Thursday, June 28: Daniel 6 -The Daniel scale of character.

Every Sunday school child knows the story of Daniel and the Lion’s Den. It truly is a wonderful and true story. Reading it this morning, a few verses caught my eye.

First, there was verse 4, At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. It was the last part of the last sentence in particular that arrested me. They couldn’t find any way to indict Daniel because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt or negligent. Trustworthy, and neither corrupt (stated ‘positively honest’) or negligent (again stated ‘positively diligent’); three characteristics that every employer would relish!

I wonder how I measure up compared to the ‘Daniel scale?’

After these satraps hatch a scheme to entrap Daniel and pull an end run around him, going straight to the king without his knowledge, we come to verse to10. Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. Again, it was the last words that danced in my thoughts.

Anyone caught praying to a god other than the king for a month was to be fed to the lions. Did Daniel change his devotional habits after the decree to save his skin? Did he worship in secret or stop worshipping? No, he prayed in his room with the window open just as he had done before.

Integrity... Daniel was the same person in the quiet of his room as he was in public. Daniel lived his faith in the same way when it was allowed and when it was illegal. And when caught for doing what was illegal, he accepted his punishment and held on to the Lord.

And through all this is utter faithfulness to the Lord

Add integrity and faithfulness to the ‘Daniel scale’ of character.

Lord, I want to be a Daniel… a man of trustworthiness, honesty, diligence, faithfulness and integrity. And as I grow to be a Daniel, I pray that my actions will point people to You just like Daniel’s life did. Amen.