Some notes I prepared for staff devotions at work this week.
Daniel 3:8-17
8 At this time some astrologers[b] came forward and denounced the Jews. 9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “May the king live forever! 10 Your Majesty has issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold,11 and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. 12 But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—who pay no attentionto you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.”
13 Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? 15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what godwill be able to rescue you from my hand?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us[c] from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
Some thoughts I wanted to share with you from this passage:
- I was struck by the 3 Israelites' unwavering in trust in God no matter the outcome & in spite of persecution. I'm convicted to be more like them in my walk with Jesus: Believing God has the power to save/heal/restore but also refusing to bend when the enemy attacks or tempts us to put anything else before God.
- This passage spoke powerfully to me when my sister's mind was unreachable, that I should have the same attitude as the 3 men. Even if God doesn't heal the way we expect, I will not bow down to anything other than Jesus.
We should strive to have that “Even if He doesn’t” attitude that will not bend to temptation, sin, or anything that flies in the face of God being Lord of our life. And we can be comforted that through Jesus, even when we do slip, even when we do forget, God never lets go of us. His grace is bigger than our biggest sins and regrets, His grace is bigger than our minds and our sanity, that’s why it’s nothing we can do to save ourselves but everything Christ has done for us.
- As people who trust in Jesus, how great it is to carry this hope in us as we go to work each day! No matter what fiery obstacles in our day, we serve the One and only God who is able to save.
