“Whom you serve continually.”

Daniel 6:16-24, Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him. Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. And the king commanded, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions—they, their children, and their wives. And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces.

Daniel had the faith of his three friends, knowing that God had the ability to shut the mouths of the lions, but if not he would still trust in Him. This kind of faith is still at work in the world today where there are those in who trust Him even when it means prison, torture or death. Just because God has moved in one way doesn’t mean that there is some formula that we can carry out to see Him move that way every time. His purposes are far above our limited knowledge, and no matter what happens in this life we can know that He is in control! He has promised to be with us even in times of testing and trial.

We need Your presence every moment even when there are no testing and trials; let us develop all of our strength in You, serving You continually, that we may stand only by Your strength as did Daniel!

ESV Lectionary