Thursday, January 21, 2016

The Strength to Speak and be Spoken to...

And behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia, and came to make you understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days. For the vision is for days yet to come.”
When he had spoken to me according to these words, I turned my face toward the ground and was mute. And behold, one in the likeness of the children of man touched my lips. Then I opened my mouth and spoke. I said to him who stood before me, “O my lord, by reason of the vision pains have come upon me, and I retain no strength. How can my lord's servant talk with my lord? For now no strength remains in me, and no breath is left in me.”
Again one having the appearance of a man touched me and strengthened me. And he said, “O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage.” And as he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”
(Daniel 10:10-19 ESV)
Daniel had seen, heard, and spoken much in his God-adventure in a pagan land.  But this was too much.  As God's messenger spoke to him what was going on "behind the scenes" in the spiritual realm, Daniel was overwhelmed, even terrified.  Part is what he saw; part was the realization that what God showed him was to be spoken by him.  He was being entrusted by with with the message. We have been "put in trust with the Gospel", as Paul puts it.  It is a deep mystery, yet to be shared, to be spoken.  Sometimes our call to speak can seem overwhelming, even terrifying. We need strength to do so.  But the same One Who gives the message also will give the strength and courage we need.  Let us ask HIM for it.

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