Closer Today Than Yesterday: T-3: Christ in All the Scriptures

Thursday, May 22, 2008

T-3: Christ in All the Scriptures

Examining the faith of Daniel, I look to see Jesus.

In the story of Daniel, we find many virtues and characteristics that are worthy of our emulation. More importantly, we see a reflection of the coming king. Consider these observations…

Daniel was a foreigner in a strange land. Captured by the Babylonians and removed from Judah, he grew and matured in Babylon. Jesus was a foreigner in a strange land. Captured by his love for the Father and by his love for mankind, he stepped down from the heavens and grew and matured on Earth.

Daniel was given a new name, Belteshazzar which loosely translated means ‘protect his life.’ The earthly name of the Messiah was Jesus; I can’t say or write his heavenly name. He was called many things many of which I’m sure were not very nice. But no matter what he was called, he is Immanuel, the Christ, Lord of lords and King of kings, Prince of Peace, Savior, Redeemer, Son of God, Son of man, Jesus.

At the time of his capture and indoctrination, Daniel was only a boy. In a time of great struggle and confusion, he was of an age where his opinions would be discounted and dismissed. When we first catch a glimpse of the maturing Messiah, he is but a boy (same as Daniel) and is found talking with the priests in the temple.

Daniel was tempted to eat the king’s food and to drink the king’s wine; earthly success awaited him. Jesus was tempted to use his power to turn stones into bread, to test God for protection and to worship Lucifer in exchange for worldly power and earthly success.

Though tempted, Daniel remained resolute. Though tempted, Jesus remained resolute. They both honored and glorified God with their decisions.

As a result of his steadfastness, Daniel was blessed. He grew and prospered in the service of the Babylonian kings because of his faith and by the provisions of God. By his example we see the rewards of faithfulness, obedience and purity. Jesus too grew in wisdom and stature and was blessed. By his example we see the bright and sparkly jewels of faithfulness, obedience and purity.

Warm Regards,
Carl

1 comment:

Bill said...: The parallels between Daniel and The Messiah are made very clear by your devotional, Carl. I've always found studying and emulating men like Daniel is somewhat easier (i.e., in identification) than trying to be like Christ [though we should all aspire to the latter]. And that's why I find the character studies in the Bible, especially in the OT, to be both so convicting and inspiring.

Jesus was THE God-Man. If I were a method actor; how could I really get into that character? Jim Caviesel, even with the initials "J.C." and being 33 years old, reported that it was imposing to be playing the role of Jesus Christ in Mel Gibson's movie about The Passion.

But Daniel, on the other hand, was just like any boy (when we first read of him) who became a man ... will all the fears and many of the challenges we all face in life. The same was true of Joseph, Gideon, and Habakkuk, three of my other favorite OT characters. But it was their ultimate growth into faith and their working out of that faith in severe testing that draws me to become like these men of God who became Godly men.

They aspired to Christlikeness even before they had the revealed Messiah to be their role model. Hence their faith is truly inspiring; and I thank you, Carl, for your brief, but powerful, reminder of the Daniel character study.

May we all become more like Daniel in our growth to be more like Jesus! And I pray that as you get to T-0, you have a wonderful/safe time trying to bring little Daniels to become young Jesus worshippers ... GO CHIEF! ... <'BB><; May 25, 2008 at 7:22 AM

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So I Stand Near The Gate

I read the below poem at a critical point in my life and it's message resonated with me. My ministry, "Near The Gate" was named in homage to this poem. When reading this poem, feel free to substitute the word 'gate' for the word 'door' and you'll have a little glimpse inside my head.

SO I STAY NEAR THE DOOR

By the Reverend Canon Samuel Moor Shoemaker, Jr., D.D., S.T.D.

I stay near the door.
I neither go too far in, nor stay too far out,
The door is the most important door in the world–
It is the door through which men walk when they find God.
There’s no use my going way inside, and staying there,
When so many are still outside, and they, as much as I,
Crave to know where the door is.
And all that so many ever find
Is only the wall where a door ought to be.
They creep along the wall like blind men,
With outstretched, groping hands,
Feeling for a door, knowing there must be a door,
Yet they never find it - - -
So I stay near the door.
The most tremendous thing in the world
Is for men to find that door–the door to God.
The most important thing any man can do
Is to take hold of one of those blind, groping hands,
And put it on the latch–the latch that only clicks
And opens to the man’s own touch.
Men die outside that door, as starving beggars die
On cold nights in cruel cities in the dead of winter–
Die for want of what is within their grasp.
They live, on the other side of it–because they have found it.
Nothing else matters compared to helping them find it,
And open it, and walk in, and find Him - - -
So I stay near the door.
Go in, great saints, go all the way in–
Go way down into the cavernous cellars,
And way up into the spacious attics–
It is a vast, roomy house, this house where God is.
Go into the deepest of hidden casements,
Of withdrawal, of silence, or sainthood.
Some must inhabit those inner rooms,
And know the depths and heights of God,
And call outside to the rest of us how wonderful it is.
Sometimes I take a deeper look in,
Sometimes venture a little farther;
But my place seems closer to the opening - - -
So I stay near the door.
There is another reason why I stay there.
Some people get part way in and become afraid
Lest God and the zeal of His house devour them;
For God is so very great, and asks all of us.
And these people feel a cosmic claustrophobia.
And want to get out. "Let me out!" they cry.
And the people way inside only terrify them more.
Somebody must be by the door to tell them that they are spoiled
For the old life, they have seen too much;
Once taste God, and nothing but God will do any more.
Somebody must be watching for the frightened
Who seek to sneak out just where they came in,
To tell them how much better it is inside.
The people too far in do not see how near these are
To leaving–preoccupied with the wonder of it all.
Somebody must watch for those who have entered the door,
But would like to run away. So for them too,
I stay near the door.
I admire the people who go way in.
But I wish they would not forget how it was
Before they got in. Then they would be able to help
The people who have not yet even found the door,
Or the people who want to run away again from God.
You can go in too deeply, and stay too long,
And forget the people outside the door.
As for me, I shall take my old accustomed place,
Near enough to God to hear Him, and know He is there,
But not so far from men as not to hear them,
And remember they are there, too.
Where? Outside the door–
Thousands of them, millions of them.
But–more important for me–
One of them, two of them, ten of them,
Whose hands I am intended to put on the latch.
For those I shall stay by the door and wait
For those who seek it.
"I had rather be a door-keeper . . . "
So I stay near the door

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Thursday, May 22, 2008

T-3: Christ in All the Scriptures

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