Mission in the Way of Daniel

<div class=OutlineElement Ltr SCXW155022388 BCX9><p class=Paragraph SCXW155022388 BCX9><b><span lang=EN-US class=TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW155022388 BCX9>Mission in the Marketplace</span><span class=EOP SCXW155022388 BCX9> </span></b></p></div><div class=OutlineElement Ltr SCXW155022388 BCX9><p class=Paragraph SCXW155022388 BCX9><span lang=EN-US class=TextRun SCXW155022388 BCX9><span class=NormalTextRun SCXW155022388 BCX9></span></span><span class=EOP SCXW155022388 BCX9> </span></p></div><div class=OutlineElement Ltr SCXW155022388 BCX9><p class=Paragraph SCXW155022388 BCX9><span lang=EN-US class=TextRun SCXW155022388 BCX9>What can the prophet Daniel teach us about serving in God's mission? </span><span lang=EN-US class=TextRun SCXW155022388 BCX9><span class=NormalTextRun SCXW155022388 BCX9>Daniel was not a priest or official religious leader</span><span class=NormalTextRun SCXW155022388 BCX9>—</span><span class=NormalTextRun SCXW155022388 BCX9>he </span><span class=NormalTextRun SCXW155022388 BCX9>was a</span><span class=NormalTextRun SCXW155022388 BCX9> forcibly displaced Israelite who became a public </span><span class=NormalTextRun SCXW155022388 BCX9>administrator in the Babylonian and Persian empires. </span><span class=NormalTextRun SCXW155022388 BCX9>While he may serve as an example of an admirable work ethic—often finding favor and recognition with political leaders—he is also a prime example of a bold and godly individual willing to be a witness in his sphere of influence. </span></span><span lang=EN-US class=TextRun SCXW155022388 BCX9><span class=NormalTextRun SCXW155022388 BCX9>Though his boldness resulted in suffering he consistently experienced and demonstrated God’s power in his witness. This same boldness is needed today</span><span class=NormalTextRun SCXW155022388 BCX9>.</span></span><span class=EOP SCXW155022388 BCX9> </span></p></div><div class=OutlineElement Ltr SCXW155022388 BCX9><p class=Paragraph SCXW155022388 BCX9><span lang=EN-US class=TextRun SCXW155022388 BCX9><span class=NormalTextRun SCXW155022388 BCX9></span></span><span class=EOP SCXW155022388 BCX9> </span></p></div><div class=OutlineElement Ltr SCXW155022388 BCX9><p class=Paragraph SCXW155022388 BCX9><span lang=EN-US class=TextRun SCXW155022388 BCX9><span class=NormalTextRun SCXW155022388 BCX9>While many</span><span class=NormalTextRun SCXW155022388 BCX9> books and Bible studies explore the work ethic and character of Daniel</span><span class=NormalTextRun SCXW155022388 BCX9> </span><span class=NormalTextRun SCXW155022388 BCX9>Ed Smither takes those discussion</span><span class=NormalTextRun SCXW155022388 BCX9>s</span><span class=NormalTextRun SCXW155022388 BCX9> to a new level</span><span class=NormalTextRun SCXW155022388 BCX9> </span></span><span lang=EN-US class=TextRun SCXW155022388 BCX9><span class=NormalTextRun SCXW155022388 BCX9>illustrating</span><span class=NormalTextRun SCXW155022388 BCX9> why each </span><span class=NormalTextRun SCXW155022388 BCX9>of Daniel’s </span><span class=NormalTextRun SCXW155022388 BCX9>qualit</span><span class=NormalTextRun SCXW155022388 BCX9>ies</span><span class=NormalTextRun SCXW155022388 BCX9> </span><span class=NormalTextRun SCXW155022388 BCX9>and skills </span><span class=NormalTextRun SCXW155022388 BCX9>is a necessary component of mission today. </span></span><span class=EOP SCXW155022388 BCX9> </span></p></div><div class=OutlineElement Ltr SCXW155022388 BCX9><p class=Paragraph SCXW155022388 BCX9><span lang=EN-US class=TextRun SCXW155022388 BCX9><span class=NormalTextRun SCXW155022388 BCX9></span></span><span class=EOP SCXW155022388 BCX9> </span></p></div><div class=OutlineElement Ltr SCXW155022388 BCX9><p class=Paragraph SCXW155022388 BCX9><span lang=EN-US class=TextRun SCXW155022388 BCX9><i>Mission i