September 10

Daniel 10:1-12:13; Ezra 4:24-5:1; Haggai 1:1-15

What an incredible passage today! Daniel is so packed it is a challenge to pull out one central idea from each verse let alone a couple of chapters. In these verses I think it is clear Daniel’s interaction with God is referring to the ultimate final judgement. You can read 20 different commentaries and get 20 different answers to how long a “time, times and half a time” is (Daniel 12:7). What really strikes me in these passages is that people who know God are people of love. The folks that really want to know God resist evil and evil leaders. Dietrich Bonhoeffer is a great example of a man who knew God and firmly resisted evil. He prayed “Give me such love for God and men, as will blot out all hatred and bitterness”. There is a long-term fulfillment to this prophecy from Daniel. Jesus referenced Daniel and the abomination that causes destruction (Daniel 9:29, Matthew 24:15) probably referring to the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, which was a foreshadowing of the end times.

Amid all this evil ‘the people who know their God will firmly resist [the evil one]. (Daniel 11:32). It continues with “those who keep their heads straight will teach the crowds right from wrong by their example…The testing will refine, cleanse, and purify those who keep their heads on straight and stay true…” (Daniel 11:33,35, MSG). Today, thank God for his love, live in His love, overcome fear, stand firm, and resist evil.

Lord, help us to be a people of love who know their God and stand firm, overcome our fears, resist evil, and take action. 

How in your daily life have you stood up to evil?

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