Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread. Our reading today titled,

Visible Traces of Jesus, was written by Marvin Williams. Scientists from a California university ran experimental molecular swab tests to identify

the traits and lifestyle habits of individual cell phone users. They discovered, among other things,

the soaps, lotions, shampoos, and makeup that cell phone users used,

the types of foods, drinks, and medications they consumed, and the type of clothing they wore.

The study allowed the researchers to create a profile of each person's lifestyle. The administrators in Babylon

figuratively swabbed the prophet Daniel's life to try and find any negative traits or lifestyle habits,

but he had served the empire faithfully for nearly 70 years, known to be trustworthy and

neither corrupt nor negligent. In fact, the prophet was promoted by King Darius as one of three

administrators over his many governors. Perhaps out of jealousy, the other officials were looking for traces of

corruption in Daniel, so they might be able to get rid of him. He kept his integrity intact, however,

and continued to serve and pray to God as he had done before. In the end, the prophet prospered in his role.

Our lives leave visible traces that point to who we are and whom we represent. Although we

struggle and aren't perfect, when people around us swab our lives, may they find visible traces

of integrity and devotion to Jesus as he guides us.

Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Daniel chapter 6, verses 1 through 10.

It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, with three administrators over them,

one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that

the king might not suffer loss. Now, Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators

and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.

At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel

in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so.

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