Clips from the Cave

Last week in the Cave, we discussed being faithful in the face of temptation. This week, we discussed the rewards of having faith.

Daniel and his three friends agreed not to eat the king's food because it was unclean. Instead, they ate vegetables and drank water. At the end of ten days, they were healthier than the other boys, and the official in charge of them allowed them to continue with their clean diet.

Because Daniel and his friends had the courage to obey God's commands, they were rewarded with the gift of knowledge. They were given the ability to understand and learn in every area. They became the king's most trusted advisors, and when he tested them, he found out that they were ten times better than any of the magicians and seers in his entire kingdom.
In order to receive the rewards of a faithful life, we have to live it. We have to trust that God knows what's best for us and that His words are the ones we should follow. Following God's rules will earn us His blessings. They may not always be the blessings we want, but they will be the blessings we need. I'm sure Daniel and his friends would've preferred to be delivered from servitude in Babylon, but God gave them a purpose in Babylon and gave them the tools they needed to fulfill that purpose. Like them, God will provide us with everything we need to survive, thrive, and be useful in today's world.

There's another lesson to learn from this week's discussion: how to deal with speaking to people about God.

When Daniel and his friends approached King Nebuchadnezzar, they knew that he didn't believe in their God. They knew that they believed in their true God, and they were confident in His protection and guidance. However, they also approached the king with respect, because he was a powerful leader.

When we minister to others, even those who aren't powerful like a king, we need to show confidence and respect, just like Daniel and his three friends. If we can show others that we respect their beliefs but are confident in our own, and if we can show them that we are just as knowledgeable as Daniel and his friends, we can give them a good impression of Christians. We can show them that we are faithful without being close-minded; we are strong without being overbearing; and we are educated without being pompous. If we treat others with respect, they will treat us with respect, just as the king respected Daniel, and if others respect us, then we have a better opportunity to make an impact.

Another important thing to remember is to be a fire, not a flashlight.
One of the memory verses for this lesson is 2 Timothy 1:7: "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
God has given us the power to make an impact on others with our words and actions, and it's our task to reach out to others---to Dare to be a Daniel.

Thanks again to Wanda N. for being kind enough to teach our class!
Have a great week!