ESOCS Devotional 29 September 2024 – Aim for a Rewarding End!
MEMORY VERSE: “But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.” Daniel 12:13 NKJV
TEXT: DANIEL 12:1-13
“At that time Michael shall stand up,
The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people;
And there shall be a time of trouble,
Such as never was since there was a nation,
Even to that time.
And at that time your people shall be delivered,
Every one who is found written in the book.
2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,
Some to everlasting life,
Some to shame and everlasting contempt.
3 Those who are wise shall shine
Like the brightness of the firmament,
And those who turn many to righteousness
Like the stars forever and ever.
4 “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”
5 Then I, Daniel, looked; and there stood two others, one on this riverbank and the other on that riverbank. 6 And one said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long shall the fulfillment of these wonders be?”
7 Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished.
8 Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, “My lord, what shall be the end of these things?”
9 And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. 10 Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.
11 “And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days. 12 Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.
13 “But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.”
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Daniel stands tall among the godly servants who had served God faithfully. He was born in a royal family in Judah and was taken as a captive in his teens. But he resolved to adhere to God irrespective of his captivity. For a believer who is separated for God’s holy purpose to keep his holiness in a land like Babylon was a real challenge (Daniel 1:8-19). Even then, he and his compatriots could keep up with God’s rule of separation. Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” His initial training in his home ground had proved worthwhile when he was challenged in a heathen surrounding. Let us train up our young ones accordingly so that they will stand up for God.
As we move ahead, we see how God favoured him with divine wisdom and understanding, which he used to help the rulers of his times. He totally believed in the sovereignty of God over all. This made his work more effective among the heathen surrounding. In general, his piety led him through his long tenure in the courts of Babylonian, Mede and Persian kings. He was mightily used by God to prove God’s control over the nations of the then known world. Even after all these wonderful revelations and senior positions in kings’ courts, his attitude was that of a humble man—a model for us to follow in our daily walk with God. He can use us in various ways in our culture to bring in wisdom from above through our living relationship with God.
Towards the end of his life, God showed Daniel the vision of future events and he was puzzled. Chapters 7-12 deal with these visions. Some were really startling revelations that he became terrified. This led him to pray, as we see in Chapter 9. But God answered him that many things are hidden for a time and will only be revealed only at its due time. (Daniel 12:8-9 NKJV): … Then I said, “My Lord, what shall be the end of these things?” And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.”
In this life, there will be many things, which are not understood by us. That does not mean that we are short of any blessing; instead, what is beneficial for us, God will reveal it to us. But that which does not fall in our share may not be revealed. In today’s world, many are deceived in the name of this hidden knowledge. Our carnal nature will cause us to go after this hidden knowledge, which can end up in traps laid by the devil himself. So, take care no one will deceive us!
- Are there friends and situations around you that distract you from focusing on Jesus and the love of God?
- Father, help me to seek those things which are above, where Christ is.
Further Reading: Job 1:1-22, Matt. 7:1-14, Rev. 12:5-1
ESOCS Devotional 29 September 2024
