The Things We Don't Always See
Good Morning Friday ...
Father thank You for this NEW day. Please continue to fill our HEARTs & MINDs with your LOVE & TRUTH and TRANSFORM our ordinary day into an extraordinary day TODAY!
- The Things We Don't Always See
Back in Daniel again and thought today it would be good to look at choice and compromise. First things first, let's put this "out there," compromise doesn't always have to be thought of as something negative. While it may be a word that is mostly associated with "giving in," being rebellious, or not being "strong enough," it doesn't always have to be. There are many wise people who compromise. We have to pick our battles and wise people choose, well... wisely. Just ask any married man or woman if they compromise with their spouse. I bet we all know that answer. As a matter of fact, if you do ask, you can bet they will tell you it was a wisdom they had to "grow in to" and learn.
Daniel lived in Babylon. Do you think he ever had to compromise? Certainly, he had to make some very tough calls. Maybe we wouldn't have agreed with all his calls, but we can be assured he carefully considered Our Father in each decision he made. God knew Daniel's heart was His and God also knew Daniel wasn't perfect, so while we may not have agreed with every call, Our Father still showed Daniel favor. Any time Daniel "compromised" God still Blessed him. Daniel certainly had to wear certain clothes, perform certain tasks, and speak to certain people who were anything but God Followers, but Daniel knew if he compromised some of his decisions it would gain him greater influence so he could spread The Message and Gospel of Our Father in Heaven.
It is good to "fear God," but we shouldn't misunderstand this concept. Our Father is not sitting around waiting for us to mess up so He can pound us... Yeshua, Jesus Christ Our King, Took That Pounding For Us. Jesus Was Brutally Beaten And Put On A Cross For Us. Our God and Savior did this for our benefit. Our Father Always Values Mercy Over Sacrifice, And Looks For Reasons To Bless Us... not to beat us. Getting everything perfect is not something God expects from us. He Did This Himself and He Alone Could Accomplish It. When we are faced with a tough call in this life it is prudent for us to remember... mercy over sacrifice. Let's take a look in God's Word:
“For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.”
Hosea 6:6
“But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.””
Matthew 9:13
Just like us, Daniel was faced with many tough calls and God's Word is pretty clear on when Daniel knew it was the Will of Our Father. When Daniel "heard from God" he stood his ground, but in everyday decisions we can be sure he had to compromise on some things to show The Love, Mercy, Compassion, and Wisdom of God. He didn't fear making a wrong decision or compromise because he carefully considered "the weightier matters." If we are seeking to please Our Father and Our Savior... we shouldn't fear the occasional compromise either. When you "hear from God" always stand your ground, but when faced with a tough choice, remember God's Love, Mercy, and Compassion.
We all have decisions and things we just don't know or haven't been shown yet. It is important to follow Our Father's Commands because it brings blessings, wisdom, insight, and richness to our lives, but some things in The Scriptures are more nuanced and difficult to understand. When it comes to the more nuanced things of Scripture we must realize, no one knows it all. Most likely no one will until Christ Our King Returns and Clears It All Up. In the meantime, we follow the commands that are clear and show mercy to others.
Have you ever changed your mind about a Biblical Subject? Not understood a scripture completely, but God Enlightened You Eventually? Then you have compromised your stance and maybe corrected a behavior you used to think was good, but wasn't. We must all recognize that we don't know it all, admit we fall short, and realize that we may be still doing things wrong that we are unaware of right now. Unless God Has Spoken To You Otherwise, we should all have a little compromise in our lives, and remain teachable. This keeps us from growing too prideful, and is how we can show mercy and Love towards those unaware of The Glory of God and The Blessings of His Commands. Not coincidentally, compromise, laying down pride, and remaining teachable are helpful all the more with those who are aware The Glory of God and The Blessings of His Commands.
Daniel wasn't concerned about what he didn't know, but instead focused on what he did know. He knew when God Spoke and he stood. When his decisions were less clear, certainly he thought of Our Father and chose what seemed best. Daniel had understanding that God Our Father Gives Us Choice. This is part of God's Love... Choice. Our Father is not always concerned with the choice we make, but that we walk out the choice we have made showing His Way, His Glory, His Wisdom, and His Mercy. Our Father Is Infinitely Kind And Completely Understands... The Things We Don't Always See.
Prayer:
Father God, help us to show Your Mercy and Kindness when we aren't sure what to do. Help us to grow in You and understand Your Righteous Ways. Guide us in this fickle and complex world so that we may please You. Help us to show others Your Mercy, Blessing, Wisdom, and Ways. Bless You Father. We Love You and we eternally thank You. We ask these things in Your Mighty, Merciful, Kind, and Wise Son's Name, Yeshua Ha'Mashiach, Jesus Christ Our King. Amen.
The Word of God:
*Note: "The Moses Seat" is where the pharisees sat and read The Word of God. This is why Jesus says to do whatever they tell you when they are sitting there... because they are speaking The Word of God, not the words of the pharisees. When they get off that spot though... don't do what they do.
“Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do to be seen by men.”
Matthew 23:1-5
““Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.”
Matthew 23:23
“Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things.”
Romans 14:1
“We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.” For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.”
Romans 15:1-7
“Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them. We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”
Hebrews 13:7-16
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