Hide it Under a Bushel, No?

“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.” – Daniel 6:10

Most of us won’t even pray over our food in public because it makes us “uncomfortable”.  Yet Daniel, knowing that there was a lions den waiting for him, remained devoted to God, praying three times a day in his window as he always had.  He could have took a 30 day break, as the law was only for 30 days, but he was loyal.  The laws of man were not going to change his relationship with God.  Daniel was, in a word, bold.

The Bible speaks of boldness several times.  It says Jesus spoke boldly before the Jewish ruler in the temple (John 7:26).  Barnabas, in his discussion with the disciples about Paul (recently known as Saul the Christian killer), testified that he had preached Christ boldly in Damascus (Acts 9:27). Several times after that, Paul also was recorded to preach boldly.

So many of us have lost our boldness (writer included).  We’ve allowed political correctness and social acceptance to imprison our Christianity.  We hide it under a bushel as the song “This Little Light of Mine” we sung as a child, declaring we would not do that very thing.  While we’re quick to share our opinions on so many controversial topics, we hide our Christianity as if it were a terribly embarrassing disease.  We have made a choice, consciously or unconsciously.  We’ve decided that the approval of society is more important that the approval of God.  In doing so, we’ve worshipped society, placing it above the will of God.  Yeah, I know it’s hard to hear, but am I wrong?

Jesus had something to say about this behavior in Luke 9 that I think would be wise for us all to consider.  Speaking in verses 23-26 he says:

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.”