Daniel 6:19-20 – “At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, ‘Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?’ ”
The king called unto Daniel in a loud voice, more of a concerned friend than of an enemy, saying, ‘Daniel, the servant of the Most High God, is your God, whom you serve continually able to rescue you?’ In other words, the king was simply asking Daniel, ‘Is your God able?’ What situation are you in now? Is your God able? If He is, is He faithful to fulfil His promises? If He is faithful, are you really faithful to Him? Certainly our God is powerful and faithful to His faithful servants. This means, it is not a one-sided affair. God has a role to play in my salvation, just as I have a role to play. This should be our guiding principle. This is the kind of relationship approved of God.
We are unfaithful to God; that is why it seems as if He is powerless in the face of our mountain. Many people blame God for unfaithfulness when they should blame themselves for not praying according to His will. Unanswered prayers stand between people and their faith. It is always His will to answer prayer. “Call unto Me, and I will answer you…” (Jeremiah 33:3). This is God’s invitation to pray and His promise to answer. God invites you to pray, to ask. He is always ready to answer. When we are faithful, our God is powerful. This means, it is not a one-sided affair. You have a role to play, just as God has a role to play.
Remember, our Saviour said, ‘Father, it is not as I will, but as You will’ (Luke 22:42). Such was the principle behind Daniel’s faith. This should be the principle behind every Christian’s faith. Daniel had firm confidence in God’s ability to deliver him from death and in death and humbly submitted to His will. It did not matter to him if the Lord did not deliver him. Today, it matters to us if the Lord does not answer our prayer. It did not matter to Daniel if the Lord did not answer his prayer. He knew how much he needed God. He knew he needed God in both good and hard times.
The Bible says in the face of all odds he stood his ground, knowing that God is faithful to those who are faithful to Him. Anytime you encounter trials, take them as an opportunity for you to honour God before men. Anytime he encountered trials, he took them as an opportunity for him to honour God before men. He trusted in the living God. He was convinced that God would be able to deliver him from death and in death. God is powerful to those who are faithful to Him. In this case, God requires our faith in order to reveal His power. He saw his relationship with God as a mutual one. God is faithful to those who are faithful to Him. This was his own guiding principle, knowing that God is not a man that disappoints. He is faithful!