Lessons from the Prophet Daniel on Evangelizing a Culture

Friday is for Heart Songs

I once heard the story of a late teenage boy who came to Christ and felt shame that he had lived 18 years and never read the Bible. He set himself to reading the Bible once for every year of his life by the age of 21 and then made it a life-long habit to read the Bible through every year for the rest of his life. It was an inspiring story.

So 30 years ago I began the pattern of reading through the Bible at least once each year. There is always something new. Recently, I went back and looked at one of my journals from November of 2002. The book of Daniel is becoming more and more relevant to evangelism in our post-modern age and it has nothing to do with end time prophecy. Here’s the entry for 11-11-02: {My Journals are mostly brief observations of Scriptures followed by a prayer.}

Ezekiel 46-48; Daniel 1-3

Wow! What power there is in Your word. Each year when I read Daniel and the story of his three friends, I am thrilled again to see their boldness and Your power at work. It is a great combination Lord–boldness and power. Would You make me bold so that Your power can be put on display for Your glory and the joy of the nations. Daniel and his friends give great witness to the proper way to evangelize a culture.

1. Respect it  (1:8b).
2. Do not compromise with it (1:8).
3. Be creative (1:12-13).
4. Be patient (1:14-16).
5. Be faithful (1:17-21).
6. Depend on God in prayer (2:16-19)
7. Remain humble (2:27-30)
8. Stand firm (3:17-18)

Help me Father, to follow their example.

13 years have passed but I’m still praying the same prayer. Join me. (re-posted to Facebook September 2015)