Stand Firm and Take Action

Daily Reading: Daniel 11

He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action. (Daniel 11.32)

Devotional Thought: I watched as my friend fell prey to Satan's schemes.  God had wonderfully saved him and delivered him from drug and alcohol abuse.  But there were blind spots in his life that threatened him.  Thinking he was impervious to these attacks, he let his guard down.  Afraid of offending him, I didn't warn him as I should have.

Isn't that how Satan works?  He makes us think that we're doing ok, that we can handle things, and that "It's nothing, really."  All the while, our spiritual sensitivities are being dulled.  On the other side, Satan convinces us that it is not our place to say anything.

The angelic messenger sent in Daniel 11, did not worry about offending anyone!  He assertively told Daniel, "I will show you the truth" (v. 2).  Later, the messenger warned that "the abomination that makes desolate ... shall seduce with flattery" (vv. 31-32).  Instead of getting sidetracked by this abomination, we need to be equipped in the face of Satan's schemes:

·       Those who violate the covenant - who turn away from it - will find themselves vulnerable to seduction by Satan, lured into godlessness.  Satan does this by flattery - making them falsely believe in their own strength.

·       Conversely, those who know (have a close relationship with) their God shall stand firm.  The verb indicates ongoing growth.  When we stay close to God, we are continually being equipped to resist evil and to confidently take action.  We don't have to wait for life to come to us.  We can take life by storm!

My friend is doing much better now - thanks be to God.  I only wish that both he and I would have stood firm and taken action.

Prayer: Lord, we are not unaware of Satan's schemes.  Help us not to fall prey to flattery, but rather to keep your covenant through the blood of Jesus.  Then we shall stand firm and take action.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 69.13-21

13 But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.

14 Deliver me from sinking in the mire; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters.

15 Let not the flood sweep over me, or the deep swallow me up, or the pit close its mouth over me.

16 Answer me, O Lord, for your steadfast love is good; according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.

17 Hide not your face from your servant; for I am in distress; make haste to answer me.

18 Draw near to my soul, redeem me; ransom me because of my enemies!

19 You know my reproach, and my shame and my dishonor; my foes are all known to you.

20 Reproaches have broken my heart, so that I am in despair. I looked for pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none.

21 They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink.