Daniel 8, 1 John 2:1-17, Psalms 120, Proverbs 28:25-26

What God said to me – There is an age-old philosophical question, “which came first, the chicken or the egg?”  For those who know My word, the answer is easy – the chicken came first – I created it.  The egg came forth as a natural result of the chicken growing and maturing and reproducing.  There is a similar question with regards to salvation – are you saved because you do good works and keep My commandments or do you do good works and keep My commandments because you are saved?  Again, for those who know My word, the answer is easy – salvation comes first, by grace through faith.  My Son, Himself was the propitiation for your sin – He satisfied My wrath and judgment by His sacrifice on the cross.  It is natural and human to think you must do good and be good in order to be saved, but My word tells you that you can’t be good and do good or even keep My commandments until you are saved – all your righteousness is like filthy rags.  That said – those who are saved will do good works and keep My commandments – this is a natural result of believers growing and maturing and reproducing.  One of the assurances of your salvation is that you keep My word and you are broken hearted and repentant when you don’t.  The one who is My child will strive to walk in the same manner that My Son walked.

Daniel 7, 1 John 1, Psalms 119:153-176, Proverbs 28:23-24

What God said to me – There is a multibillion-dollar industry whose job is to sell different products or services.  While it all sounds great in the ads, you always wonder if it is worth the money or if it will do all it says it will do.  However, when someone you know tells you how great it is, you’re all in.  That was how John approached sharing the gospel and about his walk with Me.  He told what he had seen with his own eyes and heard with his own ears and had looked at and touched.  You don’t have to be a theologian or have the whole Bible memorized before you tell others about Me – you just have to know Me and have a relationship with Me.  Tell them about the peace and hope you have no matter what is happening in your life or in the world.  Tell them how you turn to Me and My word in your struggles and trials so you can receive comfort and direction.  They say if you have a great product that it will sell itself if you just get it in front of people.  You don’t need to “sell” Me to anyone – I will draw and convict and save those I choose and call.  You can’t “save” anyone.  You just walk with Me and talk about Me as you walk through your life and let Me do the rest.

Daniel 6, 2 Peter 3, Psalms 119:129-152, Proverbs 28:21-22

What God said to me – It is easy to compartmentalize your life and to act differently with different groups – at work – at home – with your friends – at church.  It’s natural, even understandable – at work you are more serious – at church the focus is on your spiritual side – with friends you can cut loose and relax – home is a combination of them all.  You need to learn to walk with Me at the center no matter who you are with or what you are doing.  Consistency in your walk means including Me in everything.  When you look at the example of Daniel, his enemies knew he was upright and consistent in his walk and their only hope to bring him down was to get him in his walk with Me – either he would compromise and sin against Me or he would stand firm and suffer legal consequences.  In these godless days you live in, you can face the same dilemma.  Look for Me and cling to Me and be diligent to be found by Me in peace, spotless and blameless.  It won’t be much longer – your redemption draweth nigh.