Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today- July 27, 2010
“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!”… The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. Daniel 6:16, 23
Do you feel trapped by your circus like circumstances? Has the jealous initiatives of another concocted your current rigmarole? Have your opportunities dried up like a lazy worm stuck on a sizzling summer sidewalk? Do outside forces threaten your faith? It’s when we feel trapped that our trust in God releases His righteous reassurance.
I am says, “I am with you through this trial where you feel on trial”. The Lord lovingly reaches out with these words, “I have loved you from eternity past and I will not stop loving you now or forevermore”. Jesus is our example, as we are reminded of His own “pit-like” experience on the cross, when He announced to the world, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). I feel trapped, but I will still trust.
Fear is what drives a trapped animal—unable to move or defend themselves they are at the mercy of friends and foes. But the threats we receive from outside forces are a farce when our heavenly Father is orchestrating the outcome. He is not interested or intrigued by what the enemy expects. All He wants is what’s best for His children. He is faithful.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6).
Like the children of Israel’s exodus from Pharaoh, your salvation is freedom from the slavery of sin and Satan. However, freedom by grace does not shelter you from occasions to wander in the wilderness with God. What seems like a circuitous trap is your righteous route to robust character that comes from abiding in Christ. So, remain in Him.
It’s in our confined quarters with Christ that He keeps us at close proximity. When you see entrapment as sanctioned by your Savior, you see the world differently. Your Master’s matrix sees toothless, tame lions—but unbelief sees fangs and ferocious ones. Unbelief coddles itself in the corner of the pit preoccupied by fear, but trust stands firm and courageously looks up toward heaven. Feeling trapped is meant to facilitate faith.
You are not in solitary confinement, because He is with you. Indeed, look around you and encourage prisoners of fear to embrace the grace of God in Christ Jesus. Your work or marriage is not a trap, but an opportunity to remain faithful and display the glory of God. Man’s trap, becomes God’s stage to show Himself faithful to all who fear and trust Him.
“Free me from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge” (Psalm 31:4).
Will I remain snared by Satan or will I trust Jesus in my trap? Am I abiding in Christ?
Related Readings: Proverbs 11:6; Jeremiah 8:9; Luke 20:26; 1 Timothy 6:9; 2 Timothy 2:26
Boyd Bailey is the author of Wisdom Hunters daily devotional and two devotional books, Infusion and Seeking Daily the Heart of God
