Unashamed Reading Plan
Check out all the previous Unashamed readings here.
Unashamed Reading Plan | Week 14 | Day 5
Prayer
As you come to spend time with Jesus, calm your mind and body until you feel fully present. Thank Jesus that he came to save you!
Bible Reading: Daniel 7:13-14
Read these verses three times slowly.
“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
Reflection & Questions
As we finish our readings on the topic of authority, we read from the book of Daniel a prophecy about Jesus. It is in fact from these verses where Jesus got one of his favorite ways to refer to himself during his ministry on earth: the son of man.
What does Daniel tell us about Jesus? He has all “authority, glory and sovereign power.” His kingdom will never end and cannot be destroyed. And there’s unity from people of every tribe in following Him.
The contest with human authorities couldn’t be greater. Human authorities are limited. Human authorities must answer to and cannot thwart Jesus. Human authorities will end. People come and go, but Jesus will reign forever.
How does this apply in our current season? Whether our preferred candidate is in power or not, the truth is Jesus is in power and always will be. Our lives shouldn’t be marked by anxiety or pride in human authority, but a humble confidence that Jesus is our King. As we read this week, we submit to and respect human authority. And we do this because Jesus tells us to. And we don’t ride the media’s rollercoaster. Jesus is our captain. Our faith and confidence is in Him. And our actions and attitudes should reflect that.
- do your actions and attitudes this week reflect that Jesus is King? Why or why not?
- What difference would it make in your life to remember that Jesus is the ultimate authority?
Prayer
Talk to God in response to the reading today.
Worship Song
You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:
Bible Reading: Daniel 7:13-14
Read these verses three times slowly.
“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
Reflection & Questions
Daniel was a man in the Old Testament who saw visions. This vision that he is describing here is about Jesus and there is sure a lot of power given to him! He has ALL “authority, glory, and sovereign power.” His kingdom will never end and cannot be destroyed. And there’s unity from people of every tribe in following Him.
When we compare that to the humans who have authority, it’s quite different. Human authorities are limited and they must answer to Jesus for everything that they do. Human authorities will someday end, but Jesus will reign forever and ever.
It’s easy to get nervous or anxious about the different types of authority in our lives. Sometimes we don’t agree with them. Sometimes we think they are doing the wrong thing. Sometimes they are just plain bad people. But all of them have to answer to Jesus someday for what they have done while they were in authority. We respect and submit to the authority that humans have in this lifetime because Jesus tells us to. But we can have faith and confidence in Jesus because Jesus is the ultimate King, our King!
- Can you think of an authority figure that you need to treat with more respect?
Pray
Ask God to help you treat all authority figures with respect and to obey, even when it is difficult to do so.
Check out more Bible Reading Plans here.
Questions?
Ed Applegate
