What if those around you made huge efforts to search for your faults in an effort to ruin you. Would they need to look far? Would they find what they were looking for right away, or would it require them to dig deep?
There was a man who loved the LORD and was blessed by him. God protected him when Israel was taken over by the King of Babylon. God showered blessings upon Him, and understandably so. This man was sold out for God. All in.
His name? Daniel.
Daniel was less concerned with his happiness than about his holiness. Daniel was less concerned about the laws of the kings he lived under than he was with obeying the laws of the King of Kings whom he would not place in any position other than first in his heart. Daniel knew God’s law. He studied it. Practiced it.
It just so happened that Daniel found favor not only in God’s eyes, but in the eyes of the kings under which he served. His being “set apart” caused him to be thought of with jealousy from other administrators and high officers. Jealousy led to fault finding. And so the digging began.
But when we live lives that are set apart and honoring to the Most High – when we live lives of obedience – where we desire God’s laws and seek to live as He dictates – it becomes harder to find fault. The men were unable to find any fault in how Daniel handled the government affairs. In fact they found nothing they could criticize or condemn. Daniel was “faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy.” So they concluded, “Our only chance of finding grounds for accusing Daniel will be in connection with the rules of His religion.” (Daniel 6:4-5)
Can you imagine if the only fault that someone could find in our lives was based our dedication to God? If our only fault would be refusing to worship or pray to anyone other than the One True God? Our “fault” would actually not be a fault at all!
Daniel had made a habit of prayer. Daniel had made a habit of seeking God. Daniel had made a habit of knowing and following God’s word. Daniel had made a habit of obedience. Daniel had made a habit of asking for God’s help. Daniel had made a habit of giving God thanks.
How different our lives would be if we lived with habits that created holiness and obedience. It is hard to find fault when our lives are mirroring and following the mandates of a Holy God.
Blessings!