Tuesday, October 27
Read Daniel 12
Think About It:
This chapter should make all our worries go away, knowing God is in control of every last detail of life in this world, leading up to our eternity with Him. The books of Daniel and Revelation give us a lot of insight into how things wrap up here. Daniel 12:1 is a direct reference to the final Great Tribulation that will occur during the final seven years of human government; the world will be under the control of the Antichrist for the final 42 months. Michael the archangel watches over “the children of thy people”, we can see in more detail in Revelation 12. In verse 4, Daniel is instructed to seal up the words and the book because this will not be understood until the end. Spiritual knowledge will be increased more as we near the end, and people will comprehend those things previous generations have not yet understood. Verse 10 confirms that the wise shall understand! We become wise when we seek God for our wisdom – James 1:5 tells us God will give wisdom to anyone who asks! In Daniel 12:13, the angel tells Daniel he will rest and then rise to receive his inheritance at the end. We who are believers do not need to fear the end, but we need to pray for a compassionate heart and a passion to wholeheartedly help those who do not yet know Jesus. May we all be praying to have a sensitive heart and a growing love for others, a divine wisdom and sensitivity to the prompting of His Spirit when the opportunities arise to help others understand how much God loves them and how He has given us His Son to ensure we can live this life for His glory, winning others for Christ – and spending eternity with Him.
Family Time:
- Who is Michael?
- What is the promise of Daniel 12:1b ?
- What is the promise of Daniel 12:12b?
- How does the quality of waiting on God relate to the fruit of the Spirit?
Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”
Below is a poem for when we are in a season of waiting (author unknown to me):
Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried.
Quietly, patiently, lovingly God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate,
And the Master so gently said, “Child, you must wait.”
“Wait! You say, ‘Wait!’” my indignant reply.
“Lord, I need answers. I need to know why!
Is Your hand shortened or have You not heard?
By faith I have asked, claiming Your Word.
My future and all to which I can relate
Hangs in the balance and You tell me to wait?
I’m needing a “Yes” – a “Go ahead” sign
Or even a “No” to which I can resign.
And Lord, You promised that if we believe
We need but to ask and we shall receive.
And Lord, I’ve been asking and this is my cry.
I’m weary of asking and I need a reply!”
Then gently, softly I learned of my fate
As my Master replied once again: “You must wait.”
So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut,
And grumbled to God, “So, I’m waiting – for what?”
He seemed then to kneel and His eyes wept with mine
As He tenderly said, “I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.
All you seek I could give
and pleased you would be.
You would have what you want,
But you wouldn’t know Me.
You would not know the depth of My love for each saint.
You’d not know the power I give to the faint.
You would not learn to see through the clouds of despair.
You would not learn to trust just by knowing – I’m there.
You would not know the joy of resting in Me
When darkness and silence were all you could see.
You would never experience that fullness of love
As the peace of My Spirit descends, like a dove.
You would know that I give and I save,
But you would not know that depth of the beat of my heart,
The glow of My comfort late into the night,
The faith that I give you when you walk without sight,
The depth that is beyond getting just what you asked
Of an infinite God who causes what you have to last.
You would never know should your pain quickly flee
What it means that ‘My grace is sufficient for thee.’
Yes, your dreams for your loved ones overnight would come true,
But oh, the loss – if I lost what I’m doing in you.
So, be silent My Child, and in time you will see
That the greatest of gifts is to get to know Me.
And though oft My answer may seem terribly late
The wisest of answers is –but to wait.”
