September 26th, 2019

Daniel 6:5 Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.”
 
ONE of the most well-known stories of Jesus’ forgiveness comes in John 8:4-6a “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6a They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. Centuries before the ruling Jews tried to use God’s law to discredit Jesus, Persian administrators would attempt to use God’s law to condemn Daniel. Daniel’s and Jesus’ lives were each such a strong testimony of faithful living, even their accusers’ sin-laden minds knew they would not depart from God’s law.  
    This challenge for Christians is very real in our world today. I know in the U.S. and Canada – and perhaps other parts of the world – the Bible’s teachings, for example, against homosexuality, fornication and abortion are considered “hate speech”. Faithful Christians speaking their faith are deemed terrible, ignorant people. Their faithful views are deliberately used against them, preventing them from promotions in their work, keeping them from being hired or doing business as Christians.
    In his book, “The Benedict Option” author, Ron Dener warns about these plots against God’s faithful: “Everyone working for a major corporation will be shuffled through ‘diversity and inclusion’ training and will face pressure not simply to tolerate Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) co-workers but to affirm their sexuality and gender identity. Plus, companies that don’t abide by state and federal antidiscrimination statutes covering LGBTs will not be able to receive government contracts. In fact, according to one religious liberty litigator, the only thing standing between an employer or employee and a court action is the imagination of LGBT plaintiffs and their lawyers.”
    In other words, any sinner can plot against someone who speaks against him. He can point a finger and say, “Your obedience to the Bible is hateful to me.” And because too many are ignorant of sin and its deadly consequences, they will have their way.
    What are we to do? We know what Jesus did, and we will see what Daniel did. The Bible teaches us to stay firmly in God’s laws. Those laws include what is wrong and what is right. We speak against sin, and we speak forgiveness. We stand on truth against all opposition. We trust God will protect us as we put his Word above all things – even above death. We offer grace, and we teach salvation. We live in faith, and we live by faith. We pray for those who oppose us. And we pray for God’s strength to stand in his wisdom, honor and glory.
    Study God’s Word and know that his will is to be done on earth as it is in heaven. 
 
Luke 12:11-12 “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”