The Bride’s Key Virtue

Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point. Pilate was merciful till it became risky. (C.S. Lewis)

Honoring the Bridegroom

The only way the Bride of Christ can truly glorify her Bridegroom is by living a courageous life. We need to keep obeying and honoring Jesus, even when people and circumstances make it difficult or even dangerous.

Our light is meant to reflect the love of Christ. Our Savior always dealt gently with sinful, broken people. But today, society keeps increasing the pressure on believers to compromise.

We need to start asking the Holy Spirit to help us love our Heavenly Bridegroom more deeply.

We won’t be able to stand for Him otherwise.

The King’s Favorite

Daniel is a example of courage in the midst of life-threatening danger. In Daniel 6, King Darius appoints 120 satraps and three administrators to help him rule his vast empire. Imagine these men as government officials, tasked with making the King’s decrees a reality.

Because of his excellence, King Darius decides to promote the Jew Daniel over the whole kingdom. Jealous, the 120 satraps and other two administrators try to discredit Daniel.

But they can’t.

Because Daniel does his work with great integrity and faithfulness. All his books are in order. Each of the king’s decrees is carried out promptly. He doesn’t bribe. Or neglected his most disagreeable duty. Also, Daniel is not corrupt or lazy.  (Daniel 6:4-5)

Finally his enemies decide the only way to get rid of Daniel is through trickery and deceit They need to use Daniel’s integrity against him.

⁵ Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.”

⁶ So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: “May King Darius live forever! ⁷ The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den.(Daniel 6:5-7 NIV)

Oops. In the Medo-Persian empire, once a law was passed, it could not be changed. Not even by the king. The true evil? Flattering the king’s ego would be used to destroy the man Darius valued most.

If Daniel was caught praying to any god but the king within the next month, he’ll be thrown into the lion’s den. His enemies’ trap has snapped shut.

Because this is the one law Daniel will 100% refuse to obey.

¹⁰ Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 

¹¹ Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. 

¹² So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?”

The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”

 (Daniel 6:10-12 NIV)

The Difference between Daniel and Myself

In Daniel’s shoes, I would have prayed my heart out too.

But I’d be praying under my breath, in my upstairs windowless bathroom, behind a locked door. When my enemies broke into the house, I’d flush the toilet and come out, wiping wet hands on a towel.

Not Daniel.

He courageously prays to his God beside an open window, where his enemies can see him. He refuses to hide or pretend, even knowing he’s going to die. Remember, unlike us, Daniel doesn’t know the end of his story. His death in the lion’s den seems certain.

Is he afraid? Grieving? Perhaps raging about the unfairness of it all? Begging for God’s help?

Of course—who wouldn’t?

His enemies spring their deathtrap. The king tries to save him, but is finally forced to toss Daniel into a pit filled with hungry lions.

Darius’ Heart

My favorite part of this story? King Darius shouts spiritual encouragement to his doomed friend.

¹⁶ So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!” (Daniel 6:16 NIV)

Daniel gets thrown into the lion’s den at sundown. After a sleepless night, a brokenhearted King Darius rushes to the pit to find out Daniel’s fate.

¹⁹ At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den.²⁰ When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”

²¹ Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! ²² My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me... (Daniel 6:19-21 NIV)

Overjoyed, King Darius ends up sending out a new decree, telling everyone in his kingdom to fear and honor the God of Daniel, who saved him from the in the lions’ pit.

My Spiritual Point

Daniel chooses to depend upon His God for safety. Unlike me, he didn’t have a “Plan B.” Remember my idea of flushing the toilet and coming out, drying my hands?

Yes, I’d continue to pray to the Almighty. But only in secret. Outwardly I’d pretend to follow the king’s foolish decree and keep myself safe.

Not Daniel.

Unless the Lord supernaturally rescues him, Daniel will end up as lion chow.. But still Daniel won’t compromise.

He’d rather die than do that.

My images come from Pixabay.com.

Resources:

Here is the full C.S. Lewis quote from The Screwtape Letters.