Daily Reflection Verses

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Wednesday – 27 November 2013

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Verses:           

Daniel 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28

Daniel 3:62-67

Luke 21:12-19

Daniel 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28

King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine with them. ² While Belshazzar was drinking his wine, he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines might drink from them. ³ So they brought in the gold goblets that had been taken from the temple of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them. ⁴ As they drank the wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone.

⁵ Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote. ⁶ His face turned pale and he was so frightened that his legs became weak and his knees were knocking.

¹³ So Daniel was brought before the king, and the king said to him, “Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah? ¹⁴ I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you and that you have insight, intelligence and outstanding wisdom. ¹⁶ Now I have heard that you are able to give interpretations and to solve difficult problems. If you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”

¹⁷ Then Daniel answered the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.

²³ Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways. ²⁴ Therefore he sent the hand that wrote the inscription.

²⁵ “This is the inscription that was written:

mene, mene, tekel, parsin

²⁶ “Here is what these words mean:

Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.

²⁷ Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.

²⁸ Peres: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”

Daniel 3:62-67

⁶² O ye sun and moon, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

⁶³ O ye stars of heaven, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

⁶⁴ O every shower and dew, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

⁶⁵ O all ye spirits of God, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

⁶⁶ O ye fire and heat, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

⁶⁷ O ye cold and heat, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

Luke 21:12-19

¹² But before all these things, they will lay their hands upon you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and into prisons, dragging you before kings and governors, for my name's sake.

¹³ And it shall happen unto you for a testimony.

¹⁴ Lay it up therefore into your hearts, not to meditate before how you shall answer:

¹⁵ For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to resist and gainsay.

¹⁶ And you shall be betrayed by your parents and brethren, and kinsmen and friends; and some of you they will put to death.

¹⁷ And you shall be hated by all men for my name's sake.

¹⁸ But a hair of your head shall not perish.

¹⁹ In your patience you shall possess your souls.

INSIGHTFUL WISDOM

TAKE A STAND

“By your endurance you will gain your souls.” – Luke 21:19

We had to pass through a dark street. From out of nowhere, three traffic enforcers hailed our car and charged us for entering a lane which they said was meant for public utility vehicles. As it was late in the evening, we didn't see the sign. We immediately apologized and asked if we could just go back. Refusing, they called two more men. One of them eventually told us that we wouldn't be charged if we would only give them some money for snacks. We explained to them that we were missionaries and would accept a charge ticket instead. They finally relented and let us go without a charge.

Bribery is a common practice. People say it provides the easiest way out. However, we are called to be light of the world (Matthew 5:14). We may be able to breeze through some difficulties through it, but is the momentary relief really worth losing our souls? Even if circumstances are oppressive, we are to pray and take a stand. We must not be weary in doing what is right, for God promises in Galatians 6:9 that “we will reap at harvest-time, if we do not give up.” – Dondon

Prayer:

In a world filled with darkness, may Your light shine all the brighter, Lord! Amen.

Wise Words:

“He said not: thou shalt not be troubled – thou shalt not be tempted – thou shalt not be distressed. But He said: thou shalt not be overcome.” – St Julian of Norwich

Source:

New International Version (NIV)

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)

Living Water 2013