MIDWEEK MEDITATION
10 When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. 11 Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God. 12 Then they came near and said before the king, concerning the injunction, “O king! Did you not sign an injunction, that anyone who makes petition to any god or man within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.” 13 Then they answered and said before the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or the injunction you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.”
Daniel 6:10-13
It was surprising he survived.
Daniel 6 is a story about living with dual citizenship. What does it look like for those who are called to live and work for the good of a city, a nation, or an empire when in so many ways it seems to be moving away from God and His purposes? How does one live as both a citizen here on earth and as a citizen of heaven?
For Daniel, it required a conviction deeper than convenience. It wasn’t always going to be easy and yet what he believed went beyond easy. He had a life that made statements. It was clear to all around that he had faith in God. He had a healthy disregard for false gods. He wasn’t antagonistic about it; he simply would not acknowledge people or policies that demanded his allegiance above his God. Daniel lived with his dual citizenship, having a true loyalty to the King of Kings which allowed him to do what was best for his earthly king.
It was surprising that he survived in all of the messy court politics, but it was a miracle that he thrived in it. May God give you grace to thrive where He has placed you for His kingdom.