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NOVEMBER 29
17 For the time has come for judgment to Where will the ungodly and the sinner
begin at the house of God; and if it begins with appear?”
us first, what will be the end of those who do 19 Therefore let those who suffer according to
not obey the gospel of God? Now
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the will of God commit their souls to Him in
“If the righteous one is scarcely saved, doing good, as to a faithful Creator.
DAY 28:What did Peter mean when he said “the end of all things is at hand”(1 Pet. 4:7)?
The Greek word for “end” is never used in the New Testament as a chronological end, as if
something simply stops. Instead, the word means a consummation, a goal achieved, a result
attained, or a realization. Having emphasized triumphant suffering through death, Peter here
begins to emphasize triumphant suffering through the Second Coming of Christ (1:3; 2:12), which
is the goal of all things. He is calling believers to live obediently and expectantly in the light of
Christ’s return.“Is at hand.”The idea is that of a process consummated with a resulting nearness,i.e.,
“imminent.” Peter is reminding the readers of this letter that the return of Jesus Christ could be at
any moment (Rom. 13:12; 1 Thess. 1:10; James 5:7,8; Rev. 22:20).
“Be serious and watchful.”To be “serious” implies here not to be swept away by emotions or
passions,thus maintaining a proper eternal perspective on life.The doctrine of the imminent return
of Christ should not turn the Christian into a zealous fanatic who does nothing but wait for it to
occur. Instead, it should lead the believer into a watchful pursuit of holiness. Moreover, a watchful
attitude creates a pilgrim mentality (2:11).It reminds the Christian that he is a citizen of heaven only
sojourning on earth.It should also remind him that he will face the record of his service to God and
be rewarded for what stands the test at the judgment seat of Christ, which follows the return of
Christ to rapture His church.“And watchful in your prayers.”A mind victimized by emotion and pas-
sion, out of control, or knocked out of balance by worldly lusts and pursuits, is a mind that cannot
know the fullness of holy communion in prayer with God (3:7). A mind fixed on His return is puri-
fied (1 John 3:3) and enjoys the fullness of fellowship with the Lord.

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November 29 Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. To
them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he
gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to
Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach;
Daniel 1:1–2:49
and to Azariah, Abed-Nego.
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim 8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he
1 king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of would not defile himself with the portion of
Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which
2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah he drank; therefore he requested of the chief
into his hand, with some of the articles of the of the eunuchs that he might not defile him-
house of God, which he carried into the land self. Now God had brought Daniel into the
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of Shinar to the house of his god; and he favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs.
brought the articles into the treasure house of 10 And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel,
his god. “I fear my lord the king, who has appointed
3 Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the
master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the
children of Israel and some of the king’s descen-
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dants and some of the nobles, young men in 1:8 Daniel purposed. The pagan food and
whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, drink was devoted to idols. To indulge was to
gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge be understood as honoring these deities.
and quick to understand, who had ability to Daniel “purposed in his heart” (Prov. 4:23) not
serve in the king’s palace, and whom they to engage in compromise by being untrue to
might teach the language and literature of the God’s call of commitment (Ex. 34:14,15). Also,
Chaldeans. And the king appointed for them a foods that God’s law prohibited (Lev.1:1) were
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daily provision of the king’s delicacies and of items that pagans consumed; to partake
the wine which he drank, and three years of entailed direct compromise (Dan.1:12).Moses
training for them, so that at the end of that took this stand (Heb. 11:24–26), as did the
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time they might serve before the king. Now psalmist (Ps. 119:115) and Jesus (Heb. 7:26).
from among those of the sons of Judah were

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