Daniel 4, 2 Kings 25:27-30
Right Place Right Time
In Daniel 4 we read that God was working on Nebuchadnezzar through a dream and Daniel was in the right place at the right time. Of all the people and resources available to Nebuchadnezzar to interpret a dream, only Daniel had the answer regarding the meaning of the dream and this chapter records Nebuchadnezzar’s testimony of his faith in God that resulted from Daniel’s faithfulness.
God’s ways are not our ways, nor is His wisdom like our wisdom. God is able to go far beyond the limits of our abilities and thinking. Daniel was one of the first exiles to be taken to Babylon. He was isolated from the nation of Judah and the Temple of God yet because of his faith in God, he bloomed where he was planted, living his life for God regardless where he was or what situation he was in. God was able to bless Daniel in such a way that his character and faithfulness to God was his witness. When there was no one else to interpret the dream Daniel was brought before the king. The witness of how he lived his life in less than ideal circumstances preceded the witness of his words but paved the way for them.
God is doing the same thing today and He wants to use us in the process. In John 13:34&35 Jesus gave us the command to love one another. “Another” means another of a different sort. That would describe Nebuchadnezzar in contrast to Daniel. The word love means to direct our will or make a decision to love, however the love that we are to direct is “Agape” which is a benevolent love that gives to a person what they need not necessarily what they want. This love stands in stark contrast to the use of the word “love” used in our culture today which is why I define it almost every time I speak of God’s love. The perfect example of God’s love is found in John 3:16. God so loved the world that He gave. God directed His love to the world and the love He directed was His benevolent love. He gave the world what it needed. He gave us the means and the path to salvation and eternal life. Besides needing salvation we also need Him with us to lead and guide us so God gave us His Holy Spirit
In John 14-16 we are introduced to the ministry of the Holy Spirit. At the end of Chapter 15 we are told that the Holy Spirit will testify about God but we Christians are to testify as well. In John 16: 8-12 Jesus tells us of the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the heart of the unbeliever. The Holy Spirit works on the inside out and the Church's ministry works from the outside in. This is illustrated by the dream Nebuchadnezzar had. The witness of Daniel to Nebuchadnezzar clearly illustrates the ministry the Church is to have. This is why it is important for we the Church to be living our faith as well as verbalizing our faith.
We may find ourselves in difficult circumstances or in places where our witness is not going to be heard or is even silenced. It is in these times we need to remember that we have a partner in the ministry who is working in the heart of the people that we are surrounded by. As we testify how a believer conducts their life based on faith in God and obedience to Him, the Holy Spirit is also bringing conviction. It may not seem like it but even in difficult and resistive situations we are in the right place even when we think we are not. Where we are in life did not catch God by surprise! At some point the time will be right just as it was with Nebuchadnezzar.
The ministry of the Apostle Paul was at work even though he was in prison and chained to Roman soldiers as is evident in Philippians 1:12-14 and 4:22. The soldiers he was chained to were sons of the leaders in Rome who would one day become leaders. Not only was God saving them but God was changing world history.
We are not expected to know everything and have all the answers. We are called to be faithful to follow the Lord. That is our witness and it is a witness that God can use.
Be faithful. You will find yourself in the right place at the right time.
Pastor Dave