PLUS

Daniel 1:20 “And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.”

Proverbs 22:29 “Seest thou a man diligent in his business?  he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.”

I Corinthians 15:10 “But by the grace of God I am what I am:  and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”

Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were not just slightly better than those around them.  They were way better than those around them; specifically, they were ten times better than those around them. 

God had given them skill, wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and ability.  Yet, undoubtedly they had carefully cultivated these characteristics through God-given circumstances and opportunities.  They fostered these talents such that they rose well above their peers and were able to stand before kings.  The grace that was bestowed upon them was not in vain because of their diligent labor.

God needs Christians today who carefully cultivate God-given skill, wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and ability.  He needs us to foster our talents such that we can rise well above our peers and stand before kings.  God’s grace that has been bestowed upon us must not be in vain.

Of course, God needs those in ministry to diligently apply the personal gifts that God has freely given them to impact the world.  Yet, God calls for diligent Christian experts to impact every realm of our society.  God needs them in the military, in government, in law, in sports, in medicine, in education, and in labor.  God encourages world-class expertise among Christian craftsmen, firemen, doctors, authors, engineers, mechanics, scientists, carpenters, diplomats, electricians, and actors.  He needs men and women of faith who are committed to perfecting their craft in all fields so that they can impact the world through the faithful application and cultivation of their expertise.  His gifts must not be in vain.

PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICAN CHRISTIANS IN ALL CAREER FIELDS WOULD DILIGENTLY LABOR TO FOSTER OUR GOD-GIVEN TALENTS.  May our faithfully applied and cultivated expertise enable us to be ten times better than those around us – all for God’s honor and glory in our land.

Please see the original Ten Times Better post from 2014:

Ten Times Better

Daniel 1:3-4 “And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes; Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skillful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.”

Ecclesiastes 9:10 “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.”

Colossians 3:23 “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men”

Not just anyone could stand in the king’s palace in Babylon.  The master of the eunuchs sought out those certain children of Israel who demonstrated excellence in their lives and who had earned the right to walk the halls of power, of prestige, and of persuasion.  They were clean; they were pure; they will well-respected; they were well-regarded; they were skillful; they were wise; they were learned; they were practiced; and they were prepared.  They had honed their craft through their hearty dedication and a lifelong investment to perfect their skills via focused might.  In the end, this excellence gave them an opportunity to serve the Lord with impact and influence that would have never transpired if they had squandered their God-given talents and opportunities through atrophy, laziness, or distraction.  

Not just anyone can stand in the king’s palace today.  Those in power are seeking out others who demonstrate excellence in their lives.  They are looking for those who are clean, pure, well-respected, well-regarded, skillful, wise, learned, practiced, and prepared.  They are searching for those who have honed their craft through hearty dedication and a lifelong investment to perfect their skills via focused might.  In the end, excellence will give us an opportunity to serve the Lord with impact and influence that would never transpire if we squander our God-given talents and opportunities through atrophy, laziness, or distraction.

PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS TO PURSUE EXCELLENCE IN OUR LIVES.  We should never do so for our own glory or honor, but instead, we should do so in order to enable us to properly represent the Lord as we may someday find ourselves standing in the king’s palace.

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

Daniel 6:23 “Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den.  So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.”

Daniel 6:25-26 “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 stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.”

When the tide of public opinion and public policy seemed to turn against Daniel, he remained faithful.  In doing so, he had allies that were standing by to celebrate his faithfulness and the subsequent powerful deliverance that would come from his all-loving, all-powerful God.  In this case, though king Darius felt bound to carry out an unjust death sentence against this mighty man of faith, there was a level of latent faith in the ruler that actually hoped for a God-given opportunity to turn the tables on a system that had conspired to condemn a man who should have been celebrated instead.  Indeed, God’s delivery opened a stunning window of opportunity for a strong public testimony that exalted the Lord.  Yet, it was only possible because Daniel remained faithful in spite of the challenging circumstances of condemnation.

When the tide of public opinion and public policy seems to turn against us today, God would have us to remain faithful.  In doing so, we may find that we have allies that are standing by to celebrate our faithfulness and the subsequent powerful deliverance that can only come from our all-loving, all-powerful God.  Certain rulers, though they may feel bound to follow certain unjust policies, may have a level of latent faith that actually hopes for a God-given opportunity to turn the tables on a system that conspires to condemn those who should be celebrated instead.  Indeed, God’s delivery can open stunning windows of opportunity for a strong public testimony that exalts the Lord.  Yet, it will only be possible if we remain faithful in spite of the challenging circumstances of condemnation.

PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS TO REMAIN FAITHFUL IN THE FACE OF ALL OPPOSITION.  Those who seem to be our antagonists may actually be exceedingly glad to see us remain faithful because it gives them a source of hope that is otherwise absent in their lives.

Daniel 6:9-11 “Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.  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 times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.  Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.”

Acts 5:29 “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.”

When the clear conflict came between faith and adherence to the rules of the state, Daniel didn’t hesitate to honor the Lord.  He didn’t sneak in an illegal prayer or two in a way that nobody would find out about his rebellion.  He didn’t marginalize his faith-filled practices in order to comply with the onerous violations of his sincerely held religious beliefs.  On the other hand, he didn’t undertake showy prideful acts as pharisaical demonstrations of his superior faithfulness either. 

Instead, Daniel did what he always did – with his windows open he kneeled in humble faithfulness.  He reliably prayed to His Lord and God as he did aforetime.  Daniel’s detractors knew exactly where to find him to condemn his acts because he was faithfully consistent in prioritizing the Lord in his life.

As conflicts come in our lives, may we not hesitate to honor the Lord.  May our faithfulness in the face of opposition cause us to reliably act as we did aforetime.  PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS TO BE RELIABLY FAITHFUL.  May our consistency be a clear sign to all around us that no matter what opposition we face, we will be faithful as we were aforetime.

Daniel 6:4-5 “Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor 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.”

Acts 5:29 “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.”

Genesis 50:20 “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.”

Daniel had a powerful testimony!  He was characterized by an excellent spirit, by determined and trusting obedience, and by excellence.  Even his strongest detractors acknowledged Daniel’s sterling, rightfully-earned reputation.  Yet, it wasn’t going to stop them from finding fault in order to see Daniel thrust into the lion’s den so that his prime position of influence was opened for one of them.

The only way they were going to tear down Daniel was to use his faithfulness against him, and that is exactly what these evil men did.  After all, they knew they “shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except [they found] it against him concerning the law of his God.”  As expected, Daniel could only be brought down by his honoring of God above all other authorities.  When he faced the vicious attacks based on his faithful stand, Daniel stood firm with unwavering strength and humble righteousness.  As a result, the Lord allowed the evil plans of men to actually elevate Daniel and Daniel’s God.  The detractors meant it for evil, but God used it for good!

PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS TODAY TO HAVE POWERFUL TESTIMONIES, ESPECIALLY IN RESPONSE TO ANY ATTACKS ON OUR FAITH!  May we be characterized by an excellent spirit, by determined and trusting obedience, and by excellence.  May even our strongest detractors acknowledge our sterling, rightfully-earned reputations.  May they realize that the only way they can tear us down is to use our faithfulness against us.   When we face vicious attacks based on our faithful stand, may we stand firm with unwavering strength and humble righteousness.  As a result, the Lord may allow the evil plans of men to actually elevate us and our God.  Our detractors will mean it for evil, but God can use it for good!