Daniel trusted God more than government, and he lived to tell his grandchildren about the lions. The Bible says, “No wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God” (Daniel 6:23).
Daniel was lifted out of the lions’ den unharmed. Not because his government rescued him. Not because his government adopted his beliefs. Not because his government was Christian or godly.
Daniel was lifted—alive!—out of the lions’ den because God is more powerful than lions. And kings. And presidents and supreme courts and gun laws and abortion rights and biased media.
Where is your trust, Christian? Where is your trust? Don’t trust in your earthly king or government to do for you what God wants to do for you.
Let me tell you about this God who rescued Daniel from the lions’ den. Let me tell you about the true gospel of Jesus Christ, the living Son of God who unexpectedly came out of another den alive. His own tomb.
The devil, who is the lion of death, roared mightily when Jesus was killed on a cross. But Jesus rose! He lives and he roars! He made sin’s payment and satisfied the perfect justice of God to save you.
Jesus is almighty! Jesus rules over all kings, and he rules in your heart. Trust in him. Trust in him more than government. Trust in him with your life. And trust that you can serve him fully and faithfully like Daniel did, even in a government that isn’t Christian.
By the way, when Jesus rose from the dead, what was his focus? Was it the corrupt government that unjustly put him to death? Did he chase down the Roman soldiers who impaled him to the cross, or storm into the palace of Pontius Pilate?
If he would take vengeance on them, perhaps he could Christianize the empire! No. He chose a different path, a more effective path. The gospel.
Rather than forcing a government to force its citizens to behave like Christians, Jesus chose to change their hearts by the power of his death and resurrection.
And he went to spend time with his disciples, who sparked the explosion of the early Christian church. “Go and make disciples,” he told them. How? “By baptizing and teaching.” That’s an incredible influence.
Have you been saved from sin, death and the devil by your baptism? YES! Have you been saved from sin, death and the devil by the U.S. government? No.
So, Christian, let’s give more attention to baptizing and teaching, instead of trying to make our government Christian. Let’s give more attention to Jesus’ mission for Christians rather than trying to make our government Christian.
PRAYER: God, I do trust you more than I trust government. Sometimes, however, I’m tempted to trust government too much, and you not enough. Savior Jesus, just as you rose from the dead and focused on your Church more than government, lead me to give more attention to your mission for Christians rather than trying to make my government Christian. Amen.
THE REST OF THE STORY: There’s more to the story of Daniel that teaches Christians how to navigate politics, especially the divisiveness and disrespect in the polarizing rhetoric. It’s encouraging, and clarifying! I preached about it and invite you to watch this message.