THE HANDLING OF A CRISIS Of all the people in the Babylonian empire – captive Jews included – Daniel has chosen to reveal his circumstance to three young men; "Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions." These are the ones who will be able to bear the burden with him. These are the men who will be able to join in a fervent and effectual prayer to the Father. -- Tomorrow:
"And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain. Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon: He answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel. Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would show the king the interpretation. Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon." (Daniel 2:13-18)
Devotion 19 of 28
We cannot overstate the value of kindred spirits – those of "like precious faith" (2 Pet 1:1). These are people to whom faith has joined us, and among whom God has placed us. They are individuals of whom it is said, "God is not ashamed to be called their God" (Heb 11:16). It is also said of Jesus, "He is not ashamed to call them brethren" (Heb 2:11). When we choose to company with such people, they will be able to more fully assist us in the hour of need. Among men, these are the ones who know and appreciate us best. They are the ones who can most precisely identify the real need. They also are the ones who know how to best respond to it.
Some people, even though they choose to be called "Christian," speak more with the unregenerate about their troubles than with those who are reconciled to God. Some of them choose to bear their burdens alone, taking no account of people of faith. Still others choose to neglect people of faith until the hour of crisis. Then they quickly run to those whom they know walk in fellowship with the Lord, even though they do not make them a vital part of their lives and fellowship. Almost without exception, such people are found in constant trouble and frustration. Because they have surrounded themselves with unbelievers, they themselves have a great tendency to unbelief.
THE LOVE OF THE BRETHREN
Considerable is said about the love believers have for one another. Jesus not only commanded this love, but said it was a "new commandment." It is not "new" in the sense of being a new requirement. It is the manner of the love that makes it new. "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, that ye also love one another" (John 13:34). That makes this love profound as well as affectionate, and effective as well as tender.
How did Jesus love His disciples? What was the manner of the love? First, with the only exception being the Father in heaven, He preferred to be with them. When He observed His final Passover, he chose to do it with His disciples – the twelve. He said to them, "And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer" (Luke 22:15). When He went to His preferred place of prayer, He "ofttimes resorted thither with His disciples" (John 18:2). His most intimate times of teaching was with His disciples (Mk 9:31; John 6:3). His most profound explanations were to His disciples (Mk 4:34). When He withdrew from the multitudes, it was "with His disciples" (Mk 3:7; 8:10). As He traveled, He did so with His disciples (Mk 10:46; Lk 8:22; John 11:54).
Those who possess the love of the brethren prefer to be with them. Like those of Malachi's day, they speak "often with one another" (Mal 3:16). Where a preference for the children of God is absent, the love of the brethren is not found. Where there is no delight in being with the saved, the saved are not loved. It is just that simple.
Much is said about this love – the love of the brethren, and it serves to shed further light on why Daniel made this matter known to three particular individuals, not to everyone in general.
THE EVIDENCE OF BEING CHRIST'S DISCIPLES. "By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:35).
THE COMMANDMENT OF JESUS. "This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you" (John 15:12). "These things I command you, that ye love one another" (John 15:17).
GOD HIMSELF TEACHES IS TO LOVE HIS PEOPLE. "But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another" (1 Thess 4:9).
THIS IS ONE OF THE OBJECTIVES IN BECOMING PURE. "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit UNTO unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently" (1 Pet 1:22).
THIS IS A CONSTANT MESSAGE. "For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another" (1 John 3:11).
EVIDENCE WE HAVE PASSED FROM DEATH TO LIFE. "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death" (1 John 3:14).
THOSE WHO DO NOT LOVE THEIR BRETHREN ARE MURDERERS. "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him" (1 John 3:15).
FAILURE TO LOVE THE BRETHREN VOIDS A PROFESSION OF KNOWING GOD. "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from Him, That he who loveth God love his brother also" (1 John 4:20-21).
ABIDING IN THE LIGHT. "He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him" (1 John 2:10).
EVERYONE WHO IS BORN OF GOD LOVES THE BRETHREN. "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love" (1 John 4:7-8).
The strength of these statements is apparent. There is absolutely no room for neglecting to love the people of God. A failure to do so evidences the heart of a murderer, and reveals the person does not know God or walk in the light, regardless of one's profession.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for teaching me to love Your people.