Posted in Family Altar

This morning in our home church, Sunday school lesson, we read about the captivity of Judah to the Babylonians. We discussed why they were taken into captivity, what it must have been like, etc...

We mostly focused on Daniel (Belteshazzar), Hananiah (Shadrach), Mishael (Meshach), and Azariah (Abed-nego).

I know that I have heard this story a numerous amount of times, but the Lord has a wonderful way of reminding us and teaching us simple, yet profound truths when we are in His Word... whether we've read it hundreds of times or for the first time...

All through our lesson, there were things that dwelled in my mind....

~ Daniel and his friends were taken from their homes, their families, their familiar surroundings... all that they knew..... as CHILDREN!

~ Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego had great courage to stand up for righteousness in the midst of an unrighteous world.

~ Daniel, Shadrach, Meschach, and Abed-nego withstood the strong, ungodly influence that surrounded them as children, young men, and as adults.

These facts fascinated me...

How they were ripped from their homes and godly teachings as children, yet, even as children, were SO convinced and convicted that they were willing to do what they knew was right, without heeding to the persuassion and influence of, probably, everyone else they knew.

And as they grew, they remained unfalteringly faithful to the One, True God.... without shame... without question... without hesitance.

They lived in the ungodly culture and influence of the Babylonians and, yet, they remained untainted by the wickedness they lived in.

Those truths got me thinking...

To have such strong, bold, and unapolegetic virtue and moral courage.... as CHILDREN and then as men...

Where did they learn that from? Where were they taught it?

Their parents??

Then the Lord laid some questions on my heart....

"Are you doing all that you can to truly train your children in MY ways, to serve and love me with all their heart, body, soul, and mind?

If they were somehow taken from you as young children, would they have what is needed to stay faithful to the One, True God,

despite strong opposition?

If they are never taken, and simply remain in your care... will they still have the moral courage to take a stand in righteousness

in an unrighteous and wicked world?

Are you doing ALL you can?

Are you consistently FAITHFUL in doing what you can?

Are you raising for ME more Daniels?"

Gulp.....

It's a scary, yet blessed thing when the Lord puts me in a place of self-examination and re-evaluation. When I am brought face to face with the comparisson of what I HAVE been doing, AM doing, SHOULD be doing and CAN be doing.

I praise the Lord that He speaks to me in a still, small voice through His Holy Word. It is my constant prayer that I will always have a teachable and humble heart. And I pray that He will enable me to all I CAN do in the raising, training, and discipling of my precious, precious children that He has entrusted me with.

I pray that I will raise more 'Daniels',

that my children will grow to be...

"... like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." Psalm 1:3

and "... be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit."  Jeremiah 17:8

And "That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace:" Psalm 144:12     

May I be...

"... stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord..." knowing "...that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."

1 Corinthians 15:58