Daniel 5-6
H - "Then Daniel said to the king [Darius], 'O king, live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me because I was found blameless before him. And also before you, O king, I have done no harm.' Then the king was exceedingly glad and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God." - Daniel 6:21-23
E - Darius threw Daniel into the lion's den because he had disobeyed his decree for all people of the empire to pray exclusively to him (Darius) for thirty days. Daniel had continued praying three times a day toward Jerusalem. But God rescued Daniel from the lions' mouths, and no harm came to him. King Darius was overjoyed Daniel was still alive. Daniel trusted in his God, was blameless before God, and did no harm to the king and his interests.
A - Daniel provides a model for us today. As Christians we are to concentrate on being blameless before God and doing no harm to the nation, region, and city in which we live. If we do these two things, God will take care of us. In trusting in and being blameless before our God, we will never bring any harm to the greater community, but only good.
R - Father, help me to seek the good of Dunedin, Otago, and New Zealand, even as I maintain blamelessness before you, by your Spirit. May I always speak on your behalf and for the good of the people around me. Thank you truth and faithfulness always win in the end.
- Jeff Coleman