God’s Story can’t be edited.
The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king. Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah. - Daniel 1:5-6 ESV
Of all the Bible stories I remember from childhood, those of Daniel in the lion’s den and Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego surviving the fiery furnace are probably most vivid. Yet their stories, or God’s story in which they played their part, is so much deeper and more wonderful than the miracles that come to mind of when we think of them.
These young men were kidnapped, uprooted from their homes in Judah and forced into a life of serving the king of Babylon. They were given new names and taught a new language, new customs and new philosophies. In modern understanding they were given new identities - but In God’s understanding, and in His story though, their identities never changed.
In Daniel 9:22-23 God still calls Daniel by his name, not the name the Babylonians enforced on him. God reminds Daniel that He is deeply loved by God. He does this almost 70 years after Daniel’s kidnapping.
God doesn’t change, His love for us doesn’t change, and neither do His plans for us. By faith in Him, we belong to Him, no matter who or what tries to change that. As we struggle with the new normal - changing times, philosophies, responsibilities and beliefs - it is deeply reassuring to remember this. No matter what happens, we who belong to God by faith in Christ, can not be removed from God’s story. We are still loved and valued by Him, our identity is still in Him and our purpose in loving and serving Him remains unchanged. God’s story is written in the most permanent ink.
Prayer.
Dear loving Father, Thank You that your love and compassion never changes. Your mercy is new every day and great is Your faithfulness. Thank You that our identity doesn’t change with our circumstances, no matter how drastic. Thank You that our purpose is defined and maintained by You. We love and praise You our wonderful and unchanging Rock. Please strengthen us with Your peace and power to live the lives You prepared for us, and to hold firmly to our identity in You. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Worship.
When my heart is overwhelmed
I will look to You alone
God my rock, God my rock, God my rock
You will stand when others fall
You are faithful through it all
God my rock, God my rock, God my rock
In the blessing, in the pain
Through it all You've never failed me
You are the strength of my heart
You are the strength of my heart
I can rely on You, I can rely on You
You are the joy of my life
You are my song in the night
There is no one as true
Jesus I trust in You
When I've struggled to believe
You have not let go of me
God my rock, God my rock, God my rock
Carried through the darkest storms
You have held me in Your arms
God my rock God my rock God my rock
Serving.
Who are we? We are children of the living God, purchased by Jesus through His suffering, death and resurrection. We are made in the image of God, and recreated in Christ Jesus to do the good works He has created us to do. How comforting these thoughts are, but we can’t leave them there. Remember that the people we deal with every day, even those who frustrate us the most, are also made in His image. If they have given their lives to Jesus, then they are recreated in Christ Jesus. Looking at others and remembering that they belong to Jesus can change the way we see and serve them. Pray that our Father would remind us of this in those times that we especially need to remember it.