Sun.’s Devo - The Test

Read: Daniel 1:1-2:23; 1 Peter 3:8-4:6; Psalm 119:65-80; Proverbs 28:14
Whenever Nebuchadnezzar took over a nation, he looted the cities of their wealth and their most talented people. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were among the most talented of Judah. They were fed from the king’s table and brought before him to be tested. The king’s food was not kosher food so Daniel asked of him and his three friends to be exempt from eating it. He asked his trainer to put them to the test by feeding them kosher food for ten days and then he could decide if Daniel and his friends were not healthier than the rest. The four proved to be healthier and better nourished than the rest and were allowed to stay on his strict diet.
When the king questioned the captives, Daniel and his three friends excelled above them all.
One night, Nebuchadnezzar had a strange and frightening dream and did not want his magicians and enchanters to make up the interpretation, so he wanted to prove them. He told them that if they didn’t tell him his dream and the interpretation, he would kill them all. Daniel was grouped with this people since he understood dreams and visions.
None of the astrologers could do what the king had asked so they were sentenced to die. When Daniel found out about it, he asked for time. He came home to his friends and they prayed that God, who knew all things would give them the mystery of the kings dream. That night, Daniel had the dream himself and understood its interpretation.
In Daniel’s praise to the Lord he said a very insightful thing. He said “He changes times and seasons.” In the Hebrew it interprets “He alters a set time and time, itself.” He is giving us a clue to the universe.
First Peter tells us to be of the same mind, in unity when it comes to loving one another. We don’t pay back evil for evil, but we forgive and have compassion on one another.
Jesus suffered once for our sins and preached to the spirits that had died and raised them up with him when he resurrected. Noah and his family were a picture of baptism because they were saved by water. Baptism doesn’t cleanse our body, it cleanses our soul and gives us a good conscience with no sin or shame.
Lord, thank you for cleansing our souls that we can stand before you in righteousness and with a clean heart.