Thoughts from Daniel

I'm unapologetic about the fact that I'm a follower of Jesus Christ. Given the confusing messages that christians (small c intentional) have given about the God I serve, I have sometimes wondered how to even speak about Him in a way that will not add to the deafening noise about Him that fills the North American atmosphere.

I decided to read the book of Daniel. I've only made it through the first couple chapters as of the start of this blog, but I'll be entering more thoughts as they come to me. This blog will be edited often. If you're a follower of Jesus, please pray with me that I won't be distracted from this. I'm a tad ADD.

Observations / lessons for me to learn:
Daniel had faithful friends.
While many of God's people had turned their backs on God, they rose up to defy the odds. (Young people take note!)
He and his friends were determined to obey God's commands, regardless of the cost.
They were compassionate, patient and respectful toward those with whom they disagreed. This is true despite the fact that they were captives of war. They were the trophy. They still showed honour to their captors.
They didn't kick back at the religious names the king used for them, even though it went against their religious beliefs. They quietly chose their battles. I find it interesting that, at least in chapter two, when Daniel is referencing the friends in light of their own relationship, he called them by their Jewish names. When telling the story of them in reference to the kind and his officials, he uses their Babylonian names. They maintained their identity without fail but still, there's that respect piece.
They didn't spend all of their time preaching. They prayed and waited.
When confronted with a horrible situation (ch. 2), they relied on God and spoke up when the right opportunity arose.When it did, Daniel spoke boldly and without apology, while being covered in the prayers of his friends.
They stood (ch. 3); we don't have a record of  widespread campaigns, political agendas or loud protests. They stood. In so doing, they signed their own death sentence.
Nebuchadnezzar had a change of heart; well, sort of. Instead of threatening people's lives for not worshiping him, he switched to threatening people's lives for saying anything against the God of Heaven. Hanania, Mishael, and Azaria stood again, this time in the king's presence as he made the announcement.  So far, I'm seeing respect and resolve; respect for the authority with clarity on
who is king and just Who is the King of kings, coupled with the resolve to follow the King of kings.
And then there's this; it was a "wow" moment for me when I read this in light of a king that battled a seriously obese ego. He says of the God of Heaven:
How great are his signs,
    how mighty his wonders!
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
    and his dominion endures from generation to generation.
(Emphasis mine.)
Then, after further reading, I remembered which story this was. This statement came before Nebuchadnezzar told the tale. God humbled him. He had been bragging about himself, still not having learned that he was powerless against God (see ch. 2). God humbled him to the level he was before the Almighty; merely a beast, eking out sustenance in the grassy fields.
When Daniel was called on to speak (4:19 ff), he did so, even though he wished he didn't have to. It's not comfortable for me to tell people that they've sinned. It's an essential part of the message that raises people up to the state for which we were originally created; reflections of Him, living in fellowship with Him and each other, and in the deep peace that comes in from holiness in His presence. The sacrifice of Christ was not a sacrifice of a good man who set an example of love. It was the payment for our sins. I have a heavy heart every time I read the story of the crucifixion. I move through that story (and this story of Nebuchadnezzar's humiliation) with the realization that there's a better day coming. 
I've often wondered if the persecution God's people face is always directly because they're His followers or if their faith just a convenient target. Daniel's coworkers really didn't have a beef with him until he was promoted. Jealousy was their motivating factor. Because they couldn't find anything wrong with his work ethic, they decided to attack his trust in God. Everyone knew he'd be faithful to prayer. It was a guaranteed way to get what they wanted. They didn't necessarily hate his religion or his God; they didn't care. They just used it. Based on the underlying principle of Ephesians 6:12 and in conjunction with other passages, I would be interested in peeling back the veil and seeing what was happening in the spiritual realm. God didn't tell us. It doesn't appear that He told Daniel, either. Daniel was just supposed to be faithful.

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I haven't written in here for a few days, but thinking back to Nebuchadnezzar, I was reminded that God will humble people when He needs to. Kim Jong-un needs to be humbled. Granted, he's been meticulously groomed to be the manipulative, cruel leader that he is. I pray that he's humbled. I wonder if a balloon would reach him when his heart is most vulnerable. God comes in those moments and calls us in whatever way He sees that we need. Nebuchadnezzar was forced into the fields to live like a wild animal. I wonder what it will take for Kim Jong-un. As I understand scripture, it's not God's end result to just "stick it to him." God longs to father President Kim. I pray that the truth drops into his life, into his heart and into the kingdom he rules. 
In chapter ten, Daniel was struck down, trembling and in pain because of the awesomeness of his vision. There's this beautiful little treasure, the message every man needs to hear from the God Who calls him. "O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage." When the call is far beyond us or not at all what we comprehend, He says this. Amazing.
11:32 - "He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action." That sounds like the average politician - "seduce with flattery." How do we respond in a crazy, screwed up world? Stand firm. That's our call. Stand. Ephesians 6 - "having done all... stand." The call in the previous paragraph seems to be in those extraordinary circumstances that God brings our way. We aren't all called to greatness, despite the messages that Barney the dinosaur and televangelists give us. On average, God calls us to stand firm. He'll give direction for the action we're to take.