Author: Lee Wilson

 

³⁹ One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him,^[a] saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” ⁴⁰ But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? ⁴¹ And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” ⁴² And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” ⁴³ And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Luke 23:39-43 (NLT)

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GRACE ALONE

 

We started attending NorthStar in early 2011. Some good friends of ours, who have since moved away, recommended it to us after the pastor of our old church had moved on.

We gave it a shot one weekend and have belonged ever since, considering it our church home. In the 14 years since, we’ve been part of several small groups, attended and participated in various volunteer events, and tried to serve in a manner worthy of a churchgoing believer.

When we become believers, there are often many discussions about what should follow. Is it baptism? Church membership? Small groups? Counseling? Some combination of all of these? There’s no debate that belonging to a church and a community of believers is vital to a healthy understanding of Scripture—and also to navigating the ups and downs of life.

However, there is an important distinction to remember: none of these things are required for your salvation. Not a single one.

Paul says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not the result of works, so that no one may boast.” Grace alone gets you into heaven.

Pastor Alistair Begg once spoke about grace, imploring his congregation to “preach the cross to yourself daily” so that we don’t forget it is grace alone that saves us. In that message, he references the passage we studied this week in Luke, referring to the thief on the cross. Begg wonders aloud what it must have been like that day when the thief showed up in heaven. This is what follows:

“Think about the thief on the cross… I can’t wait to find that fellow one day to ask him, ‘How did that shake out for you? Because you were cussing the guy out with your friend. You’ve never been in a Bible study. You never got baptized… You didn’t know a thing about church membership, and yet… you made it. How did you make it?’ That’s what the angel must have said, you know:

‘What are you doing here?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘What do you mean, you don’t know?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘Excuse me, let me get my supervisor.’ They go get their supervisor angel:

‘So, just a few questions for you. First of all, are you clear on the doctrine of justification by faith?’

The guy says, ‘I’ve never heard of it in my life.’

‘And what about the doctrine of Scripture?’

He just stares… and eventually, in frustration, [the supervisor] says, ‘On what basis are you here?’

And he says, ‘The Man on the middle cross said I can come.’”

This is one of my favorite pastoral musings of all time, and I don’t know if there’s a simpler or more beautiful way to express the hope we all have who trust in Jesus.

Nothing we do will ever be good enough to get us into heaven. It is by His grace alone that we can one day say the same thing:

“The Man on the middle cross said I could come.”

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Lee Wilson and his wife, Deanna, have been NorthStar Church members since 2010. They are parents to Everett, Henry and Roselyn. Lee is passionate about sports (Go Braves, Go Dawgs) and has the pleasure to serve on the worship team as a bassist.

 

 

³⁹ One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him,^[a] saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” ⁴⁰ But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? ⁴¹ And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” ⁴² And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” ⁴³ And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Luke 23:39-43 (NLT)

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THE URGENCY OF SALVATION

 

I was watching a video of two pastors—who you may know—having a discussion with each other. They were talking about all aspects of being a pastor, from the boring logistics that only a church employee would find interesting to deep theological questions they posed to one another.

One mutual commonality between them was their experience meeting people in public and gauging their reactions when they explain their profession. The scenario they discussed was this: “How do you respond if you’re on an airplane and someone next to you—whom you do not know—asks what you do for a living?”

Both pastors shared similar stories about how most people tend to go quiet after finding out they are pastors, suddenly preferring to read Delta’s safety pamphlet rather than have a conversation about God. After that, both men spoke of an interesting conviction that arose as they reflected on these experiences.

If the Bible is true, shouldn’t we be diving headfirst into uncomfortable conversations? I mean, let’s say you’re sitting on a plane, and a stranger next to you asks a few questions. The subject of faith comes up, and you discern they are not a believer. Normal conversational norms would suggest being a polite, non-confrontational passenger—but what if the plane goes down? And what if that person wasn’t a believer?

You might be sitting in that very seat to talk about Jesus with a complete stranger just moments before their impending death. You could be their last hope. As the pastors wrestled with that thought, they acknowledged that if they truly believe the Bible, there should be a measure of desperation in their conversations. We believers should care so much about the person next to us that we want to make sure they have the opportunity to meet Jesus. Scripture is very clear on the consequences that await those who do not know Him, and that should propel us full speed into those moments of faithful discussion.

The thief on the cross was moments away from death, and—lo and behold—the Savior of humanity happened to be on the cross next to him. With a penitent heart, he asked for and received mercy from Jesus.

The thief knew his time was near, but many people don’t have that luxury. So be bold enough to get uncomfortable. Be brave enough to talk about your Savior and the glorious hope you have in Jesus. Someone’s eternity might just depend on it.

 

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Lee Wilson and his wife, Deanna, have been NorthStar Church members since 2010. They are parents to Everett, Henry and Roselyn. Lee is passionate about sports (Go Braves, Go Dawgs) and has the pleasure to serve on the worship team as a bassist.

 

 

³⁹ One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him,^[a] saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” ⁴⁰ But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? ⁴¹ And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” ⁴² And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” ⁴³ And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Luke 23:39-43 (NLT)

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GETTING ANSWERS FROM THE RIGHT PERSON

 

Recently, my wife had a scary encounter at work. She was setting up a display at a retail store when one of the metal crossing bars on the display came loose and fell on her arm. She’s far tougher than me and despises any kind of pity or attention, so she initially tried to push through the mishap.

After a few minutes—and some immediate swelling—it became clear that pressing on wasn’t an option. She called me, and I left to go with her to urgent care. Since this was a workplace incident, there’s a specific protocol for treatment, including which doctor to visit and how to appropriately seek care.

My poor, injured wife was mistakenly given two incorrect addresses for care and was turned away both times! A frustrating experience, to say the least. After one more phone call, we were finally connected with someone who helped update us on the correct care options. Eventually, we found the right person who could help, and thankfully, what was initially feared to be a fracture turned out to be just a contusion.

It’s important to find the right person to ask for help. As we studied Luke 23 this week and focused on the thief on the cross, we see that the penitent thief asked for help from the right person. After acknowledging his guilt, he asked Jesus to remember him in His kingdom.

Sometimes, we can find the answers to life’s questions right in front of us. The nature of our daily problems may be solvable with our own intellect and resources. But this can breed an unhealthy sense of self-sufficiency that will falter when the problem grows beyond our ability to manage. Some problems are simply too big for us to solve.

So what do you do when you face life’s biggest problems? It is a universal truth that we will have trouble in this world (John 16:33), so are you trusting in the One who overcame the world to solve them?

The thief on the cross was saved—in part because he asked the right person for help. Jesus, battered and bloodied on the cross next to him, assured him that his faith had brought him to paradise.

Jesus says He is the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). We will always face problems bigger than ourselves, questions we can’t answer, and situations that don’t make sense. In those moments, it’s crucial that we seek help from the right person.

 

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Lee Wilson and his wife, Deanna, have been NorthStar Church members since 2010. They are parents to Everett, Henry and Roselyn. Lee is passionate about sports (Go Braves, Go Dawgs) and has the pleasure to serve on the worship team as a bassist.

 

 

³⁹ One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him,^[a] saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” ⁴⁰ But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? ⁴¹ And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” ⁴² And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” ⁴³ And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Luke 23:39-43 (NLT)

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HOPE IN HIM

 

In my general life, I’m a pretty optimistic person. I’m normally positive and enjoy trying to be a source of encouragement for other people. I do have kryptonite, though, and there’s one aspect of my life that can cause me to be more cynical and pessimistic than I usually am—the fact that I’m an Atlanta sports fan.

Whether it’s “28-3,” Leyritz taking Wohlers deep, or even the recent slew of injuries to the Braves’ rotation, it seems I’ve developed a negative reflex when it comes to my sports fandom. This drives my wife—the eternal sports optimist—crazy. She will sit and watch until the last out or until the clock hits zero, believing her team can still win. She has a hopefulness I envy—and one we should all seek to maintain.

As Andy Dufresne says, “Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things.”

Not being persuaded out of your hope by negativity is a worthy pursuit. But when you find yourself in a perilous situation, staying hopeful becomes much more difficult than simply trying to have faith in the Braves’ bullpen this season.

As we discussed Luke 23 this week, we visited the scene of the two thieves alongside Jesus. Both were condemned to death for crimes that are not fully detailed—both were set to face eternal judgment. As the two men hang there, there’s a stark contrast in how they speak to Jesus.

The first cares only about escape. Both men would likely have had knowledge of who Jesus was and why he was there, and by simply looking at him, they would see that his punishment was far more barbaric and severe than theirs to that point.

The first thief doesn’t seem to care about Jesus but offers a faint, last-minute plea for freedom, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” In his words, there’s a drip of desperation—and maybe even doubt.

Knowing the fate that awaited them, the other thief isn’t persuaded to join in. His initial response is a rebuke: “Do you not fear God?” This tells us two things—he did fear God, and that fear was driving him more than the terror or madness of the moment.

We may not face crucifixion, but we all encounter moments in life that can cause us to doubt. We read tragic headlines, see loved ones walk through dark valleys, or experience depression and sadness like we’ve never known. In those moments, it’s easy to cry out, “Jesus, why aren’t you coming down off that cross to help me?”

It’s a human response—but not a godly one. Instead, we must remain hopeful, full of repentance, and walking in a healthy fear of the Lord.

The last out hasn’t been recorded yet, so never give up the hope you have in Him.

 

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Lee Wilson and his wife, Deanna, have been NorthStar Church members since 2010. They are parents to Everett, Henry and Roselyn. Lee is passionate about sports (Go Braves, Go Dawgs) and has the pleasure to serve on the worship team as a bassist.

 

 

³⁹ One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him,^[a] saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” ⁴⁰ But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? ⁴¹ And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” ⁴² And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” ⁴³ And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Luke 23:39-43 (NLT)

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JUDGMENT DAY

 

My eldest son just turned 10, and as part of his celebration, he wanted to go to Six Flags because he is finally tall enough to ride everything there. So we went on Batman, the Scorcher (twice), and more—and he ate up every second of it. He loves roller coasters, just like his dad.

Part of the thrill is the initial climb up the track. As you inch closer to the top, you know the rush is coming—that initial drop and those loops are just on the horizon. The anticipation is almost as much fun as the ride itself, because we know something thrilling is about to follow.

This week, as we studied the “thief on the cross” passage in Luke, we find Jesus on the cross with two thieves. We aren’t told much about them, but we can quickly glean a few things: they were not claiming innocence, and neither wanted to be there.

Crucifixion was considered a humiliating and barbaric death in ancient Rome. It was reserved for threats to the state, slaves, and those who committed heinous crimes. Most Roman citizens were spared from it unless they committed treason or rebellion. So we can assume these men had done something significant to draw the ire of Rome.

Hebrews says that immediately after we die, we are judged (Hebrews 9:27). Death and judgment were now inevitable for the thieves. In the midst of their brief moments with Jesus, we get a very clear depiction of the hearts of the two men beside him. One man desperately wants escape and demands that, if Jesus is who he says he is, he should save himself—and them.

The other man, often referred to as “the penitent thief,” took a courageously different stance. He rebukes his fellow thief for his lack of contrition and simply acknowledges that he deserves to be there. We don’t know what he did, but his admission suggests he believed the punishment was justified.

He asks Jesus to remember him in his kingdom, to which Jesus famously replies, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Hearing those words must have done something profound for his soul. As he hung on the cross in unimaginable pain, he suddenly received the greatest news anyone could ever hear.

While it might be an overstatement to say he was eager to die, the anticipation that must have followed those words from Jesus is incomparable. And it’s an anticipation that can be ours as well.

We are just like the thieves. We are rightly condemned by our sins and deserve the full punishment of God’s law. Will we struggle, fight, and hope for the best? Or will we acknowledge our missteps and look to Jesus for mercy?

If we trust in him, we can wait with eager anticipation—because we know something thrilling is about to follow. We do not need to fear death, because belief in Jesus means we too can be with him in paradise!

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Lee Wilson and his wife, Deanna, have been NorthStar Church members since 2010. They are parents to Everett, Henry and Roselyn. Lee is passionate about sports (Go Braves, Go Dawgs) and has the pleasure to serve on the worship team as a bassist.

 

 

¹⁰ But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.

Daniel 6:10 (NLT)

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PROCESS OVER RESULTS

 

College football is always a big deal—especially down here in the South. This past season was a bit different, though, without Nick Saban patrolling the sidelines in Tuscaloosa. Coach Saban retired with a career record of 292-71-1 and seven national championships.

Many people regard him as one of—if not the—best college football coaches of all time. Though I, like Bulldog fans everywhere, won’t miss him on the other sideline, I am in awe of all he has accomplished.

A hallmark phrase for Saban and his former players is the idea often referred to as “the process.” Essentially, it refers to the mindset of focusing on daily improvement—getting better every single day—regardless of the results on the field. The concept of being process-oriented rather than outcome-oriented is the crux of the philosophy.

Conceptually, the idea is this: if your goal is to win a championship or beat a particular rival, what happens once you accomplish that goal? What will continue to motivate you? How will you keep growing if your sole focus is the outcome? Trusting the process is paramount to finding lasting success.

This week, we’ve studied Daniel in the lion’s den. This famous encounter tells of a faithful man sent to certain doom, only to have God intervene to protect and preserve his life. There are many lessons to be gleaned from this passage—many of them applicable to our daily lives.

It’s important, though, that we don’t focus solely on the outcome. History is rich with stories of people who faced peril and prayed—and yet were not delivered this side of heaven. So, the outcome of Daniel’s story isn’t the sole focus for us as readers. Rather, it is the fact that Daniel trusted the process, regardless of the outcome.

Pastor John MacArthur, in a sermon, said it like this:

“Believing in God doesn’t mean that the lions aren’t going to eat you. There have been martyrs throughout all the history of God’s dealing with men that have believed God—and they’ve died. The issue is that we accept God’s will. If it is to live, it is to live. If it is to die, it is to die. But in either case, we’re never defeated.”

Daniel knew what his fate would be if he were caught praying—and yet he did it anyway. His faithfulness to God was more important than the outcome these men intended for him. Did Daniel know he would be saved or protected? We have no evidence to suggest that. Did he accept his fate? Yes!

Our faith can’t be outcome-driven. We are not God, and we don’t determine all the outcomes. But if we believe His Word to be true, then we know we can trust Him and His process—just as Daniel did. May we all walk with such faithfulness!

 

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Lee Wilson and his wife, Deanna, have been NorthStar Church members since 2010. They are parents to Everett, Henry and Roselyn. Lee is passionate about sports (Go Braves, Go Dawgs) and has the pleasure to serve on the worship team as a bassist.

 

 

¹⁶ So at last the king gave orders for Daniel to be arrested and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to him, “May your God, whom you serve so faithfully, rescue you.”

Daniel 6:16 (NLT)

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MISSION IMPOSSIBLE

 

How dangerous is an African lion? Well, according to the stats—pretty dangerous. CNN reports that they kill roughly 250 humans a year. That’s more than sharks, bears, and tigers—combined.

Lions can weigh up to 550 pounds and stand around four feet tall on all fours. They have a bite force approaching 1,000 PSI, can run in short bursts up to 50 miles per hour, and can leap up to 36 feet.

They also have retractable claws capable of shredding through skin, bark, or nearly any other material they choose. Their sense of smell is excellent, and their vision—especially in low light—is exceptional.

In other words, there’s no running, no fighting, no hiding. If you are trapped in a cold, dark cave with a hungry lion, survival is unlikely—if not impossible. At least, without divine intervention.
Such intervention is exactly what happened to Daniel when he was forced into the lion’s den and emerged the following morning unharmed. Why didn’t the lions attack? Because God protected him.

We have a tendency to view our problems through a humanistic lens. This is normal—after all, we are human. However, there are biblical examples that teach us never to lose our capacity to accept unexplainable mystery and to develop a palate for miracles. Jesus Himself tells us that the things impossible for man are possible with God (Luke 18:27; Matthew 19:26).

We serve a God who created the heavens and the earth, who knows the bounds of a limitless universe, who sparked the very inception of life itself—and I have the audacity to try and understand Him? Who do I think I am?

Our God exists outside the confines of nature itself. How did Daniel emerge from the lion’s den without a scratch? Because the Creator of lions was the one who was with him. Paul writes,

“For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.” (Colossians 1:16)

God’s sovereignty over all is something we, as believers, can take refuge in. I don’t know what lion’s den you are walking into, but I do know that we serve a God who has dominion over every inch of it. Don’t try to rationalize or worry. Instead, stand in awe of our God—and allow yourself to trust in the Savior whom even the “wind and the waves obey” (Mark 4:35).

 

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Lee Wilson and his wife, Deanna, have been NorthStar Church members since 2010. They are parents to Everett, Henry and Roselyn. Lee is passionate about sports (Go Braves, Go Dawgs) and has the pleasure to serve on the worship team as a bassist.

 

 

¹⁰ But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God. ¹¹ Then the officials went together to Daniel’s house and found him praying and asking for God’s help. 

Daniel 6:10-11 (NLT)

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HOLY HABITS

 

Scripture is filled with examples of people facing hardship and responding with prayer. We see Jesus in Gethsemane the night before He went to the cross; there’s David’s numerous prayers during times of affliction, or others like Nehemiah, Paul, and Job.

In those instances, there is a very relatable sense of desperation, fear, or even sadness that accompanies the prayer. It is a good thing to be faced with suffering or difficulty and to run to the pages of God’s Word for inspiration and hope.

In studying Daniel, we see that his prayer in chapter six led directly to his punishment and condemnation, resulting in his being sent to the lion’s den for the night. We don’t get a direct portrayal of what Daniel said or what his prayer might have been, but we do get confirmation that his prayer was a direct response to the command not to pray to God (verse 10).

Based on everything we’ve learned about Daniel, it is reasonable to assume he was an educated and discerning man. He likely understood that once the edict came down from Darius forbidding prayer, dissenters would be punished harshly. Yet he did not run from the punishment in the slightest. He prayed. That was his response.

Daniel’s prayer wasn’t just a desperate plea in the face of danger—it was what he did every day, three times a day. We are repeatedly commanded in the Bible to pray. Jesus gives us direct instruction on how to pray (Matthew 6:9–13), Paul tells us how often to pray—hint: all the time (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18)—and we are reminded to pray when we feel anxious (Philippians 4:6–7; 1 Peter 5:7; Matthew 6:25–34).

Prayer is meant to be a habitual activity for believers, a way of refocusing our attention on our relationship with God. Dietary habits, sleep habits, and workout regimens all matter to our physical health—but habitual prayer serves a deeper, eternal need. Daniel is an example of that.

Pastor and author Alistair Begg discussed Daniel and his prayer life, highlighting it for other believers:

“Daniel is, I think, in passing, an illustration of the priority of forming holy habits. It was his unswerving witness which made it possible for him to be caught. And as loyal as he’d been to these various empires in serving them, nobody could be in any doubt about his loyalty to the Kingdom of God. He looked towards Jerusalem, where he believed the truth was found and where he believed men and women from every nation would look for their salvation.”

May we all be as committed to the forming of holy habits so that similar words can be written about us!

 

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Lee Wilson and his wife, Deanna, have been NorthStar Church members since 2010. They are parents to Everett, Henry and Roselyn. Lee is passionate about sports (Go Braves, Go Dawgs) and has the pleasure to serve on the worship team as a bassist.

 

 

³ Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and high officers. Because of Daniel’s great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire.

⁴ Then the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn’t find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy.

Daniel 6:3-4 (NLT)

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STANDING OUT FOR THE RIGHT REASONS

 

I have played the bass guitar since I was 15 years old. After getting my first bass—a Washburn that still holds a sentimental place in my heart—my dad signed me up for lessons, and I was off and running.

Those lessons, and my awesome teacher named Eddie (who is still playing live music), had a huge influence on me as a player. I had an interest in playing in a garage band with my friends, and I wanted to learn how to do all the flashy stuff—yes, like slapping the bass, which is the number one question bass players everywhere get asked (thanks a lot, Paul Rudd).

What I learned from my teacher was that none of those things matter if you don’t have a foundation in the fundamentals of music, the instrument, and technique as a whole. He taught me to keep it simple and focus on the basics.

Playing in the pocket—having a sense of how to play in a way that adds to the song or makes the other musicians sound better—that is what matters. You might be able to wear sunglasses like Joe Dart, but if you don’t actually know how to play, then you’re standing out for the wrong reasons.

As we discussed Daniel chapter six this past week, we learned a lot about who Daniel was as a man even before he had to survive a night in the lion’s den. He had earned the favor of Darius and was placed in an administrative leadership role over the 120 satraps governing the area (v. 3).

When jealousy took hold among his colleagues and they began to plot and scheme against him, they kept coming up short. Verse four says, “…they could find no charge or corruption, for he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was found in him.”

Everything we can glean from Daniel suggests that he was a great leader (v. 3), a man of integrity (v. 4), and a man loyal to God above all else (v. 10). We have a very clear picture of someone who set a godly standard for us to follow.

I’m brought back to my bass lessons with Eddie—perhaps it’s best to focus on the basics. If we can be people of integrity who place God above all else, then we can stand out for the right reasons, like Daniel.

 

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Lee Wilson and his wife, Deanna, have been NorthStar Church members since 2010. They are parents to Everett, Henry and Roselyn. Lee is passionate about sports (Go Braves, Go Dawgs) and has the pleasure to serve on the worship team as a bassist.

 

 

¹⁰ But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God. ¹¹ Then the officials went together to Daniel’s house and found him praying and asking for God’s help. ¹² So they went straight to the king and reminded him about his law. “Did you not sign a law that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions?”

“Yes,” the king replied, “that decision stands; it is an official law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked.”

¹³ Then they told the king, “That man Daniel, one of the captives from Judah, is ignoring you and your law. He still prays to his God three times a day.”

Daniel 6:10-13 (NLT)

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DEFIANT PRAYER

Jealousy is a dangerous influencer of behavior. It can lead to poor choices and regret, and it can bring harm to others. As we studied Daniel chapter six this week, we read the remarkable story of Daniel being sent to the lion’s den and his incredible protection from the Lord in that moment.

Daniel was an established leader, held in high regard within the kingdom—even among his peers. A faithful man, Daniel prayed three times a day—every day. His performance, along with the praise and attention it garnered, drew the jealous ire of the administrators and satraps (which, by the way, means “a provincial governor who oversaw administration, security, and tax collection within their assigned territory”).

They schemed to trap Daniel by convincing Darius to sign an edict limiting prayer and praise to be directed only to Darius himself. In response, Daniel “got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, as he had done before” (verse 10). This led to his apparent condemnation—yet Daniel didn’t seem worried.

Interestingly, the name Daniel has a very relevant meaning: “God is my judge.” Daniel lived up to his name, fearing only the judgment of God—not the judgment of his fellow men. He was not going to stop praying to his God because of an edict or any form of earthly authority. He understood to which judge he ultimately had to answer.

Pastor and author John Piper described Daniel’s prayer life as “daring, disciplined, and defiant.” He goes on to say, “If what God thinks matters most, then you consult him most. If what God does matters most, then you ask him to act first. In other words, you live your life by prayer.”

Consulting God the most should be the default reflex of any believer, but I have a feeling I’m not alone in saying it’s not always mine. Daniel’s example is simple to see but hard to follow. When we have decisions to make or fears that begin to creep in, what should we do? We should PRAY!

You and I may not be faced with a literal lion’s den—at least, I sure hope not—but we are undoubtedly faced with new troubles every single day. Let’s respond by following Daniel’s example and falling to our knees in prayer.

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Lee Wilson and his wife, Deanna, have been NorthStar Church members since 2010. They are parents to Everett, Henry and Roselyn. Lee is passionate about sports (Go Braves, Go Dawgs) and has the pleasure to serve on the worship team as a bassist.