We need a Daniel!

Are you tired of the endless political season? I am! It's not that I think this election is unimportant. It would be refreshing to hear a thoughtful, deep, and detailed discussion about the serious issues facing this nation, of which there is no shortage! Challenges that need to be addressed include the cost of energy which threatens to bankrupt us, the availability and cost of health care, the spiraling cost of education, the spiritual, social, and economic ills that are creating the wastelands we call urban areas, the endless war in Iraq, and more. Instead of proposals we get sound-bites about who drinks with whom, half-true stories of past exploits, claims about who is more 'in touch' with average Americans, and debates about experience and who is too young or too old for the office. Even the televised debates, which are supposed to provide us with insight into the candidate's minds, produce more of the same shallow image polishing and sly personal attacks. To me much of what passes for political discussion looks like grown-ups playing schoolyard 'gotcha' games.

We need a Daniel, but I am not sure if a democratic election can produce that kind of leader - bold, truthful, wise, and ready to speak the truth without regard for polls or popularity. Someone has said that "America gets the leaders it deserves!" Perhaps that is true. Maybe we are so pre-occupied with greed, protecting our entitlements, and looking good that we are prepared to elect a person who mirrors that same lack of depth to lead us. In the book of Daniel, we read of a man who was faithful to God and full of wisdom, who spoke truth to power. Daniel was a teenage noble in Judah when the Babylonian army took him captive and transported him back to their capital city to serve in the court of Nebuchadnezzar. Many years later, when he was an old man, that empire came to a moment of crisis. Here's how the Queen-mother describes Daniel to the king. "There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God. And in the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him; and King Nebuchadnezzar your father—your father the king—made him chief of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers. Inasmuch as an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting dreams, solving riddles, and explaining enigmas were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, now let Daniel be called." (Daniel 5:11-12, NKJV)

Believer, I want to be that kind of person in my neighborhood, my town; yes, in my world. How about you? I want to be known as a man in whom lives the Spirit of God and who can be trusted to be thoughtful, prayerful, and wise. Wouldn't be wonderful if Christians in America were respected as people of "light and understanding and wisdom?" like Daniel of old? We need to live excellently so that when our family members who do not know God come into a time of crisis they turn to each other and say, "we need to call on (our name) because the Spirit of God lives in him!" Such a life comes with a cost. It means doing the right thing even when it is hard. It means keeping our word even when it hurts. It means remaining deeply devoted even when God falls silent and we walk by faith through dark days. It means studying the Word diligently and avoiding simple-minded clichés and slogans. After his encounter with the king, Daniel was raised to a high place in the empire. He so distinguished himself that the other court officials said this of him. "Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. Finally these men said, "We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God." (Daniel 6:3-5, NIV)

And, as the story goes, he continued to serve God even when they duped the king into outlawing prayer. His faithfulness got him thrown into the famed lions' den! But even there his devotion, steadiness, and faith shown brightly.

Yes, America needs a Daniel. It probably won't be the next President, but it could be you and me. We may never hold high office or even be known beyond our town. But, each of us can exercise a powerful influence for good, for righteousness, for truth in our home, our extended family, our place of employment, our church, and our community. God, make me a Daniel.

Here's a word from the Word. Keep it in your thoughts today. "Dear friends, I warn you as "temporary residents and foreigners" to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world." (1 Peter 2:11-12, NLT)
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Standing by a purpose true,
Heeding God's command,
Honor them, the faithful few!
All hail to Daniel's band!

Many mighty men are lost,
Daring not to stand,
Who for God had been a host
By joining Daniel's band!

Many giants great and tall,
Stalking thru the land,
Headlong to the earth would fall,
If met by Daniel's band!

Dare to be a Daniel,
Dare to stand alone!
Dare to have a purpose firm!
Dare to make it known!

Dare to be a Daniel
Philip Bliss © Public Domain