Time to Take the Test

I have been blogging about God's sovereignty as seen in the book of Daniel.  The whole premise of this blog has been to encourage Christian to walk daily with Christ to ensure a life that will be less stressful than those who seek to live their life without a relationship with Jesus Christ.  Well, today will begin the start of putting into practice what I so dearly believe and what I have so boldly preached about for a number of years.  On this day, my dad, my best friend, my spiritual mentor has been diagnosed with cancer.  The man who has never spent a day in the hospital, who has rarely been sick for more than two days is now facing the valley of cancer.  As I see him in that hospital bed, hooked up to all sort of machines, like Daniel, this is an unwanted place.  We did not volunteer to get cancer.  We did not sign up for the next hospital bed.  Cancer developed in my dad's body, surprising all his family and even doctors; yet cancer did not surprise God.  I can see even at this moment that God has been preparing my sister, brother, and myself for this moment.  God has been working and dealing with my mom and dad for years for this moment.  No, we did not expect the diagnoses, but God has been working all along to make sure that this valley will not destroy us, but to make us stronger.  So now we have been given a test to see if walking closely with Christ really does matter, and if knowing Christ personally, truly lessens life's stressful valleys.  As of this moment, without Christ's presence I would be a basket case; yet in His presence I have His peace.          

God Honor's Righteous Living

There are many people who ask themselves the following question, "Does it matter if I do the right thing?"  There are also many Christians who ask themselves a similar question, "Does God really care if I do the right thing?"  It would seem that our lives would be less stressful if we just did want our flesh wanted to do.  When we bring into the equation the option to do the "moral" or "right" thing, then we have opened ourselves to a little more stress for our conscience.  The world say, "If it feels good, as long as you don't hurt anyone, just do it"; while God's Word instructs His children to think differently.  It is no different with Daniel.  We have seen that he was uprooted from his home and placed in the wicked city of Babylon.  Everything that he had ever wished he could do, without his parents finding out, was right at his feet.  He could act, talk, live, and think any why he wanted to with little to no opposition, but something was different with Daniel - he was convinced that no matter where he was, God expects and would honor right living. 

Daniel 1:8 states it this way, "But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king's choice food or with the wine which he drank..."  Daniel purposed early on that he would honor God by the physical choices he made, even in a foreign land.  You see, righteous living can only begin with an inward change.  You and I do not have the strength to live a moral and right life on our own.  The Bible declares that all men are filthy and no one does any good (Ps. 14:3, Rom. 3:10).  We are all born into sin and born destined to live for our selves; which in turn causes great stress.  But when we recognize our position as enemies of God, and cry out for mercy and forgiveness from a holy and righteous God, then the Bible states that we are clothed in Jesus' righteousness and we can stand innocent before God on the day of judgment, because of the work of Christ Jesus on the cross.  And those who have experienced this change of relationship with God, then they are expected, but also long to live right before God.  Even when we are facing the most uncertain or difficult choices and situations of life, God will always honor those who walk after righteousness (Psalms 1).  If you have experience this inward change of heart with God, then your life will be less stressful.  Until next time, keep walking close to Christ.