Saturday, September 13 You are someone very precious.​—Dan. 9:23.

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Saturday, September 13

You are someone very precious.—Dan. 9:23.

 

The prophet Daniel was a young man when the Babylonians made him a prisoner of war and dragged him far away from his homeland. But Daniel obviously impressed his captors. They saw “what appear[ed] to the eyes”—that Daniel was “without any defect, of good appearance” and that he came from an influential family. (1 Sam. 16:7) For those reasons, the Babylonians trained him to become an elite member of their society. (Dan. 1:3, 4, 6) Jehovah loved Daniel because of the type of person that this young man chose to be. In fact, Daniel may have been only in his late teens or early 20’s when Jehovah mentioned him favorably together with Noah and Job, men who had spent many decades building a good reputation with God. (Gen. 5:32;6:9, 10; Job 42:16, 17; Ezek. 14:14) And Jehovah continued to love Daniel throughout his long and remarkable life.—Dan. 10:11, 19. w23.08 2 ¶1-2

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Jehovah told Daniel, a teenager dragged off as a captive, “You are precious.” Not because he looked good or had status — but because he chose faith. That same God sees you the same way. Precious.

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Imagine the privilege of being included in a prophecy made in his time, along with Noah and Job? He even received help from angels to understand God’s message. One of these angels also encouraged Daniel at the end of his life, and send him the privilege of knowing more about what was to come.

 

The angels were undoubtedly interested in Daniel’s life throughout his service. So, we can learn that our friends above also reflect God’s love by protecting us and helping us in our service.