Monsters rising out of a chaotic sea? A mysterious man riding on the clouds of heaven? Daniel 7 is prophetic vision filled with terror, hope and victory. It pulls back the curtain on human history, exposing the beastly kingdoms of man for what they are and leads us into a divine courtroom where God’s justice prevails in the most unexpected way.

There are consequences to your devotion to God. Not everyone who observes it will applaud you; some will despise it and do what they can to shut it down. Daniel 6 has inspired generations to a loyalty that can’t be compromised or shaken by anyone or anything – to a lifestyle of unrelenting devotion.

In Daniel 5, we read a cautionary account as relevant as ever. Each of us has a tendency to trust in ourselves instead of God. This false sense of independence blinds us and sets us up for disaster. But, there is hope to be found in surrendering to a God who can be trusted with everything.

The desire to be noticed, accomplished and in control - to live life on our own terms, lives in all of us. We live in a culture fixated on power and self-promotion. But it’s a hollow shell, an illusion at best. Daniel 4 is the story of God confronting this illusion in the most powerful man on earth. The crossroads it brings him to is ours to enter, the unexpected mercy shown is ours to receive.

There’s a real pressure within our culture to keep faith a private matter. As long as it blends in, is non-invasive or non-threatening, it’s fine. In other words, keep it on a leash. According to Daniel 3, faith involves saying ‘no’ at times. It requires drawing lines and standing against what isn’t right – no matter what the consequence might be.

“This Time Tomorrow” highlights the intersection of faith and work in those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete.

It’s our hope that conversations like these would encourage us to walk out our faith in Jesus Monday through Saturday, seeing our vocation (whether paid or unpaid) as one of the primary ways we image God and love others.

What do you say to those who have been displaced and have lost everything? How do you encourage people you love who are facing an incredibly challenging hardship? 1 Peter 1:1-12 describes a hope that energizes, strengthens and sustains. It isn’t subjective or feelings driven, it isn’t based on speculation or wishful thinking. It’s a living hope rooted in what Jesus accomplished for us and it’s ours to rest in.

When we find ourselves in a crisis situation, where can we find the help we need? When we don’t have answers, where can we find the wisdom that will guide us? In Daniel 2, we find an impossible scenario for Daniel and his friends, and yet they cry out to the One who possesses all wisdom and power; the One that enables us to live faithfully in the place He has called us.