Day 334, 31st July: Daniel, 1 John and Psalms
Loyalty to God
By Kay-Marie Stroud, Soul Survivor:Called to Lead
Todays Readings Are:
Daniel 5:17-6:28
1 John 1:1-2:11
Psalm 136:1-12
As we read Daniel, we see he was devoted to God. This is shown when Daniel refuses the gifts from Belshazzar (vs17), Daniel is not tempted by power and wealth, and through the refusal of the gifts, he shows us where his loyalties lie, in God alone. Where do our loyalties lie? We can be tempted by popularity, success, etc. The question is would we choose to build our reputation here on earth or build up our treasures in heaven? Daniel was secure in who God had made him to be. We should choose what is right over power and rewards, for our greatest treasures in heaven!
Continuing into Chapter 6, the lions’ den, we see again how Daniel remained faithful to God. When Darius set a law, that for 30 days no one could worship anything but him, ‘Three times a day Daniel got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God just as he had done before’ (vs. 10). In the face of possible death Daniel remains true to God.
Daniel lived an exemplary life. What made him different? He trusted God. Daniel continued to pray because he could not look to the king for strength and guidance, only God could provide what he needed. We can face tough situations, but like Daniel, we should pray through every circumstance, praising and thanking God, for He is sovereign and Lord of all. How can we stay loyal to God? Through prayer and obedience.
Then we come to 1 John. John is writing to believers about faith and living in truth. At the time the church had gone through persecution and the main problem was the commitment of faith, standing up for Christ. John shares with us the truth, that remaining in fellowship with God and living in obedience, ‘God’s love is truly made complete’ (2:5) We see in the OT, through Daniel and other prophets, and through Jesus’ life and teachings, that when we stay loyal to God, we walk in light, in love and are assured of our salvation.
Lastly Psalm 136:1-12, is a psalm of praise. After every line of adoration comes ‘His love endures forever’. He is the sovereign Lord, and His love conquered death and the grave. When we choose to live out of obedience, and loyalty to God, we see just how amazing He is and how He loves us.
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Just so you know… Some of the content will be the same as this year and some will be new. The cover of the Bible in One Year has been refreshed and the site may get a bit of a makeover come September but all of the readings will be in the same order as last year.
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Today’s picture was taken by…
Tom reading his Bible in One Year in Sydney, Australia. Thanks Tom from Capital Church Cardiff!
If you’d like to take your own picture to potentially be featured on the blog, then get your Soul Survivor Bible in One Year, and take a picture of yourself – and your Bible – at some interesting or colourful location. Then email it to us at editor@soulsurvivor.com.
The pictures will need to be a pretty good resolution (we use 640px by 360 px so at least as big as that), landscape photos work best and if you include the day of the reading in the picture then make sure you send it to us a good few days before that reading, so we have time to include it in that day’s post! We’ll credit all photographers!
