Wed.’s Devo - God Rules the Kingdoms of the Earth

Read: Daniel 4:1-37; 2 Peter 1:1-21; Psalm 119:97-112; Proverbs 28:17-18 Nebuchadnezzar sent a message to his kingdom proclaiming the Lord’s power and his Kingdom that would last forever. Then he relates the story that lead up to his revelation about God. *** He had had a dream that none of his wise men could tell him the interpretation. He then went to Daniel and Daniel was able to interpret it. *** Daniel told him that the dream was about Nebuchadnezzar’s future. He dreamed about a huge tree that provided for many animals. A holy one from heaven came and chopped off its branches to the stump. The stump was left to live with the wild animals for seven periods of time with the mind of a wild animal. *** Daniel explained that he was the tree and he would be driven from human society to live with the wild animals. He would eat grass like a cow and live like an animal for seven years, until he learned that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to whoever he chooses. His stump was left in the ground meaning that he would return to his kingdom and rule again, under God. *** One year later, Nebuchadnezzar was walking on the roof of his palace and looked out across the city and proclaimed, “Look at this great city of Babylon! By my own mighty power, I have built this beautiful city as my royal residence to display my majestic splendor.” While the words were still in his mouth, he heard a voice from heaven telling him that he was no longer the ruler of this kingdom. He would now be driven from society and live with and like the wild animals until he learned that the Most High rules over kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses. 
 *** That very hour, he was taken to the wilderness. He lived there until his hair grew long and his nails grew like claws. *** At the end of the seven years, his sanity returned and he praised and worshiped the Most High and King of heaven. His advisors sought him out and restored him as the head of his kingdom with even greater honor than before. *** Peter reminds us that by God’s power, He has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We are to make every effort to respond to God’s promises. It begins with faith. Then we add moral excellence. To that we add knowledge, then self-control, then patient endurance, then godliness and brotherly affection. Brotherly affection should spread into love for everyone. If we mature through all these areas and end in love we will never fall away. We will be given a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. *** Peter reminds us of the day he stood with Jesus and heard God speak on the mountain. He saw Jesus transfigure into glory and heard God speak from heaven declaring his love for his Son. Jesus was prophesied by the prophets that he would return and they spoke from God. *** Lord, may we grow and mature into the image of Jesus. We patiently look for your return. May we be about your business as we wait.