Seventh Day Baptist
Christian Education Council
PO BOX 1678
Janesville, WI 53547
—Daniel 6:5-9
by: Linda Harris.
We are accustomed to government checks and balances; an undesirable law can be repealed. Not so in Persian culture, where any law became permanent (Esther 1:19; 8:8). The officials played on Darius’ vanity to manipulate circumstances in their favor. Their weapon against Daniel was his greatest strength—his faith in God.
Peter wrote, “For God is pleased with you when, for the sake of your conscience, you patiently endure unfair treatment. Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing right and are patient beneath the blows, God is pleased with you” (1 Peter 2:19-20, NLT; Matthew 5:11-12). It’s hard to endure persecution when you know you’re right. But God looks upon such behavior with favor.