Tuesday; December 3

One of the neat things about the biblical character Daniel was that he bloomed where he was planted.  If you recall, Daniel and his comrades were born in the Promised Land, but were exiled to Babylon.  It appears they were among the best and brightest of the sons of Israel, but were removed from that setting and brought to live among the Chaldeans.  Now, while this is fact of history, there is something that is even more important.  Even though Daniel and “the boys” were displaced, they didn’t become disheartened.  They continued to do what they were supposed to be doing and, before long, they were moving up the ranks in the foreign land.  By the time we get to the second chapter of Daniel’s biography we find, “Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts, and he made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon, and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon.” (Daniel 2:48).  Daniel may not have been in his homeland, but he applied the talents he possessed wherever he lived. 

It is easy to be discouraged when we aren’t where we want to be doing what we want to be doing, but no matter where we find ourselves, let’s make the most of the opportunities we are given.  I don’t know that we have to be relegated to the fate of where we find ourselves; however, while we are there we owe it to our Lord and our leaders to be the best we can be.  Maybe, someday, our conditions will change to be more in line with what we like, but until that happens let’s be the best aliens we can be. 

Think About It!

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