Romans 2  Paul continues to teach us about the righteous judgement of God.  Here is what is true:

God will " render to every man according to his deeds."  ( v6)
God is impartial... His judgement will be the same for the Jew and the non-Jew. ( v11)
God looks at the heart.. judging " the secrets of men through Christ Jesus." ( v16, 29)

I want to look at this passage from a personal perspective...

Verse 1 - I am without excuse... If I judge others but not myself for doing the same thing.. I will face God's judgement.  I need to remember what Jesus taught about the beam in my own eye.   Paul brings this up again in Chapter 12:3 "... I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think as to have sound judgement... "

Verse 4 - Do I think too lightly of the "riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads [me] to repentance." ?  The KJ version renders this -"despiseth thou the riches..." - the Greek word meaning to literally think against.. or set your mind against.. to disesteem.  Do I look down upon with contempt.. do I slight.. do I give no value or honor to the riches of God's kindness.. to His forbearance - His self control  and patient restraint;  His tolerance, His patience.. with me?   Or am I  stubborn and unrepentant in my heart?

V 7-10  Do I persevere in doing good? Do I seek glory and honor and immortality? Do I desire the eternal life that God alone grants through Christ Jesus?  Or do I allow selfish ambition to rule my life - disobedient to the Truth and convinced that unrighteousness , wrath, and indignation are the way to go?  Do I know without doubt that trouble and distress will come to those who do evil, but glory and honor and peace to those who do good?

V13 - Do I live by the Law?  Do I do the things that are put in my heart that fulfill the "work of the Law"? 

V17-29  I am not a Jew outwardly.  But, according to this " he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God."   Is my heart circumcised?  Is the condition of my heart bearing witness that I belong to God?  When the day of judgment comes... when Christ judges the secret places of my heart.. will I receive the praise of God or the wrath of God?

Father in heaven, I stand before You.. and You see my heart.  I put my faith in Jesus Christ alone, for I have no excuse and nothing to boast about in my own being.  Thank You for pouring out the riches of Your kindness on me!  Thank You for being patient and forbearing towards me.  Thank You for leading me to repentance and salvation in Jesus, my Lord.  May my words and deeds bear witness of a circumcised heart, a heart fully devoted to Jesus Christ according to Your grace.  Here is where I place my faith and offer obedience to You.. by Your Spirit that fills me.  My love deepens for You as I think about Your generous and amazing grace.  Praise and honor and glory to God the Father, and to Jesus Christ the Beloved Son .  In His name I pray, amen.

Romans 1   This book is, in my opinion, one of the most vital messages of truth in the letters of Paul.. clearly pertinent to our world and culture and absolutely essential to true Christian living.

Paul's emphasis is laid out in the the first few verses.. ".. the gospel of God".
This is his calling.  This is what he is set apart for.. this is " the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.." (v16)
The gospel is the fulfillment of God's promise given to the prophets and written in the Scriptures.
The gospel is the Truth about Jesus, the descendant of David, "according to the flesh".. but the Son of God "according to the Spirit of holiness"... authenticated by the "resurrection from the dead" .(v3-4)
The gospel is given through grace. (v5)
The gospel is "about the obedience of faith".. for Gentiles and Jews alike.

The gospel is the revelation of the "righteousness of God"... which we receive by faith.  (v17)
The gospel is what makes clear to us God's revelation - the real truth:

Ungodliness, unrighteousness, and suppression of the truth - result in the wrath of God.
Wrath is a violent passion of justifiable  abhorrence.. anger.. indignation, which will be punished.
God's wrath is righteous because He has made "evident" - clearly exhibited - since the beginning of creation - "His invisible attributes, His eternal power, and divine nature". ( v19-20)
 God's wrath is righteous, " For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations , and their foolish heart was darkened." ( v21)

Mankind has always had an opportunity to acknowledge God and to find Truth. But, instead we have chosen the lie:
We choose to be fools instead of wise men.
We choose the corruptible idols over the incorruptible God in His glory.
We choose lies instead of Truth.
We choose the creation over the Creator.

Because we have chosen the lies, God "gave" us over to them. This is the cause of:
"degrading passions"
"indecent acts" 
 and "depraved minds" 
These lead us  to:
" all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; [ making us] full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; gossip, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents.. 
without understanding, untrustworthy , unloving, unmerciful;... worthy of death..." 

This part of the gospel is often overlooked.  We want to get to the good part - that  God loves us and has a wonderful plan for us.. and indeed that is true!  But, we have to know, understand and tell others the whole truth !  We are all deserving of God's wrath because of theses truths.. and will be punished eternally due to the complete righteousness of God.. unless we  are "called of Jesus Christ" to the "obedience of faith". 

Father in heaven.. We honor You as God and we give You thanks for Your grace and peace through the Lord Jesus Christ, in Whom we live.  Forgive us, Lord, for the sinfulness of our nation and our world.  Free us from the lies of the evil one and bring us into the Light of Your Word where Truth is found.  Make straight the way for us to come to You fully as we have been called to be Your obedient servants in faith.  Thank You for making us Your own.. Sons and daughters of God through Christ the Lord. All glory and honor and power to You we pray, in Christ.. Amen.

Daniel 10-12 is a detailed record of Daniel's last vision.   It again gives information about what will happen through the time of the Persian  and the Greek Empires.  Why Daniel was given this vision and what we are meant to gain from it is somewhat of a mystery to me.  I know there are a lot of scholars that can explain a lot of this.. but, I don't feel led to go any deeper into it in that way.

What I do note from this whole book of Daniel is that we need to be prepared to persevere when the time of persecution comes to us.  Daniel and his friends faced death and survived because they had absolute trust in God.  We also have an enemy who desires for us to fall and who will not quit....        "Many will be purged, purified, and refined; but the wicked will act wickedly, and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand."  Daniel is told.  Meanwhile, just go on with life until you die.. knowing you will rise again "for your allotted portion at the end of the age." 

We do not know the day or the hour when all of time will come to an end.  But, we do know that there will be great trials and tribulation on earth before it is finally over.  Whether we will suffer as believers before that or not is up to debate... but, we can know this..at least some of God's people will.

Father in heaven, let Your Spirit bring understanding and wisdom to our minds that we might be among those who have insight.  May we stand firm in the steadfastness of Christ our Lord.  May we persevere no matter what we face.. knowing Your promises are true.. You are our Hope, our Rock, and our Strength.  We cannot stand on our own, but like Daniel we will fall on our faces.  Take us my Your Hand and lead us into Your love.  Thank You for choosing to make us holy.. set apart for You.
O Lord, hear. Forgive. And Act on our behalf .. for the Sake of Your Holy Name.  We are in Christ Jesus and pray in His Name. Amen.

Daniel 8 records a second vision given to Daniel, 2 years after the first.  It is similar to the first in its description of future events and it completely exhausted and sickened Daniel.  The power and wickedness of evil men who destroy "the holy people" is a frightening thing to contemplate.  Daniel saw the truth flung to the ground... he saw a powerful being who exalted himself and opposed God,  and it devastated him.

Daniel 9 takes place after the Medes and Persians conquer Babylon.  Under Darius, Daniel is brought back into a place of leadership.  It is during this time that he begins to seek after the Lord even more than he had before.  He wrote, " So I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes."   Daniel read the prophecy written by Jeremiah that, " the completion of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years."  Daniel had been in captivity around 66 years at that point.. he knew the time was coming soon and he was whole-heartedly committed to doing all he could do to hasten that day.   We know from chapter 6 that it was during this time that Daniel faithfully prayed 3 times a day.. even when he knew that he would be thrown into the lion's den!   Perhaps this is why Daniel refused to stop praying... God was about to restore Israel.. this was of much more importance than his own life.   He knew and was willing to lay down his life for the sake of the kingdom.

Daniel's prayer is such an example to us.  Here is Daniel, God's faithful servant and prophet... yet he prays, " Alas, O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, we have sinned, committed iniquity, acted wickedly, and rebelled, even turning aside from Thy commandments and ordinances...." ( v4-5)
He goes on -
We haven't listened...
We have only shame..
We have been unfaithful..
We have sinned against You.
We have gotten what we deserved.

" O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and take action! For  Thine own sake, O my God, do not delay, because Thy city and Thy people are called by Thy name." ( v19)

Daniel receives an answer to his prayer of confession and supplication... as Gabriel is sent to instruct him.  What Daniel hears next goes well beyond anything he could have imagined..

Father in heaven, You are the great and awesome God who keeps Your covenant and loves us in spite of our shame and guilt, our unfaithfulness, and our sin.  Thank You for saving us, redeeming us with the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ the Lord.   O Lord, hear us, forgive us, and take action on behalf of Your church , Your people who are called by Your name. Bring us to repentance and revival.  May we be the light in our dark world.  May we publish the glad tidings of the gospel to a world in great need of hope.  May the truth of Your Word be lifted up and no longer flung to the ground.  Prepare us for the days ahead, O Lord, that we might stand firm in Christ no matter what happens.  We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Daniel 7 -  Daniel's first vision takes place when Belshazzar becomes king of Babylon. ( Before the events of chapter 5-6).   It is a vision focusing on the 4 beasts, the last being the most terrifying.  The beasts all represent powerful kingdoms.. but they all have the same fate - they are crushed and destroyed.  There finally comes a time when the "Ancient of Days" comes and takes His throne.. ready to judge for a final time.

Daniel is given a wonderful vision of "One like a Son of Man" who receives all dominion, glory, and an eternal kingdom.  As powerful and dreadful as the 4th beast is.. he will be "annihilated and destroyed".   Hallelujah!! Along with the Son of Man, the "people of the saints of the Highest One" will also receive "sovereignty, the dominion, and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven.."

" .. and all the dominions will serve and obey Him".. the "Highest One"!

Daniel was greatly alarmed by this vision.  We have seen through-out history how kingdoms have risen and fallen.  We know that the Son of Man is Jesus and that He will overcome and annihilate every evil and will reign forever over the whole of heaven and earth.  It is not as terrifying to us.. for we are given the Hope that is in Jesus Christ.  But, perhaps we need to be more alert of what is coming..  for the 4th beast is "exceedingly dreadful"...  he will devour, crush and trample... he will  wage war with the saints and overpower them.. us.   He will "intend to make alterations in times and in law;"  and he will " speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the  Highest One."

Father in heaven,  You have given us the words of Daniel and revealed through him future events.  Like Daniel, we long to understand.  Yet, our greatest response to these words is praise to our God Who is the Most High and to the Son, Who has come for us and Who is coming again to reign forever.  Lord, open our eyes and our hearts to make us ready for that day!  Help us to live and walk according to Your Spirit and the Word.. for the Glory of Your Name!  Thank You for choosing to love us and save us from the wrath to come.  Thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory forever O Lord! Amen,

Acts 6 Daniel is an older man.. probably in his 80's, when Darius appointed him to be one of his commissioners.  He was still distinguished above any others and was about to be promoted to head of the kingdom... but, the jealous commissioners and satraps under him wanted to bring him down.  The only way they could do that was to find a way that involved his relationship with God.

Daniel knew what they were doing.  He knew the consequences for praying.. and he did it anyway.  His reputation was well known.  His devotion to prayer was well known.  Even Darius knew that Daniel was absolutely committed to serving the Lord.  When Daniel was thrown into the lion's den, the king fasted for God to save him... and He did.

Daniel stayed the night in a den of lion's and slept like a baby.  Now, that's faith!

Reminder.. God never changes!  He is "the living God" who endures forever.  His kingdom will never be destroyed.  His dominion never falters.  He is the Deliverer.  He does what we think is impossible!
If He can deliver Daniel from a pride of hungry lions.. then He can deliver us from :

Sin
Failure
Sickness
Poverty
Fear
Worry
Loneliness
Confusion
Or whatever else we are facing!

Father in Heaven, I am so thankful that You never fail and never change!  Thank You for being my provider, my deliverer, and my God.  Father,  You know our daily  bread needs.. and we ask that You would give us what we are in need of today.  Father, I ask that You would provide the funds needed at BCS today.  Provide in a way that reveals Your glory, honor, and dominion .  We need the strong faith that Daniel had... so we ask that You would grant that to us also.  In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Daniel 5-6  Some 23 years after the incident with Nebuchadnezzar and the statue, Belshazzar, his grandson or great-grandson.. decided to take the gold and silver vessels from the Temple and use them for his party.  The crowd toasted the gods and goddesses of "gold and silver, bronze, iron , wood and stone.."  What happened next was extraordinary .  A hand appeared.. writing 4 words on the plaster wall in the palace.  " Mine, Mine, Tekel, Upharsin".   When no one else could interpret, Daniel was called in and gave the interpretation.  " Mine - God has numbered your kingdom and put an end to it. Tekel - you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient.  Peres- your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians. "

The message was very clear - Belshazzar was proud and foolish. He did not acknowledge the God Most High like his ancestor Nebuchadnezzar had.  He exalted himself " against the Lord of heaven.. the God in whose hand are your life-breath and your ways, you have not glorified." 

"Numbered" and "weighed".. When it came to what mattered.. to what counted.. Belshazzar didn't add up to anything of worth.  That very night, he was slain by the invading Medes.

Somehow this passage always makes me think of the time when Jesus wrote in the sand after the Pharisees had brought before Him a woman caught in adultery.  He also numbered and weighed the accusers.. finding them unworthy.. deficient .. lacking that which counts the most.   Instead of justice, they chose to punish the woman and let the man go.  Instead of mercy, they chose to humiliate and judge her harshly.  They wanted to test and harm the reputation of the Holy One.. and they used a poor woman to do it.  Like Belshazzar, they did not glorify the God in whose Hands their life-breath was held.

One thing that we desire the most as followers of Christ is to be worthy of His calling.. to be "good and faithful servants"... to be all that He calls us to be.  Daniel is a man who lived that kind of life.
Even though it meant spending a night in a lion' s den.. Daniel chose to stay faithful.  May we also be found of worth in the balance of our God. 

Father in heaven .. fill us with the knowledge of Your will, through all wisdom and understanding, so that we may live a life worthy of our Lord, pleasing You in every good work, bearing fruit and growing in the knowledge of God, and being strengthened with all power according to Your glorious might.  I ask this in the Name of the Infinite and Merciful Savior, Jesus. Amen.