Sep 16

The matter of having a personal relationship with God is key to Christianity. This, among other things, separates it from the other religions of the world, some of which have as their god merely a force or a set of teachings.

There are as many such gods as there are views of reality. Such views are popular because a distant god is a non-threatening god. The personal God of the Bible, the God who searches each heart to its very depths, is far too personal and knowing for comfort for those who do not wish to be known to such a God.

So it is that the people of this God of the Bible and the people of distant gods clash in their views Daniel was thrown into a lion's den because he refused to give up his personal relationship with the personal God of the Bible. The king responsible for this threat to Daniel's life called out to him, "May your God, . . . rescue you" (Daniel 6:16).

Your God . . . The king had no personal relationship with this God, so it was Daniel's God, not his. No doubt to the king, all gods were similar, one being little different from another, hence it was Daniel's God among a host of deities prevalent in that society. But the king was soon to find out that the personal God of Daniel cared for Daniel as a person, as this personal Godrescued him Daniel from his danger.

Scripture for today: Daniel 6
Thought for today: The personal God of the Bible cares for each person he has created.
Prayer for today: Thank you, Lord, for creating me with the ability to relate to you personally.

SEP 16