Corona Devo 2049

I'm always up for a good story, especially if it's true with a twist.

Remind me again about the young man from Tupelo, Mississippi who had blonde hair, but in his teen years, he decided to dye it jet black...and slick it back.  I like the story of how he learned music from local gospel groups, and then how he had the genius, and giftings, (and guts) to sing songs in his own new way. 

I love a good story, and that one is true about a (once) young man named Elvis Aaron Presley.

I also love the true story in the Biblical book of Daniel, about a man who became king...who became like a grazing cow...who became king again...and who then proclaimed and praised God to everyone around Him.  And his name was King Nebuchadnezzar.

Nebuchadnezzar was a great king, who did great things.  But sometimes when life is too great, we can get lazy spiritually, and forget Who the true Great One really is.  We can mistakenly and pridefully credit ourselves with our success.  That's called pride and it's a sin, and it (like all sin) hurts God.  

We can't forget: God is the source of all good things (Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.  ~James 1:17), and God created us to serve and glorify Him--not to serve and glorify ourselves. 

Caution!  Let's do a self check right now: Who are we serving and praising and giving the credit and glory to today?  Ourselves or God Almighty? 

The Lord is dishonored when we do not honor him.  Watch out.  

The Bible (God's Word) is giving us a warning today about our pride.  King Nebuchadnezzar was honoring and worshiping himself and requiring and expecting others to as well.  That might sound crazy, but let's review our latest conversations, texts, and our recent posts: Are we bragging?  Are we seeking favor and approval from others?  Are we upset when we do not receive it from them?

Daniel warned King Nebuchadnezzar about pride and Daniel warns us about it today too.

But the king did not heed any warnings from the Lord, and nor did he change his ways.  And so he suffered the foretold consequence for his pride.  And what a (true!) story that consequence was! 

(27) “‘King Nebuchadnezzar, please accept my advice. Stop sinning and do what is right. Break from your wicked past and be merciful to the poor. Perhaps then you will continue to prosper.’ 

(28) “But all these things did happen to King Nebuchadnezzar. (29) Twelve months later he was taking a walk on the flat roof of the royal palace in Babylon. (30) As he looked out across the city, he said, ‘Look at this great city of Babylon! By my own mighty power, I have built this beautiful city as my royal residence to display my majestic splendor.’ 

(31) “While these words were still in his mouth, a voice called down from heaven, ‘O King Nebuchadnezzar, this message is for you! You are no longer ruler of this kingdom. (32) You will be driven from human society. You will live in the fields with the wild animals, and you will eat grass like a cow. Seven periods of time will pass while you live this way, until you learn that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses.’ 

(33) “That same hour the judgment was fulfilled, and Nebuchadnezzar was driven from human society. He ate grass like a cow, and he was drenched with the dew of heaven. He lived this way until his hair was as long as eagles’ feathers and his nails were like birds’ claws.  

(34) “After this time had passed, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven. My sanity returned, and I praised and worshiped the Most High and honored the one who lives forever. His rule is everlasting, and his kingdom is eternal. (35) All the people of the earth are nothing compared to him.  He does as he pleases among the angels of heaven and among the people of the earth.  No one can stop him or say to him, ‘What do you mean by doing these things?’ 

(36) “When my sanity returned to me, so did my honor and glory and kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored as head of my kingdom, with even greater honor than before. 

(37) “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and glorify and honor the King of heaven. All his acts are just and true, and he is able to humble the proud.”  ~Daniel 4:1-37

~~~

When King Nebuchadnezzar finally submitted to the Lord and to giving God the glory (instead of himself)...then King Nebuchadnezzar enjoyed the favor of the Lord on his life once again.

My favorite part about Nebuchadnezzar's story?  

That he himself wanted to retell it!  To share it!  To (humbly) give God glory through it.  And that is called our testimony: 

King Nebuchadnezzar sent this message to the people of every race and nation and language throughout the world: “Peace and prosperity to you! (2) “I want you all to know about the miraculous signs and wonders the Most High God has performed for me. (3) How great are his signs, how powerful his wonders! His kingdom will last forever, his rule through all generations.  ~Daniel 4:1-3

~~~

Is life too great for us today?  Too easy?  Too privileged?  Too much us--not enough God?

We can get lazy spiritually, and forget Who the true Great One really is.  We can mistakenly and pridefully credit ourselves with our success, but the Lord warns us today through His Word:

(27) “...please accept my advice. Stop sinning and do what is right. Break from your wicked past and be merciful to the poor. Perhaps then you will continue to prosper.’   ~Daniel 4:27

I love true stories with a twist, and Nebuchadnezzar's tops Elvis's in my book.  But the Bible tells us true tales because God has a purpose to the tellings: to teach us.  

Blessings, 

Sarah 

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com