THE CONSEQUENCE

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

Daniel 6:24

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

There are negative consequences for one’s negative actions.

It’s a tried and true axiom I have held onto for my entire life, one that was ingrained in me by my parents when I was growing up and one that I in turn instilled in my two daughters as I raised them.

It really is a reality in this thing we called life and not because anyone in this world made it come to pass but rather because we serve a God who always ensures sinners are held accountable.

No one ever truly gets away with anything when it comes to God.

The administrators and satraps sure thought they had gotten away with their scheme against Daniel as they successfully convinced King Darius of Mede to institute a decree banning worship of anything or anyone except him for thirty days, signing the law into force and thus removing any ability to repeal it. You’ll recall that the opponents of Daniel intentionally lied to the king telling him that everyone was onboard with the proposed edict when, in truth, Daniel was not consulted at all. After all, he was the target and the administrators and satraps knew that he would continue to give all his devotion to his God, no matter who tried to tell him to do otherwise. Predictably, they witnessed Daniel praying to God and equally predictably made prompt report to Darius who immediately realized he had painted himself into a corner through his royal order and was left with no choice except having Daniel placed in the lion’s den, the penalty prescribed by the law for any offenders.

Everyone thought that would be the end of Daniel, even the king although he did hold out a little hope that Daniel’s God would come to His servant’s rescue and miraculously spare him from death, a hope that became a reality the next morning when Darius went to the lion’s den and not only found that Daniel was very much alive but completely unscathed from his night with the dangerous carnivorous felines.

And that’s where we left off yesterday. Today, we find the deceivers getting their due after their plot against Daniel had failed. Look at these words again:

At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.  Daniel 6:24

It wasn’t a pretty sight. Darius, obviously not happy about the way he had been manipulated in order to murder Daniel, not only had the administrators and satraps brought to him but their families as well and commanded that they all be thrown into the lion’s den. And just in case you thought there was maybe an issue with the lions and that’s why they didn’t harm Daniel, we find that indeed it was an angel who kept the mouths of the beasts closed because they made quick work of all those fed to them, overpowering their victims and crushing their bones “before they reached the floor of the den.”

Did I mention there are negative consequences for one’s negative actions?

In the matter of the administrators and satraps, note that the punishment for their sins did not only come upon them but on their wives and children as well. We need to be reminded that the cost of sin often extends well beyond the sinner but can involve so many others near to them, including their own families.

In the end, we need to see that sin just isn’t worth the penalties that come in response to it. Since the inception of man and woman, God has shown He hates wickedness and will take action against anyone who chooses it over living in accordance with His word, will, and way.

When He looks at your life today, what does He see?

Amen

In Christ,

Mark
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