Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“The king said to Daniel, ‘Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery!’”
NL Daily Devotion for Monday, December 2, 2024
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
Give credit where it’s due. Nebuchadnezzar brought his people a ridiculous conundrum. He had this terrible nightmare that he insisted his wise men not only interpret for him, but tell him what the dream had been in the first place. I’ve analyzed my friends’ dreams for them for years, but they had to, you know, tell me the dream first.
I suppose greater’s the proof that Daniel’s God actually had the necessary power, since none of Nebuchadnezzar’s own wise men could do it. And, in appropriate fashion, Daniel makes it clear that this power came from God and not from Daniel himself, so that the king would then turn around and proclaim that Daniel’s God was the one and only, to be worshipped above all others.
I’ve had people comment to me about some aspect of my demeanor or other over the past twenty years. How calm I am in the middle of chaos. How serene and accepting of truly challenging situations. How I can find joy even when life isn’t going my way as I’d like. In every case, I point up. I reference my work in 12-Step Recovery and the life-transforming relationship with God that I’ve experienced through the daily spiritual disciplines of my program. Frankly, it’s because that’s where the credit belongs. But also, it’s a word of hope to anyone who might be struggling with addiction of any kind. That change for the better is possible. That a life of sane and happy usefulness is possible for anyone, no matter what is going on around us. From there, it’s up to those around me to decide whether it’s something they need, just as Nebuchadnezzar changed (at least for this story) his tune.
When and how have I inspired others with hope?
