to declaring the God of Heaven to be the God He truly is:

Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied unto you. I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for He IS the living God, and steadfast forever, and His kingdom, that which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall be even unto the end. He delivereth and rescueth, and He worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.” – Dan 6:25-27

Now, Daniel was physically blessed for his obedience, but I believe the spiritual blessing was far greater. His faithfulness opened Darius’s eyes. I’ve been there when people wake from their slumber. It is the greatest feeling on earth. We walk on air afterwards, knowing that we’ve honored the One we adore. It gives our whole life purpose. It fills us with joy. And I know that Daniel felt just this way, because his faithfulness was poured out upon a whole nation! He had to feel extraordinarily blessed to be of such service, but he would have had none of it had he not answered adversity with obedience

Consider the adversity in your life. Could it be that God is trying to bless you? I honestly don’t think Daniel was looking for a blessing when he obediently continued to seek God. No, I believe that’s just who he was. He was God’s. His entire heart was sold out to the holy God of Heaven. He could not just stop communicating with Him. He couldn’t. Truth be told, the way we move ourselves to answer adversity with obedience is to be like Daniel – already determined to be obedient before we face it.