“This is the interpretation of the matter: Mene, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end” – Daniel 5:26

God is sovereign! This is one of the most important ideas communicated throughout the book of Daniel. Even when God’s people are in exile. Even when unjust, unholy, proud, ignorant, and incompetent rulers appear to prosper. No matter how powerful a ruler may think he is… no matter how strong an empire may appear to be… God is sovereign.

God causes nations and rulers to rise and fall. He will throw down every unjust ruler and system at the right time. He has already shown us the final reckoning in Revelation, though He continues to work in sovereign power until that glorious day. God knows all, sees all, and has power over all. No power on earth can stand against His decree.

Do not despair. Do not doubt. Do not lose faith. Live with Christ-like integrity. Obey the Lord Jesus. Glorify God in everything you do. Praise and proclaim Jesus near and far. Trust that God’s will will be done on earth as it is in Heaven, for He is sovereign! #FollowJesus

“And Daniel went in and requested the king to appoint him a time, that he might show the interpretation to the king.” – Daniel 2:16

The King of Babylon had given his “wise men” an impossible task. They not only had to interpret the king’s dream, they had to figure out what the dream was in the first place. Without being told. If they couldn’t, then every so-called wise man would be exposed as a fraud and executed. Daniel wasn’t particularly high up in the hierarchy of wise men, but when he learned about this, he immediately made an appointment with the king to answer the impossible.

When he made that appointment, Daniel had no idea what the dream was. None. But he had a plan and he had faith. His plan was to pray and ask his friends to pray. That’s it – that was his plan. Pray a lot. His faith was that God knows everything and answers the prayers of the faithful. Based on his faith and that plan, Daniel made an appointment that could cost him his life. That’s faith in God and confidence in the power of prayer!

Of course, God answered the prayers of Daniel and his faithful friends. He revealed the dream and its meaning for His glory and the blessing of His people. That’s who God is and that’s how He works. He hasn’t changed…

So, is prayer your most important plan for navigating the challenges of life? Is prayer your plan when faced with difficult or impossible situations? Prayer should always be plan A for God’s people. Unfortunately, it’s often more like plan Z. Whether that reflects too much faith in ourselves or too little faith in God, it’s a foolish approach to life in God’s world.

If prayer isn’t where you start before doing anything else, give it a promotion. Start with prayer. Trust the Lord to show you the way or make the way. He hasn’t changed… #FollowJesus

“So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” – 1 Corinthians 13:13

You’ve probably heard this verse countless times. Have you considered why it’s true? Why is love the greatest of these transcendent virtues?

Probably because it’s the one you’ll be doing and growing in forever if you’ve given your life over to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. In this life, faith, hope, and love are all necessary, precious, and beautiful for followers of Jesus. They are essential to navigating this fallen world in lifelong joyful obedience to Jesus. However, one day, Jesus will return in victory and judgment, renewing creation so that all true Christians will spend eternity delighting in His presence.

When that day comes, your faith will become what you see with your eyes every day. You will see God the Father and God the Son. Faith will no longer be required because you’ll see God in His glory. He will visibly be the light of the world. Likewise, you’ll no longer need to hope for unseen things to come. All the blessings, all the promises, all the awesome truths you’ve been anticipating in Christ, will have been fulfilled. You’ll be in your eternal inheritance. Justice will be complete. There will be no more tears, suffering, sin, or death. Hope will be complete.

When that day comes, unimaginably great love will abound! You’ll more fully experience the love of the Father and the Son than you do now. You’ll be more full of love for the Father and the Son than you are now. Love will continue, unfold, and expand across an infinite number of centuries. It will be extraordinary!

This is why followers of Jesus must be practicing love right now. Extravagant love for God and for neighbors. Christ-like love for one another. If Jesus is your Lord, then love is what you’re going to be doing forever. You might as well get used to it now! #FollowJesus

“Then he led me to the gate, the gate facing east. And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east. And the sound of his coming was like the sound of many waters, and the earth shone with his glory.” – Ezekiel 43:1-2

Having previously seen God’s glory depart Jerusalem because of the people’s idolatrous sin, Ezekiel was blessed with a vision of the return of God’s glory. It’s impossible for us to even imagine what that will look like! Though that day hasn’t yet come, it will. Don’t be discouraged!

The day will come when the resurrected and reigning Son of God, Jesus Christ will return to earth. Scripture says He will set foot on the Mount of Olives to the east of the city, the place where He ascended into heaven nearly 2000 years ago. He will cross the Kidron Valley, and enter Jerusalem by the east gate.

For centuries, enemies of Jesus have imagined they could stop this from happening. If you visit, you’ll find the eastern gate of the city bricked up for this reason. A cemetery was placed in front of that gate to try and make the returning Messiah unclean. None of that will slow Jesus down in the slightest!!!

The glory of God is coming again one day. When Jesus returns in power, He’ll usher in judgment and renewal. That day will be glorious and it could well be today. Or it could well be thousands of years from now. Live prepared for either possibility and you won’t regret it. Never give up your confident hope that this day will come, because it has been foreseen and promised to us! #FollowJesus

“To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” – 1 Corinthians 12:7

The Holy Spirit gifts every believer to accomplish the good works God has prepared for them to do. He makes possible what isn’t possible with our own natural skills, abilities, and talents. And the Spirit gives these gifts for the good of Christ’s bride – the church. Of course, we must use them for that good to actually happen.

Every believer has at least one gift that isn’t part of their natural or learned knowledge, skills, and abilities. If Jesus is your Lord, you’ve got something supernatural available to you – whether related to knowledge, wisdom, teaching, encouraging, helping others, showing mercy, leading, etc. Something that helps you do whatever God is calling you to do to serve Him and His church. Figure out what God has prepared for you to do and you’ll find the place where your gifts will be used. Don’t figure that out and miss out on a major path of obedience, blessing, and the experience of walking in God’s will.

The way the Spirit gives gifts is neither random nor democratic. It isn’t based on luck or personal preference. The Scripture states that it is as the Spirit determines. Our gifts vary, but they all matter. They’re all needed for the body of Christ to function as it should on earth. The specific modes of service to which we’re called vary, but they work together, if we do what God has prepared for us to do. Are you? Are you serving the Lord with all that is in you, including those gifts placed there by the Lord Himself? #FollowJesus