The Empty Tomb

Beyond the Present Time
Resurrection Hope
The Lord Has Risen Indeed!

Luke 24:1-12

The Message

Looking for the Living One in a Cemetery

24 ^1-3 At the crack of dawn on Sunday, the women came to the tomb carrying the burial spices they had prepared. They found the entrance stone rolled back from the tomb, so they walked in. But once inside, they couldn’t find the body of the Master Jesus.

^4-8 They were puzzled, wondering what to make of this. Then, out of nowhere it seemed, two men, light cascading over them, stood there. The women were awestruck and bowed down in worship. The men said, “Why are you looking for the Living One in a cemetery? He is not here, but raised up. Remember how he told you when you were still back in Galilee that he had to be handed over to sinners, be killed on a cross, and in three days rise up?” Then they remembered Jesus’ words.
^9-11 They left the tomb and broke the news of all this to the Eleven and the rest. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them kept telling these things to the apostles, but the apostles didn’t believe a word of it, thought they were making it all up.
¹² But Peter jumped to his feet and ran to the tomb. He stooped to look in and saw a few grave clothes, that’s all. He walked away puzzled, shaking his head.

For Reflection

Why did the high priests want Jesus killed? Of what were they so afraid that they needed to kill Christ? Of what are we so afraid that we deny our indebtedness to God for the gift of his son?

 

Pray

prayers of praise. Thank God for taking human form to show us the way to citizenship in the Kingdom of God. Pray that you will wait and abide with the Living Lord.

The Crucifixion of Jesus

Beyond the Present Time
Resurrection Hope
The Lord Has Risen Indeed!

Luke 23:32-38

The Message

³² Two others, both criminals, were taken along with him for execution.
³³ When they got to the place called Skull Hill, they crucified him, along with the criminals, one on his right, the other on his left.
^34-35 Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them; they don’t know what they’re doing.”
Dividing up his clothes, they threw dice for them. The people stood there staring at Jesus, and the ringleaders made faces, taunting, “He saved others. Let’s see him save himself! The Messiah of God—ha! The Chosen—ha!”
^36-37 The soldiers also came up and poked fun at him, making a game of it. They toasted him with sour wine: “So you’re King of the Jews! Save yourself!”
³⁸ Printed over him was a sign: this is the king of the Jews.

 

Reflect

Taunting, teasing, brutalizing, dehumanizing, these soldiers exemplified those who respond the demands of the common culture of their times. Are they different from us? You answer. When was the last time you heard others speak unkindly. When have you heard others criticize another person or even laugh at them? Jesus lived and died so that we could avoid the common culturally acceptable but unloving responses.

Pray
That you will speak and act in ways that will attract others to God and the Way. Pray that others will respond to the Gospel message of peace and right relationships among people.

The Death of Jesus

Beyond the Present Time
Resurrection Hope
The Lord Has Risen Indeed!

Luke 23:44-49

The Message

^44-46 By now it was noon. The whole earth became dark, the darkness lasting three hours—a total blackout. The Temple curtain split right down the middle. Jesus called loudly, “Father, I place my life in your hands!” Then he breathed his last.

⁴⁷ When the captain there saw what happened, he honored God: “This man was innocent! A good man, and innocent!”

^48-49 All who had come around as spectators to watch the show, when they saw what actually happened, were overcome with grief and headed home. Those who knew Jesus well, along with the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a respectful distance and kept vigil.
 

For Reflection

Spectators. Fickle, at once both convinced that He was a threat imminent enough to be killed and filled with grief in the realization of His truth. Each heads home, still a spectator. And, the faithful stand and wait keeping vigil. Which are you spectator or vigilant?

 

Pray

that you will be full in faith. Pray that you will be fully committed to the Christ who is always with you; Pray for the spectators that they may find authentic faith.

The Trial before Pilate

Luke 23:13-25

The Message

^13-16 Then Pilate called in the high priests, rulers, and the others and said, “You brought this man to me as a disturber of the peace. I examined him in front of all of you and found there was nothing to your charge. And neither did Herod, for he has sent him back here with a clean bill of health. It’s clear that he’s done nothing wrong, let alone anything deserving death. I’m going to warn him to watch his step and let him go.”
^18-20 At that, the crowd went wild: “Kill him! Give us Barabbas!” (Barabbas had been thrown in prison for starting a riot in the city and for murder.) Pilate still wanted to let Jesus go, and so spoke out again.
²¹ But they kept shouting back, “Crucify! Crucify him!”
²² He tried a third time. “But for what crime? I’ve found nothing in him deserving death. I’m going to warn him to watch his step and let him go.”
^23-25 But they kept at it, a shouting mob, demanding that he be crucified. And finally they shouted him down. Pilate caved in and gave them what they wanted. He released the man thrown in prison for rioting and murder, and gave them Jesus to do whatever they wanted.

For Reflection

Why did the high priests want Jesus killed? Of what were they so afraid that they needed to kill Christ? Of what are we so afraid that we deny our indebtedness to God for the gift of his son?

 

Pray

in gratitude for the gift of Jesus Christ. Pray that you will have the courage to follow in the way of Christ in obedience ato God's call to His kingdom. Pray for those who reject the wisdom of Christ's vision of a counter culture. Pray for those who do not know the peace brought by obedience to the Holy Spirit.

Examine Yourselves

Beyond the Present Time
Resurrection Hope
The Lord's Supper

1 Corinthians 11:23-32The Message

23-26 Let me go over with you again exactly what goes on in the Lord’s Supper and why it is so centrally important. I received my instructions from the Master himself and passed them on to you. The Master, Jesus, on the night of his betrayal, took bread. Having given thanks, he broke it and said,

This is my body, broken for you.
Do this to remember me.

After supper, he did the same thing with the cup:

This cup is my blood, my new covenant with you.
Each time you drink this cup, remember me.

What you must solemnly realize is that every time you eat this bread and every time you drink this cup, you reenact in your words and actions the death of the Master. You will be drawn back to this meal again and again until the Master returns. You must never let familiarity breed contempt.
27-28 Anyone who eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Master irreverently is like part of the crowd that jeered and spit on him at his death. Is that the kind of “remembrance” you want to be part of? Examine your motives, test your heart, come to this meal in holy awe.
29-32 If you give no thought (or worse, don’t care) about the broken body of the Master when you eat and drink, you’re running the risk of serious consequences. That’s why so many of you even now are listless and sick, and others have gone to an early grave. If we get this straight now, we won’t have to be straightened out later on. Better to be confronted by the Master now than to face a fiery confrontation later.
 

For Reflection

Some times I think that my faith journey has been a series of baptisms and communions a constant series of cleansing and renewal events leading me closer and closer to the intentions God has for my life. I sometimes think of the mystery of communion where the consecrated wine is transformed into the literal blood of Christ flowing through my body. What wondrous love has God for you and me.

 

Pray

That you will let the blood of Christ flow through and renew you.  Pray that your action will be justify the grace of God that gives you an infinite number of chances to grow into righteousness.

Showing Contempt for the Church

Beyond the Present Time
Resurrection Hope
The Lord's Supper

1 Corinthians 11:17-22The Message

17-19 Regarding this next item, I’m not at all pleased. I am getting the picture that when you meet together it brings out your worst side instead of your best! First, I get this report on your divisiveness, competing with and criticizing each other. I’m reluctant to believe it, but there it is. The best that can be said for it is that the testing process will bring truth into the open and confirm it.
20-22 And then I find that you bring your divisions to worship—you come together, and instead of eating the Lord’s Supper, you bring in a lot of food from the outside and make pigs of yourselves. Some are left out, and go home hungry. Others have to be carried out, too drunk to walk. I can’t believe it! Don’t you have your own homes to eat and drink in? Why would you stoop to desecrating God’s church? Why would you actually shame God’s poor? I never would have believed you would stoop to this. And I’m not going to stand by and say nothing.
 

For Reflection

Paul scolds those whose behavior does not exemplify the new faith that they have adopted. Divisiveness and competition for the most right thinking is not unknown in today's churches, both internally and between domination's.

 

 Perhaps Paul was right, at least where exchanging dialog produces mutual understanding about those things which differentiate faith points of view. But sometimes divisiveness leads to polarizing positions which inhibits the practice of loving relationships not only among those with whom we disagree. Such downward spirals of bolstering one's own opinion results in being closed to God's instruction.

 

Pray

for the church. Pray that the church's action follows the expression of Christ's love and compassion for humankind. Pray for each other. Pray that each of us who are committed to Christ's way grow in grace through the discussion of faith issues. Pray that we, who are committed to the practice of Christianity, remain alert to grow from the challenges of following God's call for justice and compassion.

Partaking of the Lord's Table

Beyond the Present Time
Resurection Hope
The Lord's Supper

1 Corinthians 10:14-22

The Message

¹⁴ So, my very dear friends, when you see people reducing God to something they can use or control, get out of their company as fast as you can.
^15-18 I assume I’m addressing believers now who are mature. Draw your own conclusions: When we drink the cup of blessing, aren’t we taking into ourselves the blood, the very life, of Christ? And isn’t it the same with the loaf of bread we break and eat? Don’t we take into ourselves the body, the very life, of Christ? Because there is one loaf, our many-ness becomes one-ness—Christ doesn’t become fragmented in us. Rather, we become unified in him. We don’t reduce Christ to what we are; he raises us to what he is. That’s basically what happened even in old Israel—those who ate the sacrifices offered on God’s altar entered into God’s action at the altar.
^19-22 Do you see the difference? Sacrifices offered to idols are offered to nothing, for what’s the idol but a nothing? Or worse than nothing, a minus, a demon! I don’t want you to become part of something that reduces you to less than yourself. And you can’t have it both ways, banqueting with the Master one day and slumming with demons the next. Besides, the Master won’t put up with it. He wants us—all or nothing. Do you think you can get off with anything less?
 

For Reflection

What is holding you back? From the beginning of recorded time, God has lead the way. God prepares the way for us. God will make sure that all is made well -- even those troubles we encounter for the sake of the Kingdom. He promises that we do not have to confirm to the worldly to survive. We only have to be obedient to Him.

So, what are you waiting for? Give it all over to God. Trust in Him alone. Have confidence in his promise of a full and complete life.

 

Pray

for the courage to be fully obedient and involved in the realization of the kingdom of God. Pray for the courage to follow His guide in Jesus Christ.

Preparations for the Last Supper

Beyond the Present Time
Resurrection Hope
The Lord's Supper

Luke 22:7-13

The Message

^7-8 The Day of Unleavened Bread came, the day the Passover lamb was butchered. Jesus sent Peter and John off, saying, “Go prepare the Passover for us so we can eat it together.”
⁹ They said, “Where do you want us to do this?”
^10-12 He said, “Keep your eyes open as you enter the city. A man carrying a water jug will meet you. Follow him home. Then speak with the owner of the house: The Teacher wants to know, ‘Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?’ He will show you a spacious second-story room, swept and ready. Prepare the meal there.”
¹³ They left, found everything just as he told them, and prepared the Passover meal.
 

For Reflection

What do you do to prepare yourself for major Christian events? Certainly loads of preparation goes into getting ready for Christmas and Easter. But what about other more ordinary days. How do you prepare your self to face ordinary days?

 

Pray

to begin each day. Pray at days end to thank God for your day in the comfort of His grace. Pray prays of thanksgiving, praise, and intersession.

What Does Passover Mean?

Beyond the Present Time
Resurrection Hope
The Lord's Supper

Exodus 12:21-27

The Message

^21-23 Moses assembled all the elders of Israel. He said, “Select a lamb for your families and slaughter the Passover lamb. Take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the bowl of blood and smear it on the lintel and on the two doorposts. No one is to leave the house until morning. God will pass through to strike Egypt down. When he sees the blood on the lintel and the two doorposts, God will pass over the doorway; he won’t let the destroyer enter your house to strike you down with ruin.
^24-27 “Keep this word. It’s the law for you and your children, forever. When you enter the land which God will give you as he promised, keep doing this. And when your children say to you, ‘Why are we doing this?’ tell them: ‘It’s the Passover-sacrifice to God who passed over the homes of the Israelites in Egypt when he hit Egypt with death but rescued us.’”
The people bowed and worshiped.

For Reflection

That which the Jews practiced to ensure God's protection continues to remind us all of God's active participation in our lives. God will protect. He may not remove the circumstances which we would rather avoid, in fact, He may place us in uncomfortable positions. Acting in obedience to God may lead into untoward positions with regard to human economic and social conditions. However, what we do encourages the realization of the culture of God's Kingdom. Passover, reminds us of God's unfailing support and comfort. It also reminds us of our responsibility to be obedient to His will.

 

Pray

for the courage to be obedient. Pray for God's support as you work toward God-centered justice and compassion.

A Helper in Response to Prayer

Beyond the Present Time
The Kingdom of God
Gabriel's Interpretation

Daniel 9:20-27

The Message

Seventy Sevens

^20-21 “While I was pouring out my heart, baring my sins and the sins of my people Israel, praying my life out before my God, interceding for the holy mountain of my God—while I was absorbed in this praying, the humanlike Gabriel, the one I had seen in an earlier vision, approached me, flying in like a bird about the time of evening worship.

^22-23 “He stood before me and said, ‘Daniel, I have come to make things plain to you. You had no sooner started your prayer when the answer was given. And now I’m here to deliver the answer to you. You are much loved! So listen carefully to the answer, the plain meaning of what is revealed:
²⁴ “‘Seventy sevens are set for your people and for your holy city to throttle rebellion, stop sin, wipe out crime, set things right forever, confirm what the prophet saw, and anoint The Holy of Holies.
^25-26 “‘Here is what you must understand: From the time the word goes out to rebuild Jerusalem until the coming of the Anointed Leader, there will be seven sevens. The rebuilding will take sixty-two sevens, including building streets and digging a moat. Those will be rough times. After the sixty-two sevens, the Anointed Leader will be killed—the end of him. The city and Sanctuary will be laid in ruins by the army of the newly arriving leader. The end will come in a rush, like a flood. War will rage right up to the end, desolation the order of the day.
²⁷ “‘Then for one seven, he will forge many and strong alliances, but halfway through the seven he will banish worship and prayers. At the place of worship, a desecrating obscenity will be set up and remain until finally the desecrator himself is decisively destroyed.’”

For Reflection

While praying for the release of the Jews in captivity, Daniel receives what some have concluded is the best prediction of the comming of Christ in the old testament. Dream or no dream, this is a message of hope. It is not sugar coated. The reality of suffering is vivid. However, in the space of God's time, sin, obscenity and tyranny of domination ends in the realization of the promise God made for justice and compassion to prevail.

This is not just an old story. It happens over and over again in your life today.

 

Pray

for the hope that will sustain you through troubled times. Pray for the hopeless that they might find Hope amidst their suffering.

A Helper in Understanding

Beyond the Present Time
The Kingdom of God
Gabriel's Interpretation

Daniel 8:13-18

The Message

¹³ “Then I overheard two holy angels talking. One asked, ‘How long is what we see here going to last—the abolishing of daily worship, this devastating judgment against sin, the kicking around of God’s holy people and the Sanctuary?’
¹⁴ “The other answered, ‘Over the course of 2,300 sacrifices, evening and morning. Then the Sanctuary will be set right again.’

¹⁵ “While I, Daniel, was trying to make sense of what I was seeing, suddenly there was a humanlike figure standing before me.

^16-17 “Then I heard a man’s voice from over by the Ulai Canal calling out, ‘Gabriel, tell this man what is going on. Explain the vision to him.’ He came up to me, but when he got close I became terrified and fell facedown on the ground.
^17-18 “He said, ‘Understand that this vision has to do with the time of the end.’ As soon as he spoke, I fainted, my face in the dirt. But he picked me up and put me on my feet.

For Reflection

Ah! The Mystery of Dreams.
Even the Angels get anxious.
Some contend that the caller may have been Christ, Christ before his birth!

Ah! The Mystery of Dreams.
And the truth?
God, in ones most anxious time will speak and lift you up and put you on your feet!

 

Pray

prayers of thanksgiving for God, who always lifts you up. Pray for those anxious people so that they may know that God will lift them up.

A Messenger from God

Beyond the Present Time
The Kingdom of God
Gabriel's Interpretation

Luke 1:26-38

The Message (MSG)

A Virgin Conceives26-28 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to the Galilean village of Nazareth to a virgin engaged to be married to a man descended from David. His name was Joseph, and the virgin’s name, Mary. Upon entering, Gabriel greeted her:

Good morning!
You’re beautiful with God’s beauty,
Beautiful inside and out!
God be with you.

29-33 She was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was behind a greeting like that. But the angel assured her, “Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus.

He will be great,
be called ‘Son of the Highest.’
The Lord God will give him
the throne of his father David;
He will rule Jacob’s house forever—
no end, ever, to his kingdom.”

34 Mary said to the angel, “But how? I’ve never slept with a man.”
35 The angel answered,

The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
the power of the Highest hover over you;
Therefore, the child you bring to birth
will be called Holy, Son of God.

36-38 “And did you know that your cousin Elizabeth conceived a son, old as she is? Everyone called her barren, and here she is six months pregnant! Nothing, you see, is impossible with God.”
And Mary said,

Yes, I see it all now:
I’m the Lord’s maid, ready to serve.
Let it be with me
just as you say.

Then the angel left her.

For Reflection

I think that one of the things that I like about the Bible is its mystery. The scriptures constantly challenge us to accept the seemingly imposable as fact or suspend belief so that we can get to the truth which lies beyond the facts. It may not be all that important that one accepts the unusual as fact. It is important, however that one sees the truth in the mystery that is our God. This imposable conception may have been the best way for the writers to get people to understand that God wanted human kind to know that God can identify with the human condition. If the mystery prevents you from seeing the truth in scripture and accepting God's transforming reconciliation offer, think on the truth which lies in the metaphor.

Personally, I accept the mystery. For me it is humbling.

 

Pray

That you will see beyond the facts into the truths that God reveals to you. Pray that you will be continuously humbled by God's mystery.

A Messenger of Rebuke

Beyond the Present Time
The Kingdom of God
Gabriel's Interpretation

Judges 2:1-5

The Message

2 ^1-2 God’s angel went up from Gilgal to Bokim and said, “I brought you out of Egypt; I led you to the land that I promised to your fathers; and I said, I’ll never break my covenant with you—never! And you’re never to make a covenant with the people who live in this land. Tear down their altars! But you haven’t obeyed me! What’s this that you’re doing?

³ “So now I’m telling you that I won’t drive them out before you. They’ll trip you up and their gods will become a trap.”
^4-5 When God’s angel had spoken these words to all the People of Israel, they cried out—oh! how they wept! They named the place Bokim (Weepers). And there they sacrificed to God.

 

 

For Reflection

Some ask, "Is Israel is still the chosen people?" God's promise to them is everlasting, so., in my opinion,yes. However, since the Christ event, God has shown his compassion and His desire to include all people who accept his promise to fulfill His Kingdom on Earth. God's rebuke is always followed by his gentle guidance and compassion. He delivers grace to all.

 

 

Pray

Thank God for his compassion and His steadfast grace. Pray prayers of thanksgiving naming those things in your life for which His grace has set you free. Pray, confessing your shortcomings as his obedient servant. Ask God to help you fulfill his promise to you.

Guide into the Future

Beyond the Present Time
The Kingdom of God
Gabriel's Interpretation

Exodus 23:20-26

The Message

^20-24 “Now get yourselves ready. I’m sending my Angel ahead of you to guard you in your travels, to lead you to the place that I’ve prepared. Pay close attention to him. Obey him. Don’t go against him. He won’t put up with your rebellions because he’s acting on my authority. But if you obey him and do everything I tell you, I’ll be an enemy to your enemies, I’ll fight those who fight you. When my Angel goes ahead of you and leads you to the land of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, I’ll clear the country of them. So don’t worship or serve their gods; don’t do anything they do because I’m going to wipe them right off the face of the Earth and smash their sacred phallic pillars to bits.

^25-26 “But you—you serve your God and he’ll bless your food and your water. I’ll get rid of the sickness among you; there won’t be any miscarriages nor barren women in your land. I’ll make sure you live full and complete lives.

 

For Reflection

What is holding you back? From the beginning of recorded time, God has lead the way. God prepares the way for us. God will make sure that all is made well -- even those troubles we encounter for the sake of the Kingdom. He promises that we do not have to confirm to the worldly to survive. We only have to be obedient to Him.

So, what are you waiting for? Give it all over to God. Trust in Him alone. Have confidence in his promise of a full and complete life.

 

Pray

for the courage to be fully obedient and involved in the realization of the kingdom of God. Pray for the courage to follow His guide in Jesus Christ.

Daniel's Prayer of Supplication

Beyond the Present Time
The Kingdom of God
Daniel's Prayer

Daniel 9:15-19

The Message (MSG)

^15-17 “‘Master, you are our God, for you delivered your people from the land of Egypt in a show of power—people are still talking about it! We confess that we have sinned, that we have lived bad lives. Following the lines of what you have always done in setting things right, setting people right, please stop being so angry with Jerusalem, your very own city, your holy mountain. We know it’s our fault that this has happened, all because of our sins and our parents’ sins, and now we’re an embarrassment to everyone around us. We’re a blot on the neighborhood. So listen, God, to this determined prayer of your servant. Have mercy on your ruined Sanctuary. Act out of who you are, not out of what we are.
¹⁸ “‘Turn your ears our way, God, and listen. Open your eyes and take a long look at our ruined city, this city named after you. We know that we don’t deserve a hearing from you. Our appeal is to your compassion. This prayer is our last and only hope:

¹⁹ “‘Master, listen to us!
Master, forgive us!
Master, look at us and do something!
Master, don’t put us off!
Your city and your people are named after you:
You have a stake in us!’

For Reflection

Is God willing to alter His plan, to change His mind? Does God really need to hear from us in supplication? If not, why pray?

Here Daniel begins with a confession. In humility, Daniel then offers recognition that God is in charge.. This is followed by a confession of sin. A recognition that you are at God's mercy. Only then, does Daniel ask for forgiveness's and an act of compassion.

 

Pray

in humility recognizing God's sovereignty. Pray prayers of thanksgiving and obedience to God. Ask God to forgive your transgressions and unwillingness to act in obedience to His will. Ask for divine guidance. Pray that you will be alert to God's answers.

Daniel's Success

Beyond the Present Time
The Kingdom of God
Daniel's Prayer

Daniel 2:36-49

The Message

^31-36 “What you saw, O king, was a huge statue standing before you, striking in appearance. And terrifying. The head of the statue was pure gold, the chest and arms were silver, the belly and hips were bronze, the legs were iron, and the feet were an iron-ceramic mixture. While you were looking at this statue, a stone cut out of a mountain by an invisible hand hit the statue, smashing its iron-ceramic feet. Then the whole thing fell to pieces—iron, tile, bronze, silver, and gold, smashed to bits. It was like scraps of old newspapers in a vacant lot in a hot dry summer, blown every which way by the wind, scattered to oblivion. But the stone that hit the statue became a huge mountain, dominating the horizon. This was your dream.
^36-40 “And now we’ll interpret it for the king. You, O king, are the most powerful king on earth. The God of heaven has given you the works: rule, power, strength, and glory. He has put you in charge of men and women, wild animals and birds, all over the world—you’re the head ruler, you are the head of gold. But your rule will be taken over by another kingdom, inferior to yours, and that one by a third, a bronze kingdom, but still ruling the whole land, and after that by a fourth kingdom, ironlike in strength. Just as iron smashes things to bits, breaking and pulverizing, it will bust up the previous kingdoms.
^41-43 “But then the feet and toes that ended up as a mixture of ceramic and iron will deteriorate into a mongrel kingdom with some remains of iron in it. Just as the toes of the feet were part ceramic and part iron, it will end up a mixed bag of the breakable and unbreakable. That kingdom won’t bond, won’t hold together any more than iron and clay hold together.
^44-45 “But throughout the history of these kingdoms, the God of heaven will be building a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will this kingdom ever fall under the domination of another. In the end it will crush the other kingdoms and finish them off and come through it all standing strong and eternal. It will be like the stone cut from the mountain by the invisible hand that crushed the iron, the bronze, the ceramic, the silver, and the gold.
“The great God has let the king know what will happen in the years to come. This is an accurate telling of the dream, and the interpretation is also accurate.”
^46-47 When Daniel finished, King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face in awe before Daniel. He ordered the offering of sacrifices and burning of incense in Daniel’s honor. He said to Daniel, “Your God is beyond question the God of all gods, the Master of all kings. And he solves all mysteries, I know, because you’ve solved this mystery.”
^48-49 Then the king promoted Daniel to a high position in the kingdom, lavished him with gifts, and made him governor over the entire province of Babylon and the chief in charge of all the Babylonian wise men. At Daniel’s request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to administrative posts throughout Babylon, while Daniel governed from the royal headquarters.

For Reflection

To what extent do you think that God set up the circumstances so that Daniel, while thinking he was in jeopardy, was actually the principal player in God's script? To what extent do you believe God' has scripted your life?

 

Pray

that you will have a deep and abiding confidence in your faith. Pray that all who declare themselves be lovers of God have sufficient confidence and trust in God's plan for their lives. Pray for the courage to face adversity squarely in anticipation of fulfilling God's promise.

Daniel's Intervention

Beyond the Present Time
The Kingdom of God
Daniel's Prayer

Daniel 2:1-23

The Message

King Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream2 1-3 In the second year of his reign, King Nebuchadnezzar started having dreams that disturbed him deeply. He couldn’t sleep. He called in all the Babylonian magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and fortunetellers to interpret his dreams for him. When they came and lined up before the king, he said to them, “I had a dream that I can’t get out of my mind. I can’t sleep until I know what it means.”
4 The fortunetellers, speaking in the Aramaic language, said, “Long live the king! Tell us the dream and we will interpret it.”
5-6 The king answered the fortunetellers, “This is my decree: If you can’t tell me both the dream itself and its interpretation, I’ll have you ripped to pieces, limb from limb, and your homes torn down. But if you tell me both the dream and its interpretation, I’ll lavish you with gifts and honors. So go to it: Tell me the dream and its interpretation.”
7 They answered, “If it please your majesty, tell us the dream. We’ll give the interpretation.”
8-9 But the king said, “I know what you’re up to—you’re just playing for time. You know you’re up a tree. You know that if you can’t tell me my dream, you’re doomed. I see right through you—you’re going to cook up some fancy stories and confuse the issue until I change my mind. Nothing doing! First tell me the dream, then I’ll know that you’re on the up and up with the interpretation and not just blowing smoke in my eyes.”
10-11 The fortunetellers said, “Nobody anywhere can do what you ask. And no king, great or small, has ever demanded anything like this from any magician, enchanter, or fortuneteller. What you’re asking is impossible unless some god or goddess should reveal it—and they don’t hang around with people like us.”
^12-13 That set the king off. He lost his temper and ordered the whole company of Babylonian wise men killed. When the death warrant was issued, Daniel and his companions were included. They also were marked for execution.
^14-15 When Arioch, chief of the royal guards, was making arrangements for the execution, Daniel wisely took him aside and quietly asked what was going on: “Why this all of a sudden?”
^15-16 After Arioch filled in the background, Daniel went to the king and asked for a little time so that he could interpret the dream.

^17-18 Daniel then went home and told his companions Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah what was going on. He asked them to pray to the God of heaven for mercy in solving this mystery so that the four of them wouldn’t be killed along with the whole company of Babylonian wise men.

^19-23 That night the answer to the mystery was given to Daniel in a vision. Daniel blessed the God of heaven, saying,

“Blessed be the name of God,
forever and ever.
He knows all, does all:
He changes the seasons and guides history,
He raises up kings and also brings them down,
he provides both intelligence and discernment,
He opens up the depths, tells secrets,
sees in the dark—light spills out of him!
God of all my ancestors, all thanks! all praise!
You made me wise and strong.
And now you’ve shown us what we asked for.
You’ve solved the king’s mystery.”

 

For Reflection

Again God defies human reason. Daniel had no idea that he could satisfy Nebuchadnezzar's requirement for validity. And yet he accepted the challenge. I suppose, to Daniel, the risk of failure was not a factor. His trust in God gave him confidence that God would provide the answers he needed. He and his friends prayed and God answered. Daniel's trust and confidence not only in the spirit of his faith, but also, literally in his God is a model of conviction in faith.

 

Pray

that you will adopt the trust and confidence that Daniel exemplifies. Pray that you will act as though God is at your side helping to shape and resolve your faith challenges.

Daniel's Recognition

Beyond the Present Time
The Kingdom of God
Daniel's Prayer

Daniel 1:16-21

The Message

14-16 The steward agreed to do it and fed them vegetables and water for ten days. At the end of the ten days they looked better and more robust than all the others who had been eating from the royal menu. So the steward continued to exempt them from the royal menu of food and drink and served them only vegetables.
17-19 God gave these four young men knowledge and skill in both books and life. In addition, Daniel was gifted in understanding all sorts of visions and dreams. At the end of the time set by the king for their training, the head of the royal staff brought them in to Nebuchadnezzar. When the king interviewed them, he found them far superior to all the other young men. None were a match for Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
19-20 And so they took their place in the king’s service. Whenever the king consulted them on anything, on books or on life, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his kingdom put together.
21 Daniel continued in the king’s service until the first year in the reign of King Cyrus.

For Reflection

The wiasdom of Daniel and his friends was derived from God. Each of us has the capacity to invent new ways of saying or doing things. Each of us has Daniel's capacity for avoiding conflict while acting in ways contrary to the conventional demands of political, economic, and social conventions. In this case Daniel and his friends were rewarded with privileged place not only in the king's service, but also in the serviced of God. You, also, have God-derived wisdom, and the advantage of the Spirit residing in you. Have faith. Have courage. Go with God.

 

Pray

that you will have confidence in the way of the Kingdom of God. Pray that you will react with God-derived wisdom. Pray that all peoples have the courage to act compassionately and justly.

Daniel's Resolve

Beyond the Present Time
The Kingdom of God
Daniel's Prayer

Daniel 1:8-16

The Message

^8-10 But Daniel determined that he would not defile himself by eating the king’s food or drinking his wine, so he asked the head of the palace staff to exempt him from the royal diet. The head of the palace staff, by God’s grace, liked Daniel, but he warned him, “I’m afraid of what my master the king will do. He is the one who assigned this diet and if he sees that you are not as healthy as the rest, he’ll have my head!”
^11-13 But Daniel appealed to a steward who had been assigned by the head of the palace staff to be in charge of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: “Try us out for ten days on a simple diet of vegetables and water. Then compare us with the young men who eat from the royal menu. Make your decision on the basis of what you see.”
^14-16 The steward agreed to do it and fed them vegetables and water for ten days. At the end of the ten days they looked better and more robust than all the others who had been eating from the royal menu. So the steward continued to exempt them from the royal menu of food and drink and served them only vegetables.

For Reflection

God calls us to obey even it it goes against common culture and political structure.  God also gave us the capacity to offer acceptable alternatives more in line with our faith.  God also promised to stand beside us and guide our way.  Daniel had great commitment to obedience and a deep trust of his God. Daniel's wisdom is God-centered.  How are you coping with your counter-culture faith?

Pray

that you will give up on modern cultural expectations and give in to the culture of God's Kingdom.  Pray that you will place your life in God's hands.  Pray for the trust and courage to risk a God-centered life.

Daniel's Vision of Change and Hope

Beyond the Present Time
The Kingdom of God
Daniel's Vision of Change

Daniel 7:1-14

The Message

A Vision of Four Animals

7 In the first year of the reign of King Belshazzar of Babylon, Daniel had a dream. What he saw as he slept in his bed terrified him—a real nightmare. Then he wrote out his dream:

^2-3 “In my dream that night I saw the four winds of heaven whipping up a great storm on the sea. Four huge animals, each different from the others, ascended out of the sea.
⁴ “The first animal looked like a lion, but it had the wings of an eagle. While I watched, its wings were pulled off. It was then pulled erect so that it was standing on two feet like a man. Then a human heart was placed in it.
⁵ “Then I saw a second animal that looked like a bear. It lurched from side to side, holding three ribs in its jaws. It was told, ‘Attack! Devour! Fill your belly!’
⁶ “Next I saw another animal. This one looked like a panther. It had four birdlike wings on its back. This animal had four heads and was made to rule.
⁷ “After that, a fourth animal appeared in my dream. This one was a grisly horror—hideous. It had huge iron teeth. It crunched and swallowed its victims. Anything left over, it trampled into the ground. It was different from the other animals—this one was a real monster. It had ten horns.
⁸ “As I was staring at the horns and trying to figure out what they meant, another horn sprouted up, a little horn. Three of the original horns were pulled out to make room for it. There were human eyes in this little horn, and a big mouth speaking arrogantly.
^9-10 “As I was watching all this,

“Thrones were set in place
    and The Old One sat down.
His robes were white as snow,
    his hair was white like wool.
His throne was flaming with fire,
    its wheels blazing.
A river of fire
    poured out of the throne.
Thousands upon thousands served him,
    tens of thousands attended him.
The courtroom was called to order,
    and the books were opened.

^11-13 “I kept watching. The little horn was speaking arrogantly. Then, as I watched, the monster was killed and its body cremated in a roaring fire. The other animals lived on for a limited time, but they didn’t really do anything, had no power to rule. My dream continued.

^13-14 “I saw a human form, a son of man,
    arriving in a whirl of clouds.
He came to The Old One
    and was presented to him.
He was given power to rule—all the glory of royalty.
    Everyone—race, color, and creed—had to serve him.
His rule would be forever, never ending.
    His kingly rule would never be replaced.

For Reflection

Daniel's vision is one of hope.  There are many possible interpretations of the four animals but, generally speaking, they represent political oppression of our Earthly existence.  The hope is that God will triumph.  It is a promise to those who trust in God and work to help Him realize His Kingdom on Earth. 

Pray

prayers of thanksgiving for God's promise of hope for all humankind.  Pray for those who persecute and oppress others.  Pray for the deliverance of those who suffer.  Pray for confidence and trust in the Lord.