“Ma voi siete una stirpe eletta, un sacerdozio regale, una gente santa, un popolo che Dio si è acquistato, perché proclamiate le virtù di colui che vi ha chiamati dalle tenebre alla sua luce meravigliosa; voi, che prima non eravate un popolo, ma ora siete il popolo di Dio; voi, che non avevate ottenuto misericordia, ma ora avete ottenuto misericordia.” Meditazione giornaliera Apri la porta del tuo cuore, autori vari, presentazione di Anna Cupertino Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRn08GUd5V4
ATSS: Laura Wibberding, “Adventist Women, Gendered Pay, & Church Loyalty”
24 May 2023 | Fifty years ago, Merikay Silver sued the Pacific Press Publishing Association over their gender-based wage scale. Although the move was unpopular with Adventist leaders, women who worked for the church secretly cheered her on, and she was a hero in my liberal Adventist home. However, some 80 years before that, Jenny […] Source: https://atoday.org/atss-laura-wibberding-adventist-women-gendered-pay-church-loyalty/
World Church Religious Liberty Director Attends Euro-Asia Division Meeting
From May 5–7, 2023, a consultative meeting of the directors of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty for the Euro-Asia Division was held. The meeting was attended by the PARL director for the General C…… Source: https://adventist.news/en/news/world-church-religious-liberty-director-attends-euro-asia-division-meeting
Who Really Killed Goliath?
By Horace B. Alexander | 24 May 2023 | Why would anyone need to ask, “Who killed Goliath?” Ask any Sabbath School child. The child would quickly tell you that the Bible plainly says it was David. This beloved story has been enshrined in our Western culture, immediately coming to mind in any situation in […] Source: https://atoday.org/who-really-killed-goliath/
Living Like Daniel in the Middle of Babylon
As Adventists, we believe that in the last days there will be a showdown between spiritual Babylon and those who have the seal of God, who reflect the character of Jesus. While Daniel had his haters, it amazes me how he seemed to thrive and even find favor among the leaders of Babylon and Persia. Daniel was not one to compromise his standards. The life of Daniel shows us that it is possible to live a life of uncompromising integrity and still get along with those of different beliefs and lifestyles. Years later, Paul wrote,
For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, Titus 2:11-12 NLT
We can’t wait for heaven to live a righteous life. God’s grace empowers us to reflect Christ’s character in this evil world. Daniel is an example of how we can be like Jesus in the midst of corruption. Let’s take a look.
Then Daniel went in to see Arioch, whom the king had ordered to execute the wise men of Babylon. Daniel said to him, “Don’t kill the wise men. Take me to the king, and I will tell him the meaning of his dream.” Daniel 2:24 NLT
Image © Review & Herald Publishing from GoodSalt.com
When Daniel received the vision the king had dreamed, his first thought was to save the lives of the wicked wise men. Jesus always put the salvation of others first, and did Daniel too. The wise men in Daniel’s day were preserved by the integrity of Daniel. In Genesis 12:3, God said all the families of the earth (not just believers) would be blessed by the Messiah. Likewise, even the unbelievers of Daniel’s day were blessed by Daniel’s integrity. In the last days, I believe men and women of God will be a blessing to the evil world around them.
I marvel at Daniel’s humility. In Daniel 1:20, Daniel and his friends were found to be ten times wiser than the other wise men, but look at what Daniel says when he tells the king his dream.
And it is not because I am wiser than anyone else that I know the secret of your dream, but because God wants you to understand what was in your heart. Daniel 2:30 NLT
Daniel did not claim to have any special wisdom, and neither did Jesus. Jesus always pointed people to the Scriptures, instead of spouting off like a know-it-all. Daniel did not claim to have any special abilities, and neither did Jesus. Look at what Jesus says about Himself,
“I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. John 5:19 NLT
Look at what Jesus says about others who believe.
I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. John 14:12 NLT
Daniel lived a life of uncompromising integrity in the midst of Babylon and Persia. Amidst his haters, he more than survived; he thrived and found favor, even among wicked rulers. Some blame corruption in the workplace for why they were passed over for promotions, but God promoted Daniel right in the heart of all the corruption. God can promote you too, anytime, anywhere.
Jesus lived a life of uncompromising integrity, in the heart of the Roman Empire and a corrupt religious system. He too had His haters, but He too found favor “with both God and man” and was able to tell His Father,
I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. John 17:4
Daniel lived a life of uncompromising integrity, and thrived among all the corruption of Babylon. Jesus lived a life of uncompromising integrity, and thrived amid pagan Rome and a religious system that left a lot to be desired. So today, in the midst of spiritual Babylon, by God’s grace, we can live a life of uncompromising integrity, and make friends along the way, if we will depend fully on our Father God, just as Daniel and Jesus did.
Amen!
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