Shining in Babylon
Reflecting on Daniel's example in Babylon
Hello Salt and Light subscribers! Welcome back to our weekly Friday essay where we reflect on our current mini-comic and what it means to be Salt and Light.
I’m Nace Lanier, and I’ll be writing the Friday essays for this “Believing in Babylon” series. I currently serve as the Director of Interfaith Chapels at Reagan and Dulles International Airports. Additionally, I’m an executive coach with Focusing Forward Consulting, where I equip leaders to excel in both storms and success.
In this week’s page, we delve into the backstory of Daniel and consider: how do we live out our faith with our co-workers, neighbors, friends, and family when more often they do not share our same faith? We live in excellence before them, as we may speak of our faith. Daniel serves as a powerful example, demonstrating how the Apostle Peter, who faced his own challenges in staying faithful in a public setting, encourages followers of Christ.
As referenced in Page 1 of our newest mini-comic, Peter writes,
“Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. 1 Peter 2:11-12
Daniel illustrates how young men faithful to God were chosen to rise in the ranks of a conquering empire’s government due to their excellence. Despite being conquered and oppressed, they remained diligent and exceptional in their learning and service. They earned the right to speak by living in a way that inspired others to listen. May our faith compel us, and may the Spirit of God strengthen us to excel in our respective gifts, living as salt and light so that others may desire to hear what we have to say and glorify God because of it.
- Nace Lanier