God’s grace is incredible, especially when seen in light of God’s judgment that we justly deserve! That’s the idea behind Daniel’s name. (Daniel = God is my judge; Zadok = Justice or Justified).
Death is the just punishment for our sin. However, God mercifully gives salvation through the death of His own Son in our place, fulfilling His just requirement, and instead showing grace to the offender, and declaring the guilty one righteous through the blood of Christ. Without recognizing the the demands of God’s perfect justice, we cannot grasp the depth of His tremendous mercy and grace towards us. We hope and pray that one day Daniel will come to recognize that God is his judge, and would trust in God’s grace through the work of Christ to justify him.
His birth vividly illustrated this idea all the more for me (Natalie). We know that pain in childbirth is a result of mankind’s disobedience to God, their Creator. It’s to be expected as a natural result of our disobedience to God since the fall of the first man and woman. This is a fact I was keenly aware of through Kara’s birth. However, Daniel’s was so very different – it was peaceful, calm, and dare I say it, easy. Only two hours after contractions began, when I was supposedly in transition, almost ready to push, it still felt like early labor; I actually laughed at the nurse when she told me we were almost done (needing an epidural never came into question). For the next two hours, (waiting on the doctor, and for my body to feel ready to push) we chatted with the nurses, sipped apple juice over ice chips, and marveled at the very unusual labor that was transpiring. When Daniel finally arrived, it was still as calm and peaceful as two hours before, a testimony to the doctor and nurses and especially to us of the awesome kindness of our God.
To all of you that have been praying for us through this pregnancy, and for his delivery, we thank God for you, and know that He answered your prayers with grace above and beyond our imagination!
