Spirit-led

Daniel 2:10-13 The astrologers answered the king, “There is not a man on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer. 11 What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among men.” 12 This made the king so angry and furious that he ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon. 13 So the decree was issued to put the wise men to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death.
 
SUCH roles as magician, enchanter, sorcerer and astrologer were men who could interpret dreams, cast spells and exorcise demons. Or so they said and people believed. But suddenly, they cannot meet the king’s demand. Suddenly these supposed “wise men” have no wisdom to answer the king’s anxiety.  
    In response, sin’s rage erupts into a deadly command. The death sentence included even the faithful Daniel and his friends. Why include these men in whom the king found no one equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. (Daniel 1:19) When evil destroys, it holds no reprieve. How quickly rage clouds the heart and mind. Anger strikes as a lightning bolt, killing quickly without warning. The king sees all under the label, “Betrayer”. His judgment is as swift as it is merciless.
    Is it any different for us? How quickly mistrust infects our minds. We react on  a whim to avenge perceived wrongs. Our mouths speak judgment. We condemn all without regard to truth. Our anger often betrays even those who lovingly seek to correct our errors. Always be aware sin seeks to disturb your mind and to destroy loving relationships.
    The apostle Paul teaches how to live in God’s care: Galatians 5:16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want…20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions (are acts of the sinful nature). Verse 20 is surely Babylon’s culture – our own world culture, too. Is it yours?
    Live, then, in vss 16-17 as you experience the Spirit’s blessings: Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23a gentleness and self-control. This is a wonderful way to think, speak and live, isn’t it? We are about to see how the Spirit led Daniel to respond to Nebuchadnezzar.
 
Galatians 5:25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.