“…the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel.” (v4)

   There will always be opposition to those who seek to simply live by faith and obedient devotion to God.  Daniel (as was also the case with his three friends in Chapter 3) always rose to the top.  His character was spotless; his abilities were gifts of grace to those he served.  He always stood out in a crowd.  “Now Daniel so distinguished himself … by his exceptional qualities.”  (v3)  And those of lesser moral fiber just couldn’t tolerate it, the envy and need for self-exaltation overpowered their thoughts…Daniel had to go!  He was making them all look bad!

   This is a truth I must never forget.  As I seek to please God; to fall deeper in love with my Savior; to obey all I know to be true and right…I will be offensive to those whose lives are opposed to God’s plan.  The Apostle Paul speaks of this truth as an “aroma” in 2 Corinthians 2:15-16… It smells sweet to those who will bow the knee to the King of Heaven, but to those stubborn and set on doing life their own way; it stinks, and they, by some “mystery of evil” (2 Thes. 2:7), seek to destroy what they don’t understand or cannot manipulate to bend to their way of thinking and acting.  There will always be opposition right up to the final day. It was a fact of life for Daniel and it remains that way still today!

Father, grant me big faith to stand strong and fearless in the face of opposition, remove discontentment from my heart and replace it with the zeal of Your righteousness, grace and love for Your glory, my King!  Amen