NOW I KNOW
Today’s Reading: Daniel 3-4
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
The Jewish historian Josephus called this a “most magnificent palace” that Herod the Great built on a promontory jutting out into the water. The pool in the centre was nearly Olympic in size and was filled with fresh water. A statue once stood in the centre. Paul may have been imprisoned on the grounds of this palace (Acts 23:35). Caesarea Maritima is a national park on Israel’s coastline. These ruins are a monument to the fourth empire in Daniel’s interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, Rome (Daniel 2:40). The two young Israelis in the picture have probably heard of Daniel’s prophecies in Hebrew Bible studies, which continue throughout all the years of formal education in Israel.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Daniel 3:17-18
If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.
King Nebuchadnezzar, in today’s reading, is progressing toward an understanding that there is only One true God. In chapter two he confesses, “Truly your God is the God of gods” (Daniel 2:47). All four emperors in Nebuchadnezzar’s first dream thought they were gods to be worshipped. Today’s reading (Daniel 3), describing the image of Nebuchadnezzar made of gold and his command to worship his idol, shows that he was probably the most proud one of them all. After the miracle of the preservation of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in the fiery furnace, the king moved another step closer to the truth. This time he confesses, “There is no other god who can deliver like this” (Daniel 3:29b). Nevertheless, he still believes there are other gods.
In Daniel 4 we read of another dream and another interpretation by Daniel. Babylonian records have a seven-year blank in the history of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign. He lost his mind for that period of time, and then he recorded his return to sanity with these words, “My understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honoured Him who lives forever!” (Daniel 4:34). He reassumed his throne and confessed, “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honour the God of Heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. Those who walk in pride He is able to abase” (Daniel 4:37).
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, You are the One and only God! I pray that You will reveal to me more and more of Who You are. As the book of Hebrews tells me, the one “who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6b). So I come to You and ask for the reward of knowing You with greater understanding (my mind) and deeper experience (my heart). I pray this in the Name of the One who is in Himself, “the Image of the invisible God!” Jesus Christ (Messiah). Amen!!! (read Colossians 1:15-22).
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I grew up listening to Bible stories. In grade seven I did a huge mural on the wall of our classroom featuring the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon was one of those wonders. In my imagination I saw Nebuchadnezzar proudly strutting along the parapets of the gardens saying, “Is not this great Babylon I have built…” (Daniel 4:30a) and then humbled for the seven years of mental collapse, roaming around those gardens eating grass. I’ve since discovered that while much of Babylon has been excavated by archeologists, there is no evidence that such a garden ever existed. Of course, it’s in the writings of the later Greek authors, not in the Bible. In this blog I’ve quoted the words of King Nebuchadnezzar, recorded in the Bible, about his understanding of the true God. I want to invite you to consider the words of a prayer by a present-day ruler, President Museveni of Uganda. Many Ugandan leaders believe that the “Unity” message of the “World Embrace” ministry featured in this blog yesterday is an answer to their leader’s prayer (click here for his prayer, the audio is indistinct, but the words are written so we can read his prayer). The former dictator, Idi Amin, who murdered huge numbers of his own people, was Muslim, and today Uganda is holding back the tide of Islam that threatens to engulf the rest of Africa. Let us pray fervently for the Ugandan people and its President.
Yours with the prayer that more and more world leaders will acknowledge the true God!!!
David
P.S. Please don’t think of Uganda as a collection of mud and grass huts. Its cities are modern and its government apparatus very sophisticated. Below is a photo taken in the capital city of Kampala, population 1.2 million.
An amazing post today. Praise God! Thank you family for posting it. Blessings to all.
I agree Doreen. We are all so blessed by the postings by the Mainse family
Again I ask each one to take action re bill c-9
Praise be to God, we got a temporary reprieve last week when the anticipated third reading vote on “hate speech” Bill C-9 did not materialize.
So, we have a bit more time to try stopping the anti-Christian legislation.
In the meantime, Liberal MPs have been spreading misinformation about Bill C-9 in an attempt to quell the growing public backlash.
Carney’s team is telling our supporters to ignore reality, claiming the legislation will NOT infringe on religious freedoms and that Canadians have nothing to worry about.
It’s pure gaslighting. Just have a look at the following excerpt from an email that an MP sent to a concerned pro-lifer:
“Freedom of religion is protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and that does not change in this bill. … Sharing your faith is not hate speech. Courts have been clear for decades: reading scripture, teaching religious beliefs, or talking about your faith does not meet the legal test for promoting hatred. … The expression of sincerely held religious beliefs is not now and will never be a crime.”
Many people tell us they’re getting similar responses from Liberal MPs who are trying to deflect criticism over this heinous legislation.
To be clear, these boilerplate answers aren’t the truth – they’re Liberal talking points and the devil is in the details.
Until recently, the only official copy of Bill C-9 you could read online was the original version as it was presented last fall.
That text did not include the Bloc Québécois amendment to remove the “religious exemption” defence in the Criminal Code of Canada, the one codifying our right to appeal to God’s Word when accused of a “hate crime.”
Now, here’s the thing …
The latest version of Bill C-9 is finally online and the Bloc’s evil amendment is in there for the entire country to see.
You don’t even have to read the entire bill because there’s a note about it right at the top in the summary:
(b.1) repeal the defence based on the expression of opinions on religious subjects or texts in relation to the offences of wilful promotion of hatred or antisemitism.
There you have it.
The Liberals are telling concerned citizens that any fears over Bill C-9 are based on misinformation, but who is truly misleading Canadians?
I think the answer is obvious.
So, what do we do now?
We keep up the pressure.
Parliamentarians are off for the week, but get back to work next Monday, so we must keep applying pressure to vote NO on C-9.
CALL TO ACTION
#1. Continue phoning all the liberal and block MP’s using this list here.
#2. Email your local MP with our Action Alert Email tool here.
#3. If you’re one of the people who received a gaslighting email from a Liberal MP claiming C-9 does not threaten religious freedom or the ability to preach from the Bible publicly, consider copying and pasting the following text to them as a reply:
“Sadly, I do not believe any of your reassurances. I think they are lies. If you vote in favour of Bill C-9 on third reading, you will leave me no choice but to vote against you and to work towards your defeat in the next election.
Instead of placing my trust in your empty reassurances, I choose to believe the former Liberal Justice Minister, Marc Miller, who, during a Justice Committee meeting on Bill C-9, stated: “In Leviticus, Deuteronomy, Romans – there’s other passages – there’s clear hatred towards, for example, homosexuals… there should perhaps be discretion for prosecutors to press charges… there are clearly passages in religious texts that are clearly hateful.” (emphasis added)
This is the only logical reason why the Liberal government would want to delete the “religious text defence” from the Criminal Code. I think Minister Miller is the only Liberal who is being truthful about the intent of Bill C-9. Please reconsider your position, as my voting decision next election depends upon it.”
Thank you for your support in this and God bless.
For life and family,
Jeff Gunnarson
National President
Campaign Life Coalition
Campaign Life Coalition · 157 Catharine St N, 2nd Floor, Hamilton, ON L8L 4S4, Canada
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