This past Sunday, April 6, Dr. Zindoga Bungu brought us the morning’s message. Dr. Bungu is the head of Moshoko Christian Hospital, which we support through As He Is USA.
Dr. Bungu began at Ephesians 5:15, 16: “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” Citing examples of the political unrest of his country, Zimbabwe, and the many physical ailments of the people who are treated at the hospital and the many spiritual obstacles the people whom he ministers to have to face, Dr. Bungu compared our lives today to what the prophet Daniel faced. Encouraging us from Daniel chapter 6, where Daniel faces a den of lions rather than praying to the king of Babylon, Dr. Bungu challenged us to dare to live with character, to dare to stand alone, to dare to live with a firm purpose, and to dare to make that purpose known.
The Wednesday night Bible study I call “Sunday Footnotes” discusses the previous Sunday’s message, and we talked about Dr. Bungu’s sermon. And from our discussion, I came away with a thought that isn’t really new as much as it is something we all probably don’t think about as much as we should. We often look at the account of Daniel in the lions’ den as an example of living with character, having a firm purpose, and making that purpose known, even if it means standing alone—but most often for our own sake.
When we stand firm for God’s truth, even in the face of persecution that could result in our own death, we most often think of that in the context of safeguarding our own relationship with God and ensuring our own spiritual safety. While that is the most obvious result of “daring to be like Daniel,” I realized in our Wednesday night study that it’s also a matter of concern for other people’s spiritual health and restoration.
If we choose to “dare to be like Daniel,” as Dr. Bungu challenged us, then not only do we live up to the life of holiness to which God has called us, but we also give others something to hold onto. That is, when we stand firm on God’s truth, we can become a point to which someone else can tether themselves to God’s holiness, but if we choose to go along with the crowd, then we take away what could be someone else’s link to God’s truth and holiness.
Did Daniel convert the Babylonians by standing firm? No. But they did get to see God’s truth and faithfulness and power in action, and the king reacted to it. For some people, that’s enough to get started on the path to seeking God with a growing passion. The potential for drawing other people closer to God should add to our resolve to “dare to be like Daniel.”