Let me start with a question for you: What is real Christianity all about, in one word or phrase? It’s about salvation and forgiveness. Christianity is about being rescued by Jesus. But lots of people think Christianity is about trying to do good so that we will be accepted by God. Is that what youContinue reading “The Desolating Decree – Part 1 (Daniel 9:1-19)”
Author Archives: Stephen McDonald
The Desecrating Devastation (Daniel 8)
Have you ever had to wait for God? If you’ve ever prayed, then you’ve waited. But maybe you’re really waited. For years. And as we wait, we can think ‘Does God care?’ Have you ever been disappointed by God? If you’ve suffered, then maybe you’ve felt let down by God. When we suffer, we canContinue reading “The Desecrating Devastation (Daniel 8)”
Magnify the LORD with Me! (Psalm 34)
How can we change? There is a guaranteed way to change, and it’s not a 30-day, money-back guarantee. It always works. The way to change is to ask God help you be what He promises to make you.
The Distressing Dream (Daniel 7)
Our task as God’s people is to gather and mature followers of Jesus. But following Jesus can mean being rejected by our friends, misunderstood and even hated by people around us. Some Christians lose their jobs or even their lives because they follow Jesus. At the very least, following Jesus will mean missing out onContinue reading “The Distressing Dream (Daniel 7)”
The Daily Devotion (Daniel 6)
If being a Christian was a crime, would they find enough evidence to convict you?
Living like Jesus is rare. Where do you see true, sacrificial love, a love that dies every day for the good of the others?
We never have to look far to find Christians who are in it for what they can get out of it. Honestly, we often only have to look in the mirror.
So it’s no wonder that Christians and churches are the subject of such hatred. Even if the world does the same evil, everyone knows that Christians should be better. And we should.
In Hebrews 11:33, Daniel is referred to (without mentioning his name) as one of those people who, by faith, ‘stopped the mouths of lions.’
But does God expect us to just be brave like Daniel? To just try harder to have faith like his faith?
As always, the answer is not ‘Try harder!’ The answer is ‘Follow Christ!’
As we think about this familiar story, everything that we see in Daniel should point us to Jesus Christ and how He calls us to live by faith Him. So, what will that look like?
