Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. — Daniel 6:10-11
Sometimes, the concept of it being illegal to serve God can be a little distant for us. After all, in the United States we are in a free nation, where we are given the right to serve our God without government interference. That is not the case across the world, however.
It seems each week I see stories of how churches are forced to meet in hiding, just to be able to worship. I have heard missionaries share stories about how many were forced to hide their Bible, just to keep it and read it. I even read about how many Christians have been put in prison in countries like China, for choosing to serve God where it may be considered illegal.
While the idea may seem distant, it is not so far-fetched. Governments throughout history have ruled against Christianity, making it illegal or difficult to serve and worship God without fear. We see that even in the Bible in the book of Daniel, where the king made a decree that no one could petition anyone except himself. We find that it was a devious plan of some wicket men in order to catch Daniel.
Catch him they did. They came to his house and found Daniel in his chamber making supplication, or praying, to God. Daniel was not hiding it. He was serving God with the windows open, praying toward Jerusalem multiple times a day.
These men knew Daniel was a Christian by things that he said, but Daniel was proven to be a Christian by his actions. If someone were to search our lives for evidence, as they did for Daniel, what would they find?
Would they find enough evidence to convict us of being a Christian? Or would they simply find someone that says they are a Christian, but lives a different way? Evidence is proof that something exists or is true. The last thing you ever want is to go to a trial without any evidence. If there is no evidence, you can be made into whatever someone wants to say you are.
May we live our lives like Daniel, where those around us know beyond any doubt that we are Christians. May they hear us praying, see us worshipping, and know beyond any doubt that we believe and serve God.
