11 Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul.

12 Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.

— 1 Peter 211-12

14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “… is it true that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden statue I have set up?

16… [they] replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.

17 If the God whom we serve exists, then He is able to deliver us from the blazing fiery furnace and from your hand, O king.

18 But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up.”

— Daniel 3:14, 16-18

Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.

— Hebrews 7:25

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, peace and joy to you from the Lord Jesus Christ.

We believers live as aliens, foreigners, and exiles in this fallen world. We trust Christ for salvation. Because we assume His priorities, and count His eternal kingdom as our home, we cannot walk in alignment with this world. Daniel set an example for us. He trusted God and stood firmly on what he knew was right. In so many ways, we believers face pressure to conform to this world’s values and systems. God’s Spirit empowers us to be transformed as citizens of His kingdom. We, God people, seek a different kind of treasure than most people in this fallen world because the certainty and security of God’s eternal kingdom impact how we live today.

Daniel’s God is also our God. The God who rescues and saves spared Daniel, proving His power and faithfulness. Sometimes God answers this way; sometimes He does not. God’s trustworthiness stands, not in the seemingly happy ending, but in His power to accomplish His greater purposes on earth. We God’s people fave challenges, oppositions and enemies in this world. Whether or not God spares us pain, delivers us from trouble, or strengthens us to endure trials, God fights for the eternal good of His kingdom and us. God is mightier than any foe. We can restfully trust Him to the end.