“just as he had done before” faith that is unchanging and consistent

King Darius, seeking to find fault with Daniel,

listened to the two administrators and the satraps

and issued a decree with his seal affixed, declaring the new law.

However, Daniel knew that the decree had been published,

yet he went home to his upstairs room

where the windows opened toward Jerusalem,

and three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed,

giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before

(Daniel 6:8-10).

How could Daniel act this way? I am reminded of Daniel’s three friends:

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

They disobeyed King Nebuchadnezzar's command

by not serving his gods or worshiping the golden image he had set up.

They knew that by doing so, the king would throw them into a blazing furnace,

yet they refused to obey the king’s command.

They were able to do this not only because they were certain of God’s deliverance,

but also because, as they said, 'If we are thrown into the blazing furnace,

the God we serve is able to deliver us from it,

and he will rescue us from your hand, O King' (3:17).

They loved God with all their heart, soul, and might

because they were assured of God's saving love.

Therefore, they firmly told King Nebuchadnezzar

that even if God did not deliver them,

they would not serve the king’s gods or bow down

to the golden image set up by the king (v. 18).

When I think of the faith of Daniel’s three friends,

I believe that both Daniel and his friends had sincere and faithful belief.

This sincere and faithful belief was a consistent faith

that did not change whether they were thrown into the furnace or the lion's den.

It was a faith that involved 'praying to God as he had always done' (6:10),

meditating on God's word, and giving thanks to God.