Rebellion
Read Daniel 8.9-12
“.. It set itself up to be as great as the Prince of the host: it took away the daily sacrifice from him, and the place of the sanctuary was brought low ..” (Dan.8.11)
The fundamental fault line in humanity goes back to the garden of Eden: our basic desire is to be as great as God, to usurp His place; at the heart of our humanity is what’s spoken of here (v.12) as ‘rebellion’.
The ‘outwards’ reach of empire (v.4) leads invariably towards an ‘upwards’ reach (v.10): in what ways can you see that happening in today’s world?
Can you detect traces in your own heart of that attitude of ‘rebellion’, of which you need today to repent?
Prayer: God have mercy on me, a sinner. Thank You, living God, that while I was still an enemy and rebel, I was reconciled to Yourself by the death of Your Son.