Lives of Integrity

So, we're just about done with this first half of the book of Daniel and I'm a bit intimidated about this second half. This first section, Living Lives of Integrity in Today's Babylon, was fantastically overwhelming. The next section, The Ancient of Days and the End of Times, is downright head-swimming. I've enjoyed every bit of this study this semester.

Even in the times when I felt less like a Daniel in my own life.

These last few months have been hard. Physically, emotionally, mentally...very hard. But this morning I was reminded that spiritually-speaking, I'm still here. And I'm still standing. After emotional battle topped with physical frailty, He's still holding me up with His Almighty Hands!

We just wrapped up Daniel 6, the book that contains the ever-so-popular lions' den story. But we didn't spend a whole lot of time on that part. The part that grabbed me the most was based around Daniel 6:4:

"They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent."

Now this is referring to the city's sataps and administrators and such, looking for a reason to oust Daniel. They didn't like that King Darius noticed his loyalty and wisdom and that he planned to make Daniel part-ruler. So they looked for anything.

But they came up empty-handed. Not even a camel-parking ticket. So they were left with no other idea than to find an offense that had "something to do with the law of his God." (v. 4)

Wouldn't that be great? I've mentioned here before that I would love to come out of trials and not smell like smoke. This is even cooler. What a testimony we would have in this Babylon when they can't find anything "wrong" with us! In order for Darius to take to Daniel like he did, and for the jealous guys to come up short of findings, Daniel would have had to:

be loyal to his government
obey the laws
be faithful to his boss
be kind to other citizens
be respectful of authority
be without fault by their standards
perform his job well and without complaint
not talk bad about others
be blameless (without willful sin)

For those of you out there in the workplace, I don't doubt that this is a constant battle for you. I can only imagine how difficult it can be when people are people and you want to react. And for those of us at home with our kids, it is all too easy to lose our cool with one of them. I know I sometimes forget that the other one(s) is watching and will remember.

What kind of testimony would we have if we always reacted in the way our old nature allowed? I have a part-time seasonal job for a fellow in town who lives a lifestyle that Scripture and I do not agree with. What kind of testimony of Christ's love would I have with this man if I grumbled while I worked, openly criticized his life choices, talked about him behind his back with my co-workers, or did my work half-heartedly?

Not only that, but take a look at Daniel. Not only did he "stay out of trouble," so to speak, but he took a stand. From Daniel 1 on, Daniel has taken a stand to publicly believe in and praise his God. In Daniel 6, it might have been easy for him to compromise and obey the king for the sake of his own life. But the administrators out to get him even knew that though Daniel was a good citizen, he'd quickly obey his God before his king.

What a testimony to have. Today, I pray for strength for myself and anyone reading this. Strength to withstand the tendency to react in your workplace or home. Strength to resist showing others what God is NOT. Strength to live the same every day and not to live a separate life on Sundays and Wednesdays. And strength for integrity of heart and conviction of purpose.

Have a fabulous day and know that you are being prayed for!