Bible Study
Home
Bible Study
Articles
Video Lessons
Video Devotions
Audio Lessons
Podcasts
Topical Scripture Guide
eBooks
The Lord's Church
Salvation
Interactive Lessons
Games & Quizzes
Children's Bible Stories
Bible in a Year
FAQs
 
Reference
Articles
Topical Scripture Guide
eBooks
Geography
 
Links
Links: Audio Bible
Links: Bible Study
Links: eBooks
Links: Geography
Links: Greek
Links: Hebrew
Links: Maps
Links: Youth
 
Visit us on Facebook
Live Chat
Bookmark and Share

Step Two: Faith and Prayer
Bible study on answering questions.

The first step in answering questions concerning morality is to begin with a humble and honest heart. Noted in my last article, James and Peter quote Proverbs 3:34 saying: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." In this article, I wish to suggest that the second step in answering questions concerning morality is to believe (have faith) in God and pray.

Now, believing in and praying to God may seem so rudimentary that you may think your time wasted in reading this article. But ask yourself. Can I live righteously before God if I do not believe in Him? And, how may we begin to understand the mind of God concerning a matter if we do not pray to God for wisdom concerning the matter under consideration?

In Daniel the sixth chapter we see Daniel faced with a question concerning morality. King Darius had appointed Daniel one of three governors over his kingdom along with 120 satraps who reported to the governors. Daniel had distinguished himself over the other two governors to the degree that the King thought of setting him over the entire kingdom. Since the other governors and satraps desired to find fault against Daniel, they tricked Darius into establishing a law that forbid anyone to petition (pray) to a man (except King Darius) or god for thirty days. So, King Darius established and signed the decree which, by law, was unalterable under any circumstance. The decree further stated that the penalty for breaking the law was to throw the offender into a den of lions.

Now, Daniel had to decide whether to obey King Darius and not pray to God for thirty days, disobey the King to be thrown into a den of lions, or pray in secret so that no one would know he had broken the King's law. Notice that upon Darius signing the decree, Daniel went home and prayed as was his custom since youth. Daniel did not change a thing about his service to God. Although we do not know what his prayer was that day, certainly he petitioned God concerning his future fate - to be thrown into a den of lions.

What would you have done in such a situation? Daniel went into his upper room and opened his window. He did not try to hide his prayer. He had prayed that way for years and was not going to change one thing because of a human decree contradicting the will of God. Furthermore, he prayed three times each day. We might have thought ourselves lucky to get away with one prayer, but Daniel prayed in plain view all three times. Daniel believed in God - not a man. Daniel put his trust in God - not a man.

Likewise, we cannot allow ourselves to be consumed with the consequences of living morally before the Lord. But, we must consume ourselves with God, His will, His word, and moral living. Then, we must trust in God to care for us through whatever consequences may occur. Even if the consequence is physical death, is not physical death preferred over eternal death? Jesus said: "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matt. 10:28)

Upon another occasion, we see that Peter and John were arrested for preaching "in Jesus the resurrection from the dead" (Acts 4:2). So after addressing the Sanhedrin, which warned them not to preach in the name of Jesus, Peter and John were released having given their defense to the Sanhedrin (Acts 4:5-22). Now the apostles and the whole church were faced with a question concerning morality - whether to obey the Jewish chief priests and elders instead of God. What did they do? They determined to speak the word, then they prayed to God for boldness. What did God do? He immediately granted them boldness. (Acts 4:23-31).

Over and over again we see the need for faith and prayer to make moral decision and live moral lives. The Bible says: "without faith it is impossible to please Him" (Heb. 11:6), and "if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him." (James 1:5) Who can possess the wisdom, understanding, fortitude, and courage to live morally before God without faith and prayer? And, without faith and prayer, who can live morally before God with possible consequence of death? (Rev. 2:10)

If we find ourselves unable to confront situations wherein we must make moral decisions and stand by the Lord, it is not because the Lord has fallen short in equipping us to fulfill His commands. It is because we have failed to put on the equipment - humility, honesty, faith, and prayer. An honest and humble individual looks into his heart to see the things lacking and then changes. But, a haughty and self-deceived individual is satisfied in his immoral condition. What kind of person have you been in the past? What kind of person are you going to be in the future? The decision is yours, and the responsibility is yours.