At the Family Church here in Gainesville, pastor Aaron Read delivered last Sunday's sermon, a continuation of the series looking at the Old Testament book of Daniel. This particular message, which focused on Chapter 6 (click on it to read it through Bible Gateway), is titled A Counter Cultural Discipline...
The Persians and Medes have conquered Babylon, but Daniel has won the good graces of King Darius for his integrity and leadership: he is one of three appointed to administer the vast kingdom. But some of the administrators and satraps (provincial governors) under his watch resent that honesty, for they wish to get rich off the king's wealth. So they devise a scheme whereby they prod the king to proclaim that anyone seen praying not directly to Darius during a set thirty-day period will be thrown into the lion's den, already knowing that Daniel regularly and openly prays to his God. Darius agrees, the trap is set, Daniel is accused and convicted...and the king of Persia cannot rescind his decrees and sadly forces his faithful servant into the den. The next day Daniel emerges unscathed, and Darius angrily retaliates against those who had plotted against Daniel by throwing them...as well as their wives and children...to the lions, who consume them before they even reach the ground. So what does this have to do with discipline?
Pastor Aaron listed three aspects of discipline, more specifically self-discipline: its choice, its challenge, and its cost. He pointed out that you choose self-discipline by deciding to live blameless before God, you live up to the challenge of self-discipline by choosing to obey God instead of conforming to the prevalent culture, and that you face the cost of self-discipline when you are willing to lose you own life instead of saving it as the world sees you as its enemy. Daniel exemplifies all of these aspects of discipline and as a result lived his life to God's glory and the building of his kingdom. That all having been said, did King Darius really have to throw the wives and children into the lion's den...sounds as if he could have used some of this self-discipline for himself...
Thank you, Aaron, for your message, which anyone can view for themselves by clicking on the following link to the church's video webpage: [link]. The Family Church, at 2022 SW 122nd Street, meets for its Sunday morning services at 9 and 10:30. There is the sermon, praise and worship music, prayer, learning and discipleship, lots of friendly folks, and a hospitality room with free coffee and treats. Looking forward to this Sunday and more from the book of Daniel...
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