What Really Matters by Clinton A. Macomber

• Title Page
• Introduction
• General Overview
• Daniel 1:1-6
• Daniel 1:7-21
• Daniel 2
• Daniel 3
• Daniel 4
• Daniel 5
  • The Importance of Repentance
  • Biblical Repentance
  • Quoted
  • Did You Know?
  • Daily Devotions
  • Word Search Puzzle
• Daniel 6
• Daniel 7
• Daniel 8
• Daniel 9
• Daniel 10
• Daniel 11
• Daniel 12

Daily Devotions

Monday, Daniel 5:1-5; Numbers 6:1-4; I Corinthians 6:9-10

There is a prohibition against using grape products of any kind when a vow is made to God. This is to make sure that the senses are not dulled in any way, nor does one “enjoy” himself until the vow is completed. When we commit our lives to God and promise to follow the Lord Jesus, we have made a vow that does not end until death. We cannot afford to ingest anything that might dull our senses and cause us to forget our promise. Belshazzar wanted to forget the realities of his pending doom. Instead of taking action to defend his kingdom, he partied and got all the leaders drunk. Are there pleasures of sin that we would rather do than fight the good fight of faith? Let us lay them aside immediately!

Tuesday, Daniel 5:6-10; Proverbs 4:17; Ephesians 5:18

Alcoholic drinks cause a person to be violent, and mock the person that is foolish enough to ingest them. The king becomes very rash and his composure is beyond his control. His mother has to come in to calm him down! Instead of being under the influence of some dangerous drink, we are to be filled completely with the Spirit of God, and completely receptive to His leading. How do we behave? Is it as though we are drunk and out of control of our demeanor? Do we rage and weep? Do we act like zombies? The only way to become like the Lord is to give ourselves completely to the control of His Holy Spirit.

Wednesday, Daniel 5:11-15; Genesis 9:21; Luke 5:39

Wine causes us to debase ourselves and do things we know are wrong. Once we have tasted of the alcohol, there is no desire to have fresh juice. The human body craves the perverted drink. Noah was a righteous man and did things that make him stand for all eternity as a powerful man of faith in God. However, he tasted wine and longed for it after the flood. He planted a vineyard to have that wine and so became a drunken bum, much like the guys on skid row. This brought sin into his family and he cursed his own children.