Becoming Wiseနမူနာ

Wisdom is to know for whom we are made

Daniel’s response is astounding when he learns of King Darius’ order. When Darius signs a decree that for thirty days, whoever makes petitions to any god or man, except himself, will be cast into a den of lions. Daniel goes home, opens the windows towards Jerusalem, gets down on his knees and prays, just as he did before. He refuses to follow expected cultural norms even if it means standing against authority and losing his life.

In the 1960s, a non-violent Birmingham campaign in Alabama, U.S, began with marches against racism. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, a civil rights activist, participated in one such march and was arrested. Eight Clergymen issued a Statement against King and his methods. Their letter provoked Dr. King to write a response, ‘Why We Can’t Wait”. In his famous letter, King writes that the answer lies in the fact that there are two types of laws: just and unjust. He said he would be the first to advocate obeying just laws, and one has the legal and moral responsibility to obey such laws. However, he said that one has a moral obligation to disobey unjust laws. King says that he would agree with St. Augustine, the Bishop of Hippo Regius, who said that “an unjust law is no law at all”.

Daniel believed that God brought him to Babylon for a purpose, and it was to glorify Him. He boldly spoke to Kings about God as “The King of Kings” or “The God of Heaven”. He never flinched when it came to his faith and stood up against authority when their orders went against God’s commands.

Becoming wise means knowing for whom we are made.

In Romans 11:36, Paul says, “For everything comes from Him and exists by His power and is intended for His glory”.

Prayer: Lord, help me remind myself of your purpose for me. Grant me the boldness to stand up for your name.