Did you know that an average adult lion needs to eat 10-15 pounds of meat every single day? In part to provide for their incredible food needs, lions live in groups (called prides) and hunt together in coordinated efforts that allow them to take on much larger prey. It is not uncommon for a pride of lions to attack an kill a water buffalo and on rare occasions a lion pride has been known to kill adult elephants!
It is in the midst just such a ferocious group that the climax of the story of Daniel in the Lion's Den (Daniel 6:10-23) takes place. Daniel ended up in this predicament not because of some huge amazing act of faith, but rather for being faithful in the little things. We are told that it was Daniel's habit to pray three times a day to God, and in fact the above passage begins with Daniel doing just that. The problem was that those who wished to remove Daniel (permanently) had convinced the king to pass a law for one month that no one could pray to anyone or anything beside the king. Despite this new law, and the promise of death by lions, Daniel remained faithful in the little things and prayed to God. Daniel is caught doing this simple act, convicted and sentenced to death. Upon entering the lion's den, Daniel prays to God, and an angel comes to protect him from those natural killing machines (also called lions).
Now I find myself wondering how I would react if I were in Daniel's shoes. Would I even think to pray to God if I found myself in a lion's den, or would I be too busy screaming, yelling, and trying to get out of there? For many of us, the scene in the lion's den is the crucial moment. It is after all the common namesake for the entire story and seemingly the moment of truth for Daniel's faith in God. Or is it? I would like to suggest to you that the true test of Daniel's faith (and analogously our own faith) comes not in the lion's den, but rather when he went upstairs and prayed. Ask yourself this, if you were in Daniel's place, when the law prohibiting prayer to anyone or anything except the king was passed, what would you do? The law was only in effect for a month. The law didn't require prayer to the king, only kept people from praying to anyone or anything except the king. Would you have just "taken a break" from praying? Would you have simply prayed in secret? I'm afraid I may have taken one of these "compromise" options.
The true test of our faith is not how we react in the lion's den, with the big things, but rather in the little things, with the every day opportunities. Do you pray regularly? Do you study/read your Bible? Do you live your faith throughout your daily life?
Daniel was able to have faith in the lion's den, precisely because he had faith to pray in his upper room. Faith is grown and strengthened. Think of a weightlifter. The man who wants to lift a car, doesn't just go outside and try to pick up his car. He first trains, lifting lighter weights and building his way up to the car. The same is true with your faith. If you want to have faith like Daniel in the lion's den, then you need to have faith like Daniel praying in the upper room. Take a moment right now. Pray to God, and ask what those "little things" are that you can begin to do to build and strengthen your faith, and then get at it!
Our faith needs to be grown and strengthened, so that when the lions do come, our faith will not falter, but will stand the test.
Grace & Peace,
Pastor John
