Greater Impact

​Have you ever wanted to make a big impact in the community you live in, the job or school you go to, or just in someone’s life?
 
Almost everyone would answer “yes” to this question. However almost everyone goes about accomplishing this the wrong way.
 
Daniel 6 is the famous Daniel and the lion’s den story. Kids programs and those that teach this story usually focus on God’s faithfulness to Daniel in the lion’s den. This is a great truth, but as I studied this passage recently, God showed me something I honestly have never seen before.
 
The king of the entire world signed a decree that stated: “whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.”[1]
 
“When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.”[2]
 
Then Daniel gets thrown into the lion’s den where God sends his angel to shut the mouth of the lion. As a result of God’s faithfulness King Darius “wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: ‘Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for He is the living God, enduring forever; His kingdom shall never be destroyed, and His dominion shall be to the end. He delivers and rescues; He works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, He wo has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.’”[3]
 
Did you catch that?
 
The entire world, at this moment in history, received a letter proclaiming the God of Daniel as the living God!
 
Remember, this was before google translate, social media, email, text, snail mail (like a letter in the mailbox), and so many other forms of communication. This was a major task King Darius accomplished to let the whole world know Daniel’s God was and is the living God.
 
Even though this took place after Daniel was rescued from the lion’s den, I believe the foundation of this national impact for God came from a private commitment Daniel made.
 
Daniel decided to be faithful to his God, even if it meant that he would be thrown into a lion’s den. Knowing the decree was signed, knowing the punishment, Daniel went to his room in front of a window and prayed.
 
Making a great impact in your community, work, school, or even greater – the world, comes from your private life. Daniel’s private pursuit of God lead to a public impact for God.
 
I truly believe, for you and I to see our lives impact others, our schools, our communities, our jobs for the name of Jesus, we first must privately pursue Him no matter the cost.


[1] Daniel 6:7b ESV
[2] Daniel 6:10 ESV
[3] Daniel 25-27 ESV