Day 250

Daniel 5, 7-8.  “Oh, To Be a Prophet”

         King Belshazzar offered to reward Daniel greatly with purple robes of honor, gold chains and a promotion to the third highest in the kingdom just for interpreting the writing on the wall (5:16).  Daniel’s reputation preceded him.  People knew he could do it.  He could have opened a little shop called “Divine Daniel’s” and have made quite the living interpreting people’s dreams.  Instead we read that Daniel told the king to “Keep your gifts.”
         Daniel was God’s instrument to the people of his day.  God gave Daniel visions explaining the future.  Before you conclude, “Oh, that sounds great being a prophet!” let me remind you of some of Daniel’s feelings from his visions in chapters seven and eight: “I, Daniel, was troubled by all I had seen, and my visions terrified me” (7:15).  “I was terrified by my thoughts and my face was pale with fear” (7:28).  “I became so terrified that I fell to the ground” (8:17).  “Then I was overcome and lay sick for several days… I was greatly troubled by the vision” (8:27).  Take God’s words and work seriously.

General Questions for each day:
Summarize the day’s Bible passage in your own words.
What thoughts, actions, attitudes or beliefs are addressed in the passage?
How is the Holy Spirit leading you to apply this passage to your life today?