"But If Not. . .”

 



Toronto FPC



In Sunday School Class, we are studying the book of Daniel. I found I had book entitled “The Daniel Code” by O. S. Hawkins. The author of this book has piqued my thinking on my word for this year. That word is FAITH.


In the book of Daniel, we have the story of Daniel and his three friends, Shadrack, Meshack, and Abed-Nego. The three friends of Daniel refused to bow down to the 90 foot tall that King Nebuchadnezzar had ordered be built.


In response to the king's commanding that the three friends be put to death inside a furnace, set to be seven times hotter than normal, they responded that their God would not allow this to happen to them. Then their next words were “But if not. . .” they wished it be known that they honored God's wishes and followed his commands by not bowing down to a lesser god and any idols.


Mr. Hawkins tells his readers that those three words are words of faith. As I live out my life, I have learned that my faith should be in Christ and not what I want to do or what I want to happen.


Being the ages my husband and I are, I have learned that neither of us is actually in control of our lives. This is something I have learned over these past ten years. And for this lesson, I am thankful.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Be Thankful

Image
  My husband and a friend of ours surprised me this week with an unusual gift. It is a good-sized rock with a bumble bee on the left and the word “thankful” across the top of the rock. It sits on my desk next to my computer. On the underneath side, It has my name and the year's date (2025), All this has made me think on my being thankful. Am I being thankful enough? Am I thankful when God doesn't answer my prayers as I want Him to? Do I act thankful when we have several days of gloomy, rainy days? Am I thankful when my plans for the day get changed by someone else? For me, I have to keep in mind that He is in control, not puny little me. Some days, I find it difficult to remember this. I also have to remember that God is sovereign, He can do anything He wants. Prayer: Father God, thank You for reminding me I am to be thankful for all You do for us and all You allow us to do. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Read more

How Should We Pray?

Image
  In my reading of A.W. Tozer, I ran across a statement that has caused me to stop and think. He states that there are certain areas of seeking God's guidance and His answers to our requests in which we we do not know how to pray. Tozer explains that we sometimes ask God to bless us and then give us what we want. Sometimes we pray this way, and it is not what He wants for us. He tells his readers that we should seek God's will and ask Him for His desires for the circumstances we see around us and wish Him to change in our lives and the lives of the church. This is a huge challenge for me. I have to study the situation and then think of how God sees it. Then I have to ask Him “if it is in Your will,” before I present my petitions. Tozer also reminds us that God answers petitions that we ask in Jesus' Name. I find these things fascinating. I definitely have tried to add these approaches to my praying to Hi...
Read more

Love Suffers Long

  Love suffers long and is kind, love does not envy, does not parade itself, is not puffed up. 1 Corinthians 13:4 (NKJV) Words of Paul Suffers long -is patient; the King James Version uses the Old English phrase-long suffering. To me, that paints a picture of the meaning of the word patient. Kind- tender in dealing with others. Does not envy - Does not wish for or want what what another person has. Does not parade itself- does not say, “Look at me!” Is not puffed up- is genuine.
Read more