Commitment

“Then the king gave orders, and Daniel was brought in and cast into the lions’ den. The king spoke and said to Daniel, ‘Your God whom you constantly serve will Himself deliver you.’ A stone was brought and laid over the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing would be changed in regard to Daniel. Then the king went off to his palace and spent the night fasting, and no entertainment was brought before him; and his sleep fled from him. Then the king arose at dawn, at the break of day, and went in haste to the lions’ den. When he had come near the den to Daniel, he cried out with a troubled voice. The king spoke and said to Daniel, ‘Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you constantly serve, been able to deliver you from the lions?’ Then Daniel spoke to the king, ‘O king, live forever! My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths and they have not harmed me, inasmuch as I was found innocent before Him; and also toward you, O king, I have committed no crime.’ Then the king was very pleased and gave orders for Daniel to be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den and no injury whatever was found on him, because he had trusted in his God,” (Daniel 6:16-23, NASB).

We live in a noncommittal world, where perseverance is all too rare. If a job is difficult or boring, people often think, “Why not find another one?” Or when a marriage becomes unhappy, many wonder, “Should I be with someone else?”

Sadly, this mindset is also found among believers. At the first sign of conflict, some Christians hop to another church instead of working through difficulties with their local body of believers. And when it comes to our personal walk of faith, many of us struggle to maintain a consistent quiet time with the Lord.

Daniel was a man of steadfast loyalty. Not even the awareness that he could be killed interfered with his practice of praying three times a day. Such commitment to the Lord was noted by others. Jealous officers and governors used Daniel’s consistency to trap him, but the king made a remarkable statement: “‘Your God whom you constantly serve will Himself deliver you,’” (Daniel 6:16, NASB). Apparently, he believed Daniel’s devotion would be the key to the young man’s deliverance.

Daniel’s victory in the lion’s den led to great influence, as it inspired the king’s decree to worship the Lord. Have we considered that the Lord was able to use him because of his unwavering obedience and worship? Imagine what God can do with us when we also commit ourselves to Him.

Jeff