ASSEMBLY THEME

for week beginning 9th May

COURAGE

Daniel was a clever and important young man who helped King Darius rule his kingdom. Daniel was so good at his job and so trusted by the king that he was in line for a big promotion. Sadly, this made the king’s other helpers jealous, and when people get jealous of us they might try to hurt us in some way.

These men got together to try to hatch a plan to bring Daniel down. ‘Down with Daniel!’ they hissed angrily.

But, try as they could, they just couldn’t find fault with Daniel’s work. This made them even more angry. ‘Down with Daniel!’ they hissed angrily.

Now, these men knew that Daniel was a man of God who always put God first in his life. Now there’s an idea, thought one of the men excitedly. It was a clever idea and they hurried to the king with it. ‘Oh most noble king Darius. You are indeed the greatest king ever to live. We think you should issue a law that in the next thirty days all people should bow down and worship you alone.

The king quite liked the idea. He puffed himself up on his throne and replied, ‘Very nice of you, and all quite true. Good idea.’ ‘And,’ continued the wily men, ‘if anyone dares to worship any other god before you then he should be thrown in the lions’ den!’ ‘Done,’ said the king, nodding proudly in agreement, and the decree was issued.

When Daniel heard of this, he knew that this was not an order he could agree with. His God was the only God. So he decided to . . . run away? No, he didn’t. He decided to . . . just pray to the king for the next thirty days? No, he didn’t. He decided to . . . just keep on praying quietly in his heart to his God? No, he didn’t. Daniel went upstairs, threw his window wide open, got down on his knees and prayed out loud, not just once but three times a day, as he had always done before!

You can be sure that he was being spied on. The binoculars were out in force!‘Down with Daniel!’ the men hissed gleefully. They hurried to king Darius to tell him about disobedient Daniel. The king was upset because he liked Daniel, but a law was a law after all. He had committed himself to it. ‘Have him taken to the lions!’ he ordered, but quietly to himself he added, May your God rescue you, Daniel. And what does the Bible tell us God did? He shut the lions’ mouths. When Daniel was brought out with not a hair of his head harmed, King Darius issued another decree. ‘In every part of my kingdom, my people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.’

Daniel didn’t know the outcome of his decision. He certainly did not fancy his chances with lions, but he also knew that he couldn’t agree with the decree.

It was a very tough decision to stand alone, to be the odd man out.Of course Daniel was not alone. He had a God who had promised never to leave him or to forsake him. He knew it was right to continue to trust in his God.

Read this story about Daniel

What do you think this story tells us about courage?

When do you think you have shown courage?