My soul will make its boast in the Lord;
The humble will hear it and rejoice.
O magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together.
Psalm 34:2-3
Stand Firm as Daniel Did
The world is rapidly growing in its opposition to godly wisdom, intelligence, and understanding. True science is being supplanted by myth and fantasy. And sadly, much of the visible church has joined in this rebellion. Our God is the God of all wisdom and understanding! Day by day, He sweetly and graciously reveals to mankind an ever-increasing knowledge of how He made the universe and all living things. We should, like men of old (David, Solomon, Daniel) grow in this wisdom for the glory of our King, Christ Jesus. "Great are the works of the LORD; they are studied by all who delight in them" (Psalm 111:2).
And we must be ever more careful not to allow worldly influences into our lives. Of course, we are in this world—not isolated from it—so that Christ's truth and glory may be proclaimed through us! Let us long to be more like Daniel—a man of pure heart (Matthew 5:8) and praise to God (Daniel 2:20-23). And let us desire to be humbled before our Lord, that He might receive all praise and honor (Daniel 2:30). Who other than God could reveal, with such great perspicuity, future history (Daniel 2:28-35)? He is the One who "made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation" (Acts 17:26).
And God is the One who raised up Christ and His kingdom to crush all other kingdoms (Daniel 2)! The nations and leaders of today are as nothing before our King (Isaiah 40:17). Christ's kingdom, of which we belong, is not of this world (John 18:36). Therefore, true Christianity cannot be blended with the world and its ways, nor does the world have any part of it. This is why the world grows in its hatred of us. God is greatly dishonored when people attempt to pollute His kingdom for "friendship with the world is hostility toward God" (James 4:4).
Let us then stand firm like Daniel in our resolve to resist all worldly influences—not as isolationists, but as godly heralds of our Creator's glory "in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the Word of Life" ( Philippians 2:15-16 a). Please join us as we seek to grow in a correct understanding and sweet knowledge of God (Jeremiah 9:24). And let us have the courage to proclaim His incomparable character and glory to a dying world. The world has nothing it can teach us beyond what Jesus reveals to us in His Word, His creation, and His providence, for all "light dwells with Him" (Daniel 2:22)!
"And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace."