Category: First Things First Devotional

“I continued watching in the night visions, and I saw One like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before Him. He was given authority to rule, and glory, and a kingdom, so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.” Daniel 7:13-14 HCSB

I enjoy photography and especially nature and landscape photography. While on vacation, I will get up early to capture pictures of the sunrise and I am always watching for the perfect sunset. The clouds are what makes a sunrise or sunset so beautiful. The sun peaks through the clouds and creates all shades of color. It is a breathtaking sight and causes me to think about what an awesome God we serve. The touch of God’s creative hand is in every sunrise and sunset.

The vision Daniel experienced was one of the end times when Jesus Christ will establish His eternal kingdom. Just imagine what it must have looked like with Jesus, the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven. I am certain that there is not a sunrise or sunset that would compare to the beauty of Christ coming with the clouds. Jesus used this verse in Daniel to refer to Himself. (Matthew 26:64) God’s glory has appeared in the clouds. (Exodus 16:10)

Challenge: Are you prepared to meet the Lord on that final day? It will be a beautiful sight worshiping our Lord and Savior with people from every nation. Praise God for the beauty of His creation and for providing a way for people to be forgiven and spend eternity in Heaven with Him. As a believer, you will be a part of His kingdom that will never pass away. Hallelujah!

I apologize for sending you information that was intended for Little Flock Baptist Church Sunday School leaders. I accidentally clicked on the wrong list.

A river of fire was flowing, coming out from His presence. Thousands upon thousands served Him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was convened, and the books were opened. Daniel 7:10 HCSB

My grandmother was the Justice of the Peace in Amarillo, Texas for 25 years. She retired at age 75 and was known affectionately as “Judge Potter,” which we fittingly put on her tombstone. She was known to be a tough but fair judge. Many different cases were brought before her to be decided. The gavel she used in her courtroom is now proudly displayed on a desk that once was my grandmother’s that is now in my living room.

My grandmother judged a variety of cases, however the vision Daniel saw was the last judgment at which many people will give an account of their lives to be judged by God. The fire represented judgment and the thousands upon thousands represented millions of people who were standing before the judgment seat. We will all someday stand before our Heavenly Father and give an account of our lives.

Challenge: How would you measure up if you were standing before Almighty God at this moment and He was judging your life? What would He say about your life? Live each day as though you were going to stand before God’s judgment and give an account of how well you have used the gifts and talents He has provided for you.

“As I kept watching, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His seat. His clothing was white like snow, and the hair of His head like whitest wool. His throne was flaming fire; its wheels were blazing fire.” Daniel 7:9 HCSB

Standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon I was awestruck by its beauty. It is absolutely amazing. I find it hard for anyone to not believe in our creative God. The beauty of the Grand Canyon is without comparison and is hard to describe with mere words. Not even a picture does it justice. One must stand at the rim of the Grand Canyon and take in the beauty of God’s creation to really appreciate its magnificence.

Just as words fail to describe the beauty of the Grand Canyon, words fail to describe the majesty of God. Daniel’s description of God pales in comparison to what he actually saw. God having a body and hair may or may not be true. Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well that, “God is spirit” (John 4:24). We must assume that Daniel’s description is more imaginative than literal. When it is difficult to describe something, we usually use words the other person might relate to or understand. Daniel’s description of God is similar to the description of Christ in John’s Patmos vision in Revelation 1:12-20. The term “Ancient of Days” describes the eternal nature of God. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

Challenge: We can only imagine what the majesty of God really looks like. Know that a wonderful and creative God loves you and wants to have a personal relationship with you. Thank God that He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow and that you can always trust in His faithfulness and character. Listen to “Ancient of Days” as sung by Petra (one of my favorite groups) on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjSfS4Jv1WQ

“While I was considering the horns suddenly another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. There were eyes in this horn like a man’s and it had a mouth that spoke arrogantly.” Daniel 7:8 HCSB

Today’s verse is part of a vision that Daniel had about the end times. The first six chapters of Daniel presented visions and dreams that provided a historical account of the terrible condition (both physically and spiritually) of the people of Israel. The last six chapters presented encouraging words and revelations about the end times. God is in control of our evil and sinful world even when we may doubt His existence. The ten horns represent the ten nations that will rise to power in the end times. They will form a pact and a treaty together. The little horn represents the Antichrist who will rise to power at the end of the world and deceive people (read 1 Thessalonians 2:3-4 and Revelation 13;5-6). He will destroy three of the other kingdoms and become very arrogant and proud.

This revelation provided Daniel with a vision that God was in control and in the end He would have victory. Evil persists in our world and threatens Christians in many ways. In John 16:33 Jesus warned His disciples that they would face evil in the world but that He had overcome the world and the evil in it.

Challenge: Be assured that God is in control and that the Antichrist and the evil of the world will not win in the end. Pray for God to give you the strength to resist temptation. Pray that you can withstand life’s pressures and remain faithful, even in trying and difficult circumstances.

“My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths. They haven’t hurt me, for I was found innocent before Him. Also, I have not committed a crime against you my king.” The king was overjoyed and gave orders to take Daniel out of the den. So Daniel was taken out of the den, uninjured, for he trusted in his God. Daniel 6:22-23 HCSB

As the youth consultant for the Missouri Baptist Convention, I was responsible for a summer program called Youth Development Week. We had approximately 500 students and adult leaders from across Missouri come to YDW for three different sessions during the summer. I enlisted four youth ministers from around the state to help with the planning and implementation of YDW. Each man was assigned a specific responsibility. I had to have men that I could trust to get the job done. There was one year that one of the men failed to do his job, and it created challenges. It was vital to recruit men that I could trust.

Daniel trusted God to deliver Him. He knew that if he was faithful to God and did what God asked of him that God would take care of him. Certainly, Daniel had prayed for safety from the lions. God answered his prayers and sent an angel to spend the night with him to comfort and protect him from the lions. Some think this angel was the same angel who was in the fiery furnace. If so, then Daniel may have spent the night with the preincarnate Jesus Christ. What a blessing that would have been.

Challenge: You can trust God, He will never fail you. The problems you are currently facing could not be as bad as the lion’s den that Daniel faced. Take your problems to the Lord in prayer. He will be with you through the difficulties of life and protect you. Circumstances may not always turn out the way you wish, but you can be assured God loves you and has a perfect plan for you.

So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!” Daniel 6:16 HCSB

A couple of years ago our church was coming to the end of the financial year and I projected, based on receipts for previous years, that we would spend approximately $30,000 more than what we would receive for the year. We did not inform the church of the financial need, but God delivered in an amazing way. During the month of December our receipts totaled approximately $250,000, the most that has ever been given in one month and especially for December. God provided a miracle and we ended the year $30,000 more in receipts than what was spent.

God provided for Daniel and shut the mouths of the lions. Even the unbelievers acknowledged the power of God. The king loved Daniel and hoped that Daniel’s God would be able to save him. God has power that many others know nothing about – the power to even shut the mouths of lions.

Challenge: God’s power is still available to those who need it. Daniel was willing to face death as a result of his faithfulness to God. Would you be willing to die for your faith? What would others say about your life as a result of your actions and behavior? Listen to Chris Tomlin as he sings “Our God” at https://www.youtube.com/watch? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJpt1hSYf2o) v=NJpt1hSYf2o (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJpt1hSYf2o)

When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house. The windows in the upper room opened toward Jerusalem and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before. Daniel 6:10 HCSB

As a family we have always placed an importance on prayer. Prior to each meal we give thanks to the Lord for the food and His many blessings. When our children were younger we would have bedtime prayers. Any time there is a specific need, there are prayers lifted up for that situation or person.

Prayer is a simple conversation with God. Prayer is emphasized in both the Old and New Testament. Frequently there are references to people speaking to God, calling on Him, and crying out to Him in a crisis. Jesus gave His followers instructions on how to pray and He Himself went to God the Father in prayer.

Daniel realized that praying for guidance and direction from God was essential to success and that it was important to continue to pray even if it meant he would be thrown into the lion’s den. He could have tried to hide his prayer time but instead he opened the windows and openly prayed to God.

Challenge: Spend time in prayer each day seeking God’s guidance in your life. Present your requests to the Lord, knowing that He is in control of everything. Pray for God’s will to always be done even when you don’t understand. Don’t be ashamed to pray. Offer to bless the food when you are out with with work associates having lunch.

So the administrators and satraps went together to the king and said to him, “May King Darius live forever. All the administrators of the kingdom, the prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors have agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an edict that for 30 days, anyone who petitions any god or man except you, the king, will be thrown into the lions’ den.” Daniel 6:6-7 HCSB

There has been a debate for years about the circumstances surrounding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Some say that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone while others say that there was a conspiracy and that there was more than one shooter that day. After years of study and examination, I am not sure anyone will ever know the truth behind the the death of JFK.

The administrators in today’s Scripture reference agreed to conspire against Daniel. They were jealous of his position and his relationship with the king. They used flattery with the king to get a decree issued. The administrators made it sound like they loved the king and wanted everyone to worship him. The king was influenced by their flattery and made an unwise choice without giving it a lot of thought.

Challenge: Be careful how you use flattery and use it only with sincerity to express your honest feelings. Be aware of others who may be tempting you to go along with the group. Pray for guidance as you make decisions and interact with others.

The administrators and satraps, therefore, kept trying to find a charge against Daniel regarding the kingdom. But they could find no charge of corruption, for he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was found in him. Daniel 6:4 HCSB

I have had the opportunity to hire employees for the church. Of course any employer desires a candidate who is knowledgable of the job, but also someone whose attributes include honesty and trustworthiness.

Those who worked with Daniel wanted to find a flaw in his character that they could use against him to make the king dislike him. They were jealous of his position and power. They looked for anything that would discredit Daniel and his God, but they could not find any fault or corruption. Instead, they found Daniel to be a person who could be trusted.

Challenge: Are you trustworthy? Would others you work with say you are trustworthy? Be a person of honesty and integrity and the type of employee that you would want to hire.