Even When Someone Is Different

So the King sent for those who claimed to get knowledge by using magic He also sent for those who praicticed evil magic and those who studied the heavens. He wanted them to tell him what he had dreamed. They came in and stood in front of the king. (Daniel 2:2) I read an interesting true article yesterday. It was about the great injustices being done to Christians.In my not very educated opinion in worldly matters, I think believers can sometimes imitate the world in going to the extremes to express what they believe in. The article went on to explain how this family is standing up for Christ and in doing so, how their livelihood has been hurt, their battle in court, and all that they have endured because they will not back down from their faith in the Lord and in scriptures. It also explained what this family believes and how they have taken what they believed and made it very loud in their workplaces. Thus, in refusing to give in to a worldly request that compromised what they believed, they said, "No." and this has made it so that they are losing whatever they have not lost already. It is a picture of someone who is believing God's justice will prevail. I believe God's justice and righteousness always wins. I also believe that there is a way to stand for what we believe without having to shun those who believe differently than we do. This world is made up of all kinds of people who are all different. Put a group of Christians in a room, and you will quickly discover how diverse and particular each one is. Our agreement on Jesus being the Savior and the Bible being God's Word to us does not guarantee that we are all in the same mindframe or feel the same about most things. Now imagine being in the workplace where people come from different cultures, languages, different upbringing and life experiences. We work with a mix of people who might share a Christian's perspective, while there may also some who hate what we stand for. Some were raised with a different religion or belief while another does not believe in anything or anyone at all. This article made me want to look for something in Daniel, so I went to Daniel, chapter 1 and started again, in the beginning. I read all that happens when the King of Babylon comes to Jerusalem. (Daniel 1) He decides he wants the creme de la creme, the best of the Israelites, nobles and men from the royal families, healthy, handsome and the best educated men to become part of his, shall I say, round table or group of wise leaders of the time.

If you want to know the story, you'll have to go read the book of Daniel and start at the beginning. For me, I want to share what stood out to me in this story. You see, the King here has a dream, a nightmare and he sends for all the wise men, all kinds of men who practice all kinds of magic, study the heavens, and have all these beliefs and systems in place that give them the answers to help the king. All the wise men were called for except the childreno f God. The Israelites were left to sleep. Daniel and his buddies were not told to come and try to help the King. The King wants them to not only interpret his dream, but also tell him what he dreamed. You know the story. Of course, no one can enter the King's mind so these men, even with all their sorcery, all their abilities into the dark magics and all forms of wisdom, they still cannot do so. "Off with their heads!" You find the King responding here as the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland. He orders for them to all be killed. How unfair this verdict, this order to kill all the wise men was. You see, Daniel and his crew were asleep, but they were included in the death proclamation. They were going to pay for being part of the wise men. Even though they did not practice divination, black magic, or the study of the stars, they would perish just like them because they were also part of the King's counsel. Daniel gets wind through Arioch, the commader of the King's guard in Daniel 2:14. All the wise men were to be put to death. Daniel rises and is shocked with the news but he does not lose heart. He calls for a revision of the plan and asks for an audience with the King. Before going to the King, he does something very familiar to what Esther does before going to the King with her heart's plea. Daniel starts a prayer circle because all of their lives are ready to end. He believed they had a purpose to be there, to be alive and be places where they had been placed. Daniel knew that even though they were not where they wanted to be, God had allowed for them to be chosen and transported to live and work in the King's palace for a special purpose. They did not go around telling everyone what to do or not to do. They did not proclaim who they believed in and instead they lived with their life showcasing the God of Heavens in their daily walk. During the night (Daniel 2:19) God reveals everything to Daniel. God shows Daniel the King's dream and the dream's meaning. The Lord of the Heavens explains to Daniel the future events and how this dream is a warning, a way to prepare to face their tomorrows when famine comes, because it was on its way. But, that is not where my focus is as I write. What I really wanted to share with you was this gem that I found while I read. Daniel 2:18 shows that Daniel determines to not only pray for themselves as believers of Adonai, but he was going to call upon God's throne and mercy for his life and the life of Babylon's other wise men. Daniel's, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego went on storming the heavens for revelation and mercy. Their heart's cry was not just for themselves, but for those who did not believe in the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Their prayer was not just for their safety and to have their lives spared. Their cries unto the Creator of the Universe included those who spoke against them, ridiculed them, and practiced all the dark rituals the Bible tells believers not to do. Daniel and his buddies asked the Lord to help them but in helping them, the life spared would not just be their lives. They implored the Lord for wisdom and insight, so that the lives of all would be spared when the Lord, and Him alone received the glory, all the glory for their second chance. And, here is where I want to leave my mark. We want the world to know what we believe and what we think. We stand with the groups and we bombard the world with our signs and our chants. Believers take a stand and say they will not and cannot participate in helping the world with their celebrations, their choices, and their daily ways. What if? What if God can use us as we just do what we are gifted to do? What if we see ourselves as working in the Babylonian King's palace and we are commanded to cook something, make certain special clothing, set up the palace for an event, learn all their ways, or sing a song for this godless King? What if we are not asked, but told to do the very things we don't want to do? The only time I see the children of God take a stand is when they refust to bow down when the music is played. This was a direct order to worship an idol, to worship a man who wanted to feel like the Creator of the World. I also would do the same in this instance. But, in every other area, would I draw, cook, or do certain things if I was commanded to serve this King? I believe that unless the order totally and completely violated my walk in the Lord, I would give the King what had been requested.

You might say but what if it was an improper dance, or painting or sculpture? Yes, if it completely went against what honors Yeshua, then I could not, would not comply. But, if it is something simple, something from everyday life that I can provide as a service to someone with love, even when I disagree with their lifestyle choices, I would pray and ask the Lord to help me honor Him as I served these persons who did not love Him the way I do. I would pray for the Lord to make Himself known to the persons I am providing a service to so that their eyes may be opened. I would pray that they would see Jesus in my life and that their life would be touched and their hard hearts softened and opened to the Gospel of peace and God's love. I would pray over my food, my pastries, my clothing, my artwork, and everything I produce as my income, that it can be used by everyone and that the Lord would minister to those who do not want Him, do not care for His Word, and hate His ways and decrees. I would pray for their life to be spared just as I pray for my life to be spared. When we ask the Lord to give life to others, not just to those we love, we extend the Truth of God's love to people who do not care for God's mercy but need it. We grab the offenders, the sinners, and the lost and place them under our umbrella when tragedy rains because it rains upon us all. Sickness does not just come for one group of people or believers. It touches the bodies of all, young and old, Christian or not. Heartache, Job loss, financial hardship, family problems and the list of painful and depressing situations comes for all who breathe, all who walk on this earth. As we pray for the Lord to pour out healing and to see a breakthrough in our family, in our life, we should pray for others who need the Life of God in their lungs. That's it. This is what I wanted to share. Pray for others like their life matters and depends on it, just as our does. Just as our children matter, someone else's child matters. May our workplace not be a place where our voices are loud about our faith, but where our walk and our silence speaks. May our actions lead others to wanting to know the Lord. May our prayers extend to those who hate what we stand for. May our actions show how real and awesome God is in our life. May the Lord provide moments to share the joy and the hope that is within us with those we work with daily. May the Lord grant us favor with those who hate God, with people who live completely contrary to how we live, and may the Lord give us an audience with those who walk in darkness. May our cry for life be heard and may our cries lead others to life in Christ. Amen. I'd love to know your thoughts on what I've shared. 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️