I began reading the book of Daniel with my wife and daughter today, we just made it through chapter one, but that’s a start…
One thing that is clear is that when Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem and defeated king Jehoikim, God was right there. The text clearly states:
…the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his [Nebuchadnezzar’s] hands…
-Dan 1:2
Something else struck me, God didn’t just give the city over to this enemy of the people of God, he also gave up:
…some of the vessels of the house of God.
-ibid.
God was not only willing to allow this to happen to his people, he gave them over. He took action to ensure that their city and their temple would be destroyed.
God’s highest priority is that his will be done. We should never get to the place where we feel as though we have the “inside track” or the “privileged place” and God would never let harm come to us.
Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
-Col 2:6f
If you have received, you did so by grace through faith, and that’s how we continue to live the rest of our life, by God’s unearned favor, trusting in his Son alone. We must be rooted and developed in him and comfortable with the faith that we share.
When we realize that it’s not only by grace that we are saved, but it’s by grace that I live and breathe and open my eyes every morning, then you have a different perspective on life. I no longer feel like a child of privilege who deserves everything I have and even more, I am grateful, humble, and I can never stop saying “thank you, thank you, gracious Lord…”
Nothing that we have is guaranteed to remain with us long, and it’s all guaranteed to leave us at some point, live tomorrow by God’s grace, in full faith, praising him, sharing his Son, and thankful for all that he has done (and will do) for you…
