To my kids,
Let me walk you through Daniel in the lions' den - a story that shows us what happens when uncompromising integrity meets impossible circumstances.
The Setup: Excellence Attracts Opposition
We're introduced to King Darius the Mede, who divided the kingdom into 120 provinces and appointed Daniel as one of three chief administrators. Daniel soon distinguished himself so remarkably that the king planned to place him over the entire empire.
Once again, we see the tangible fruit of obedience to God's calling - excellence that cannot be ignored.
But success always tests character. A group of jealous officials watched Daniel with critical eyes, searching for some flaw in his conduct. This is the reality of life: obedience brings blessings, and blessings attract enemies who will test your character.
The beauty of obedience lies in the character it builds - character that takes years to develop but can be compromised in a moment. This character, forged through obedience, grants you the wisdom and discernment to handle inevitable challenges. This is one of the Blueprint's core purposes: to build character that can withstand anything.
The Character Examination: When They Look for Dirt and Find None
Let's examine Daniel's character more closely - this is my favorite part!
Daniel's enemies became like spies, tracking his every move to find something against him. But because Daniel was morally impeccable, Satan suggested using his religion as the means to condemn him.
Let's pause here. Daniel's life calls me to deep introspection. He was a man of integrity.
Integrity means your external life perfectly mirrors your internal reality. How could Daniel pretend to be one person publicly while being someone else privately? God would never have entrusted him with such responsibility without genuine integrity.
"God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?" (Numbers 23:19)
God Himself embodies perfect truth and integrity, and He expects nothing less from us. As His children, we're called to reflect Christ's character - after all, an apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
"Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place... Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." (Psalm 51:6,10)
God detests anything that hints at duplicity. We must demonstrate integrity in every area so we may be found blameless. Remember: everything hidden in darkness will eventually come to light.
The Cost of Integrity: When Your Faith Becomes Your "Crime"
Following Jesus requires living with integrity. Only through integrity can we truly be salt and light.
"You are the salt of the earth... You are the light of the world." (Matthew 5:13-14)
Let's be honest - when you're caught living without integrity, your character suffers damage that takes years to repair. Yes, you can regain God's favor, but what about the weaker believer who looked up to you? We've established that your obedience isn't just personal - it's connected to someone else's spiritual journey.
Do not live a double life. Move in the fear of God.
Integrity extends even to this website I'm creating for you. How could I preach about character, obedience, and faith while secretly doubting God? Integrity transcends external appearances. How you apply God's Word in daily life demonstrates your integrity. Your faith in God is a testament to your integrity.
Sometimes you'll blame unanswered prayers on spiritual warfare, failing to recognize you might be your own biggest obstacle.
"To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd." (Psalm 18:25-26)
The message couldn't be clearer.
How dare we doubt God after He's made promises, revealed His faithfulness through Scripture, and demonstrated it in our experiences? Where is our reverence? Our fear of God? Our integrity?
The Prayer That Shakes Heaven: Not for Deliverance but for Strength
They scrutinized Daniel and found no faults.
Someone once noted that sin distorts our memory, and I completely agree. What's Satan's primary tactic when we return to God? He weaponizes our past failures to make us feel unworthy. Don't give him that satisfaction. God meets us in our need, regardless of how sinful we feel.
Daniel was a man of prayer. Three times daily he knelt before God, and Satan attacked through his religious practices. Notice: Daniel didn't pray for deliverance from the trial but for strength to endure it.
Don't fear the mountains ahead; ask for strength to climb them. As one spiritual insight notes: "As the big waves approach, God handles the heavy lifting. He only asks that we wade in as deep as He leads while continually reaching for Him."
We're not called to mediocrity. Don't let the devil steal this truth. God's promises are "yes" and "amen."
"God is not a man, that he should lie..." (Numbers 23:19)
Take God at His Word and fulfill your part, whatever comes - because while Satan works hard, remember: he cannot dwell near a soul that draws close to God.
God is for you, my children.
The King's Regret and God's Rescue
Now, consider King Darius - a monarch who yielded to his cabinet's manipulation despite knowing God's history with Israel. He signed the decree without sufficient reflection, despite his knowledge.
The lesson: always be VIGILANT, lest you inadvertently harm a fellow believer. Yet again, we witness our God's faithfulness. We also see King Darius's remorse -
"Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep." (Daniel 6:18)
As we learn from Esther, fasting always involves prayer. In Esther, God's hand is evident even when He's not explicitly mentioned, and the same pattern appears here.
King Darius deserves credit for knowing God and not despairing after sending His servant to the lions. Instead, he fasted and prayed. What a response! Experience isn't the best teacher - observe the king's decisions even when at fault. He understood the power of Daniel's God. What a privilege to be called God's children through Christ Jesus!
The Integrity That God Honors
"He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless" (Proverbs 2:7)
Scripture provides countless examples of His faithfulness to those who walk in integrity.
I challenge you to taste and see that the Lord is good. Your mother can testify. God blesses integrity.
God indeed blesses integrity. Maintaining it through adversity, as Job demonstrated, reveals its depth and authenticity.
Jesus lived perfect integrity, acknowledged even by His opponents - "Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth" (Matthew 22:16) - yet they crucified Him.
May we walk in such integrity that even our enemies must acknowledge God's work in us.
With Love,
Mom