Time with Jesus - Saturday, 24 March
2012
Hi all,
When Phyllida and I went
through today’s meditation, she asked me a good question. “Where did the
“Daniel” content originate? I went back through it and had to agree she had a
point. So where in today’s Scriptures did it come from? To quote John Hagee,
“Mmmmm”
We read through the poem and
asked that question again. I really didn’t have an answer. I’m told that
originality is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. So I had to find the 1%.
Eventually, in Rev 20:4 it was found. The “beast and his statue” reminded me of
the story of Daniel. So the connection, although somewhat vague, became
apparent.
The Scriptures also referred
to the Kingdom of God and that was the point of origin. How to put them
together was not obvious. So the meditation was written.
Where is the Kingdom of God?
We all struggle with the concept. For you and me, a Kingdom is a place. It’s
all we know. But Paul tells us 17 For
the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy
Spirit. Rom 14:17 ESV
So, how can we recognise that
someone is in God’s Kingdom? My guess is that if we find somewhere or someone
who displays these qualities in spite of circumstances, we are looking at God’s
Kingdom.
No doubt there are a number of
people in the New Testament who display them. But, the one who really springs
to mind is Daniel in the lion’s den. Is my assumption that He was “in God’s
Kingdom” correct? Perhaps so? But He was being protected by God in that den of
lions. If that’s not being in His Kingdom, what is?
Blessings
Jim & Phyllida Strickland
Daniel and God’s Kingdom
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The Kingdom
is within us. That’s what the Master said.
But will you
kindly tell me, if that is in my head?
I don’t
think I can see it, although I’ve really tried.
Just a
little hint will do, for me to check inside.
It isn’t a
location? No one has told me that!
So when I
try to find it, is it underneath my hat?
It isn’t in
my tummy, although I’m overweight.
And trying
to get into it, is surely tempting fate.
There’s no
place I can think of that’s suitable at all.
To try and
get the Nations in! I’m sorry, it’s too small.
So what was
Jesus meaning? How can we all get there?
If it’s
inside each one of us, will there be room to spare?
It can‘t be
a location. I think that’s fairly clear.
Perhaps some
sort of “cyberspace” is how it might appear.
But Jesus
Christ has told us it’s righteousness and peace;
And joy which
He has told us that will not ever cease.
Exactly how
this functions and why it will be great,
Has yet to
be expounded. So we will have to wait,
Until the
Lord has shown us the way it aught to be.
And that is
more than adequate for people just like me.
We know it
must be tangible. The book of Daniel shows,
That even in
the Lion’s den, God’s Kingdom somehow goes!
They weren’t
aware that Daniel was sitting in their pit.
They somehow
looked right through him; or thought he was unfit,
To feed a
hungry lion. But surely that’s not true.
A little
taste of anyone for each of them would do!
Perhaps He’d
found God’s Kingdom and so he wasn’t there?
Don’t tell
me hungry lions were thinking it’s not fair,
To bring
their favourite diet and not to care a jot.
If you think
lions do such things, I tell you they do not!
The next day
after Daniel, had exited their den,
We know they
had a special taste of Babylonian Men.
A couple
were thrown down for them. Their breakfast had been served,
Those wicked
Babylonians got just what they deserved.
Was Daniel
in God’s Kingdom? I think he had to be.
Righteousness
and joy and peace were shown abundantly.
The lions got
the message, for them, he wasn’t there.
He stayed
within God’s Kingdom in an attitude of prayer!
So next time
you’re confronted with a thing you can’t control;
Take a tip
from Daniel and it will keep you whole.
Focus upon
Jesus, His love and righteousness.
So what if
you get eaten? With Him you can’t care less!
Jim Strickland
Written Saturday 24th March 2012
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