Thurs.’s Devo - The Interpretation

Read: Daniel 2:24-3:30; 1 Peter 4:7-5:14; Psalm 119:81-96; Proverbs 28:15-16 Daniel took his interpretation to the king but made it clear that he did not get his wisdom by himself, but it was God that shared it with him. No man could do what he was about to do. He then proceeded to tell the king what he dreamed and what it meant. He had dreamed the future kingdoms including his own. He, the Babylonian and Persian empire was the head of gold that was now ruling the world. He would be taken down by the Medes and Persians represented by the chest and arms.. They would be overtaken by the Graeco-Macednians which were represented by the belly and thighs. The the Roman Empire was the feet of iron and clay. They were all crushed by the rock which represents Christ. Daniel was elevated to a high position and given many valuable gives. He was made ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief over all his wise men. Daniel appointed his three friends Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to be in charge of all the affairs of the province of Babylon while Daniel remained in the king’s court. After hearing the interpretation that King Nebuchadnezzar was the head of gold, he decided to have built the statue that he saw in his dream. When he ordered everyone to bow down to it or be thrown into the furnace, the three friends refused. They were thrown into the furnace with their last words being, our God can save us but even if he doesn’t, we won’t bow down to any other god. Not only did they live through the fire, but Jesus walked through it with them and they had no evidence of fire or smell of smoke on them. This is the conviction we have to have in our lives. Nothing matters but God and his kingdom. Peter explains that this world is not eternal or what we are living for. We are living for eternity so how we live on this world affects how we live in eternity. We use our gifts to help one another grow so they will be rewarded. We do everything we can to help our fellow believers in however they need us. If we remain humble here, God will exalt us. We have to remember that we have an enemy who only wants to devour us. God promises to restore, support and strengthen us and place us on a firm foundation. Lord, thank you for your promises and constant reminders that the world is not our home. Our home is a place of glory waiting for us.