One truth shared: When you feel you’re in a lion’s den, our Savior was devoured (so to speak) in the ultimate lion’s den to ultimately deliver us from every single one of ours.

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. Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?”

The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”

So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!”

A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.

At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”

Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”

The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
Daniel 6:10-12, 16-23

In the Midst of Lions

Thirty teeth. That’s what you’ll find in the mouth of the average lion: 12 incisors, 4 canines, 10 premolars, and 4 molars. Add to that a bite force that is four times stronger than yours (650 pounds per square inch to be exact). And that’s just one lion. Now imagine an entire den full of them—and they’re eyeing you up as a chew toy. Daniel didn’t have to imagine: he was in the midst of lions.

But Daniel was “in the midst of lions” even before he was tossed into a lions’ den. Long before lions would attempt to tear him up, his employees were attempting to tear him down. Daniel’s employees were out for blood—his blood. But they had nothing on Daniel. In fact, Daniel had distinguished himself to the king by his trustworthiness, integrity, and other exceptional qualities. His employees couldn’t find any dirt on Daniel. All they had to work with was his evident faith in his God—the LORD.

So, they came up with a plan: they would flatter the king, and then convince him to decree that everyone in his kingdom had to flatter him, too—by worshiping him and him alone. “Anyone who prays to any god or human being… except you, your majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den.” The king loved the sound of that—until his irreversible decree landed Daniel in the lions’ den. Because Daniel loved and trusted in the LORD God above all things—and his faith landed him in the midst of lions.

But he wasn’t alone.

Centuries earlier, King David describes how he felt as he was being persecuted. “I am in the midst of lions; I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts—men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords” (Psalm 57:4). Maybe you’ve felt the bite for being a Christian. Maybe your social circle has snapped at you for saying “no” to something you know isn’t right. Maybe you’ve felt surrounded by people who seem out to get you—all because you cling to a crucified God for comfort.

But you’re not alone.

God was with Daniel. God sent his angel to shut the powerful jaws of every lion surrounding his prophet. God delivered Daniel from that lions’ den—just as your God continues to deliver you from yours. That isn’t to say the time between now and eternity will be free of pain or persecution for our faith. But what we can’t say is “God has abandoned me.” Because he hasn’t. He’s will always be with you. He will never leave you or forsake you. And how do we know that?

Because your God doesn’t just stand with you in the midst of lions; your God would stand for you in the midst of lions. “Roaring lions that tear their prey open their mouths wide against me,” your Savior Jesus would say of his suffering on the cross. “They pierce my hands and my feet” (Psalm 22:13,16b). But your Savior wouldn’t just be devoured by the mistreatment, abuse, and mockery of the world for you. Your Savior would endure the bite of God’s justice to free you from the jaws of death. And three days later, your Savior emerged victorious from the den of death—proving he has rescued you from sin and death as well.

So, let the lions roar. The Lion of Judah (Jesus) roars with you—and for you.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I give thanks to you that you truly are with us always—through thick and thin—to the end of the age. By your Spirit and through your Word, calm my anxious mind and still my troubled heart. For you, O Lord, are with me. You, dear Jesus, will never leave me nor forsake me. Amen.

One truth shared: Jesus invites you and clothes you for his eternal party in heaven.

For many are invited, but few are chosen.
Matthew 22:14

A Story of Insane Rejection

Are there some invitations you would prefer to ignore? You might not want to accept the invitation to your great aunt’s birthday party when your friends are planning to hang out that night. You might not want to accept the invitation to the wedding where you’ll hardly know anyone.

On the other hand, there are some invitations you’d never reject: an invitation to meet your favorite band backstage or an invitation to the Super Bowl. There are some invitations we accept and some we reject.

In Matthew 22, Jesus tells a story about a king who threw a big wedding reception for his son. He invited all the people you would expect, but all of them rejected the invitation. In fact, they even killed the servants who brought them the invitations. It was an insane rejection!

Naturally, the king was enraged and sent his army to deliver justice and put those men to death. Then the king had his servants go out into the street and invite anyone and everyone into the wedding reception. They invited those you’d expect to be at a royal wedding and those you wouldn’t expect to be there in a million years.

Jesus says this story illustrates the kingdom of heaven. He has sent out invitations far and wide through the message of the gospel for people to trust in him as their Savior. This trust in Jesus, worked in us by the Holy Spirit, serves as one’s ticket into the heavenly banquet that he has prepared for us. It would be insane to reject this invitation, but some people do. Don’t reject Jesus’ invitation.

There’s one more wrinkle to Jesus’ story about the wedding banquet. After all the guests came in from the street, a man was found who wasn’t wearing any wedding clothes. He hadn’t come prepared for the wedding, so he was thrown out.

You, too, need to make sure you have the right clothes to get into the heavenly banquet. Thankfully, Jesus gives you the clothes you need. He has clothed you in his robes of righteousness. He has made you perfect through his death on the cross. Should anything happen to you today, know that you have everything you need to join in the heavenly party!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to cherish the invitation to your heavenly banquet which you have extended to me through the message of the gospel. Thank you for clothing me in Jesus’ righteousness that I might be worthy to enter heaven. Amen.