10 October 2016

You Are Greatly Beloved

Daniel was a man of prayer.  Not many people have faced death by lions for their praying, but Daniel did!  Under the rule of Darius King of Persia, Daniel was promoted to be the first of three presidents over 120 princes.  The other leaders were not keen to have this foreign man ruling among them, so they tried to "dig up dirt" on Daniel.  But try as they might, they could not find anything of which to accuse him before the king.  There was nothing Daniel said or did to reproach his God or king.  Daniel was a man of such outstanding integrity of character the only way they could find fault with him at all was to create legislation which prohibited prayer to his God.

After God delivered Daniel from the teeth of lions and the schemes of murderous men, he continued to pray.  Chapter 9 of the book of Daniel contains one of Daniel's prayers offered to his God, and what a prayer it is!  He explained the divine power connected with a prayer of faith in Daniel 9:20-23:  "Now while I was speaking, praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God, 21 yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering. 22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, "O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand. 23 At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision..."

The first thing to mention is men could not find fault with Daniel, but Daniel was quick to confess his sin before the God who knows all.  The prayer which God responds to is one of a humble soul who trusts in Him.  This shows me I too ought to confess my sin before the LORD, even if people are unaware of it.  This is the sort of prayer which brings divine revelation.  The angel Gabriel was caused to fly swiftly in response to Daniel's confession and supplication.  And the motive?  It was not because of Daniel's faithfulness, though he was faithful; it was not his great wisdom, for he still lacked understanding:  God responded to Daniel's prayer because he was loved by God.  "I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved," said the angelic messenger.

That is why God will answer your prayer, believer.  It is not because you are perfect, say the right words, cover yourself in sackcloth and ashes, and fast for days:  God answers your prayers because God loves you.  There are other reasons God answers prayers, but this single fact undergirds all God does because it is who He is.  Before our brains were formed to think, God supplied salvation and His divine answer, the revelation of eternal love through the person of Jesus Christ.  1 John 4:7-10 reads, "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins."  If you ever doubt you are greatly beloved, you need not look beyond the cross to see the practical demonstration of God's love for you.

In light of God's love, what an encouragement it is for us to pray without ceasing!  When we pray because we love God, God will answer prayers because He loves us.  Prayer is intimacy with the Father through the Mediator Jesus Christ led by the Holy Spirit, the triune God moving in and through my life without hindrance.  How glorious is the love of God which has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, the One who gives understanding, wisdom, and discernment.  God loves all people, but He will reveal Himself in truth to those who prepare their hearts to seek Him in prayer.

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