False Accusations

Daniel 6: ¹⁹ At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. ²⁰ When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”

²¹ Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! ²² My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”

²³ The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

²⁴ At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

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“Where is your expense report?” was the strange question that came from my boss at the time. I had given it to him in the usual manner, yet for some reason this one was missing. Fortunately for me I kept copies of all my receipts and gave him a fresh copy.  “Why is this large charge on your expense report?” was the next strange question. I showed him the email from which he requested I expense dinner for the group he was in charge of. “Hmm… something strange is going on” I thought to myself.

• There were times I may have been falsely accused.
• There were times I may have been falsely slandered.
• There were times I may have been falsely punished.

I told someone what was going on and they asked, “Aren’t you nervous?” For some strange reason, I did not feel nervous, because I had done nothing wrong. My conscience was clear.

• GOD says to me “By following ME, your conscience will remain clear.”
• GOD says to me “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of ME.”
• GOD says to me “I AM with you even when men say false things against you, for they did the same to ME.”

False accusations come from those who are insecure, power hungry and greedy. They will stop at nothing to get their way, even murder someone. JESUS was the perfect example of following every rule to the letter, yet was falsely accused, even unto death. BUT GOD raised HIM from the dead and now HE has the power to forgive anyone who confesses their sins to HIM.

It does not feel good at all when a person is slandering and falsely accusing me. BUT GOD sees through the pettiness. HE may allow a temporary setback, but HE protects me from harm and goes after my false accuser with a vengeance. GOD is my judge and forgiver.

• Are you being slandered by someone?
• Are you slandering someone?
• Can you stop your false accusations and confess your sins to GOD?
• Will you stop trying to protect yourself from false accusations and simply live for GOD with a clear conscience?

Accepting Bribes

Daniel 5: ¹⁶ Now I have heard that you are able to give interpretations and to solve difficult problems. If you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”

¹⁷ Then Daniel answered the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.

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²² “But you, Belshazzar, his son, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this. ²³ Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways.

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One day I got a notification from the worst boss I ever worked for. Mean, belligerent and condescending was his style. He was reaching out to me because he had moved on to a new position and wanted to bring aboard a team of his own. I was unemployed at the time and money was running quite low. “I wonder if I should work for this guy” I thought to myself.

• Sometimes I would do some crazy things for money.
• Sometimes I would lose myself in order to get some money.
• Sometimes I would become something that I did not like in order to gain a little money.

Life’s hardships can bring on challenges that make me think twice about following someone who has no integrity. I mean maybe I can put up with pretending to be something I am not for a little while, you know, until I “get on my feet”, right? Wrong! GOD says something different.

• GOD says “I want you to follow ME not money.”
• GOD says “I want you to be single minded not double-minded.”
• GOD says “I want your entire heart and there is no room for money and ME.”

The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Belshazzar was not only celebrating money, he figured he could use it to solve his problems with the Living GOD. BUT GOD wasn’t having it. HE took Belshazzar’s life that night.

GOD wants me to see this example and chose to follow HIM. Just like Daniel turned down the bribe, GOD wants me to say “No” when it comes to dirty money. No matter how difficult things may look, GOD is there to guide me.

• Are you constantly thinking of money?
• Would you do anything for money right now, even lose your own personality?
• Can you stop following money and start following GOD today? 

Corrective Advice

Daniel 4: ²⁷ Therefore, Your Majesty, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue.”

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³³ Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.

³⁴ At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.

His dominion is an eternal dominion;
    his kingdom endures from generation to generation.
³⁵ All the peoples of the earth
    are regarded as nothing.
He does as he pleases
    with the powers of heaven
    and the peoples of the earth.
No one can hold back his hand
    or say to him: “What have you done?”

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Feeling like I could take on the world I strutted down the hall confidently. I mean ‘I” was going to save the department from the downward slide. I put “my” plan into action and things started off well, but soon fell apart. What happened?

• There were times when I felt proud of “my” abilities.
• There were times when I felt “I” could accomplish anything.
• There were times when I felt “my” plan could address any problem.

One flaw to my plan was the fact that I looked at “my” abilities as the answer. Having had a taste of success blinded me to where “my” abilities came from in the first place, namely GOD. What was I to do?

• GOD wants me to admit I am a sinner before HIM.
• GOD wants me to renounce my sins by doing what is right.
• GOD wants me to renounce my wickedness by being kind to the oppressed.

When I admitted that “my” abilities were not mine I noticed something different. I started praising GOD for HIS accomplishments and HIS provisions. I stopped looking at me and started looking at HIM for the answers. I accepted what HE gave me and stopped demanding that HE do as “I” said. I praise GOD who is the MOST HIGH.

• Are you mad at GOD for where HE has you?
• Do you think you deserve to be lifted higher?
• Can you praise GOD for where HE has you?
• Will you lift your eyes to HIM and acknowledge that you are a sinner and need HIS salvation?

Hasty Decisions

¹⁵ Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”

¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. ¹⁷ If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. ¹⁸ But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

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Hasty decisions are made when I am full of fear. I mean when I am scared out of my wits, I make hurried decisions without thinking through the long term consequences of my actions. I squirm and only want out of the problem!

• Many times I lost my patience when faced with certain problems.
• Many times I wanted out of the problem so bad that I could not wait on a good solution.
• Many times I could only see demise so I panicked and ran towards any comfort I could get.

Trust in GOD sometimes went out the window when I faced a pressure filled problem that did not seem to go away. I started searching for the quickest way out of the problem rather than facing the situation. BUT GOD wanted me to act differently.

• GOD wants me to slow down and see HIM rather than speeding up.
• GOD wants me to focus on HIM rather than on human obstacles.
• GOD wants me to join HIS winning fight rather than making the fight mine.

Looking back I can see when I trusted GOD and when I made a hasty decision on my own. The times when I did not trust made me make decisions I regretted for a long time. On the other hand, the times where I placed my trust totally in GOD bared the most fruit, usually in ways I never would have imagined. GOD wants total loyalty and total trust in HIM. HE knows I sin, yet HE wants my trust to grow rather than shrink. I trust GOD alone.

• Where have you placed your trust?
• Are you squirming to get out of the problem?
• Can you allow GOD to handle the problem rather than thinking you know the solution?
• Will you add a measure of trust in GOD today?

Remember the First Step

Daniel 2: ¹² This made the king so angry and furious that he ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon. ¹³ So the decree was issued to put the wise men to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death.

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¹⁷ Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. ¹⁸ He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. ¹⁹ During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven

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My first inclination is to jump into action when things are going poorly. I mean, something has to be done so I figure I am the one who should step up and do the “something.” Sometimes it works, while other times it feels like things get worse and worse. What should I have done?

• Sometimes I think I can solve problems with my strength.
• Sometimes I think I can solve problems with my power.
• Sometimes I think I can solve problems with my intellect.

Nebuchadnezzar gave an impossible decree, either tell him what he dreamt and interpret it correctly or die! This was impossible or so it seemed. Sometimes the problems I face “seem” impossible as well. BUT GOD says something different.

• GOD said “There is nothing impossible for ME.”
• GOD said “There is nothing too hard for ME.”
• GOD said “Come to ME first with your problem and I will make your way straight.”

Many times I think of GOD when the problem becomes too large for me. HE is an afterthought. BUT GOD wants to be first. HE wants me to come to HIM when the problem is small and before it gets too big and out of control. Even when the problem is large, HE does not want me to spring into action without consulting HIM first.

GOD wants to be my guide so HE desires that I consult HIM on a regular basis. Sometimes daily is not enough. There are days where I need to ask HIM several times for direction because of moments of feeling lost and left behind. GOD takes the impossible and laughs at how easy it is for HIM to solve the situation. Only HE can provide.

• Are you facing something impossible?
• Does it seem like you are at your last rope?
• Can you take a moment and ask GOD to intervene in your situation no matter how long you have been in it?

Having Resolve

Daniel 1: ⁸ But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. ⁹ Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, ¹⁰ but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”

¹¹ Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, ¹² “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. ¹³ Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” ¹⁴ So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.

¹⁵ At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.

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“No” was my answer when the fella’s decided to go out “drinking and clubbing plus, plus.” My resolute statement made them look at me strangely. They did not say much to me from that point on. I could not read their mind but the looks on their face seemed to mark me as a betrayer to their confidence. I was no longer in the “club.” “Maybe I should have gone with them” I thought to myself

• Sometimes I questioned standing up for GOD.
• Sometimes I wondered what it would have been like if I folded to my resolve.
• Sometimes I wanted to quit following GOD because it seemed like everyone else was having more “fun.”

Blinded by “success” I questioned GOD. I mean these people seemed to be doing extremely “well” while I seemed to be getting kicked out of inner circles. GOD had to speak to me about my question.

• GOD said to me “I AM the way the truth and the life. Do not be afraid of humans and their lack of resolve.”
• GOD said to me “There is no other GOD but ME. Follow ME with all your heart, mind and soul.”
• GOD said to me “I WILL bless you abundantly for following ME.

Despite my flawed thinking, I continued. I mean who was I to go against GOD? After a while those people who asked me to hang out with them, vanished one by one and soon I was put in their place. GOD took his time but it was better to wait on HIM.

• Are you afraid of taking a public stance for following JESUS?
• Are you ashamed of declaring you follow GOD because the people around you will ostracize you?
• Can you agree to have add some resolve to follow GOD’s ways to your daily walk little by little?

Setting Aside Something Special

Ezekiel 48: ⁸ “Bordering the territory of Judah from east to west will be the portion you are to present as a special gift. It will be 25,000 cubits wide, and its length from east to west will equal one of the tribal portions; the sanctuary will be in the center of it.

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³⁵ “The distance all around will be 18,000 cubits.

“And the name of the city from that time on will be:

the Lord is there.”

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When I stopped by my friend’s house late, there was a plate of food wrapped in foil. It had all of my favorites on it. “I wondered when you would come by” said my other mother.

• There have been people who have set aside something special for me.
• There have been people who put some time into me.
• There have been people who watched out for me.

It truly is a great feeling to have someone do something special for me. I mean the thought and the effort behind the act is what makes me feel special, I wonder if GOD feels the same way? HE does.

• GOD wants me to set aside a special gift for HIM.
• GOD wants me to set aside a special place for HIM.
• GOD wants me to set aside a special time for HIM.

Just like I love feeling special, GOD wants and deserves the same, actually better. HE wants some time spent with just HIM and I where we can discuss the day and move on with HIS plan. When I do set aside a special thing, time and place GOD names it “THE LORD IS THERE.”

• Are you setting aside something special for GOD besides money?
• Have you set aside any time with HIM lately?
• Will you set aside a part of your living space to GOD where only you and HE can go?