The Life of DanielSample

Daniel fears God more than he fears the king, but he’s still kind. Nebuchadnezzar destroyed his nation, killed his loved ones, and took him as a slave. It would have been tempting to say something like, “You are an evil person, and God is going to punish you!” That would have been true, but Daniel still spoke with compassion. He advised the king to avoid God’s judgment by turning from his sin and helping the oppressed.

The king may have temporarily reformed, but a year later he was back to giving himself credit and ignoring God. He did end up losing his mind, but God was merciful and restored it once he acknowledged God.

Takeaway: Self-centered people aren’t something new. Having people like that in places of power and authority isn’t new, either. Like Daniel, let’s be people who “Pray for those who persecute you!” (Matthew 5:44) and “Pray for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.” (1 Timothy 2:2)