Article May 23, 1953 Issue

"AN EXCELLENT SPIRIT WAS IN HIM"

CAROLINE B. WINGERT

It is possible today through the teachings of Christian Science to prove the joy and safety of perfect being based on the allness of God's perfection. This is accomplished, however, only as the spirit of God is given ascendancy as an active influence in individual living. The mesmerism of evil beliefs apparently arraying themselves against righteous living has no inherent power and can seem to be active only through some response in our own thinking. Daniel's experience in the lions' den was proof positive of this fact of evil's powerlessness. There was nothing in Daniel's thinking in which the animal nature could find response. The innocency found in him was in reality the Christ-consciousness he reflected and was his protection against animality.

Daniel early distinguished himself by his wisdom gained in strictly obeying the Mosaic law and in implicitly relying on his God. His concept of God must have been that of Love, for on no occasion is it recorded that he opened his thinking to any unloving sense. Recognizing that "an excellent spirit was in him," King Darius showed Daniel preference by making him chief of the presidents, "and the king thought to set him over the whole realm" (Dan. 6:3). Stirred by envy over the king's choice, as is frequently the case when character and ability are recognized in others, "the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him." Only-one chance remained whereby to convict Daniel and that was "concerning the law of his God."

Bible students are familiar with the king's decree and with the fact that Daniel's loyalty to his God remained undaunted by any threat. Daniel was not tempted to bow to a lesser god, and his ultimate victory proved the wisdom of his stand and the spiritual protection resulting from it.

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