Thought from today’s Bible reading from Daniel 1-3.
Daniel’s three friends – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego – were thrown into a fiery furnace for their refusal to bow down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had erected. After they were miraculously delivered, Nebuchadnezzar offered some praise to these three men.
“Nebuchadnezzar responded and said, ‘Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who put their trust in Him, violating the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies so as not to serve or worship any god except their own God’” (Daniel 3:28).
Nebuchadnezzar mentioned four things that these men did that we must be willing to do also if we wish to please God today.
- They put their trust in God – Paul, despite the threat of death, did not “trust in [himself], but in God who raises the dead” (2 Corinthians 1:9). Without faith we cannot please God (Hebrews 11:6).
- They were willing to violate the law – Though we are generally to “be in subjection to the governing authorities” (Romans 13:1), God places a limit upon our obligation to do this. If rulers make laws that would require us to disobey God, we must respond as Peter did: “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).
- They were willing to sacrifice their lives – Jesus said, “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matthew 16:25). This is describing a complete sacrifice of self for Him (cf. Romans 12:1), even if it means having to go through death (Revelation 2:10).
- They served God exclusively – Jesus said we cannot “serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24). When tempted, Jesus quoted Scripture: “You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only” (Matthew 4:10). John warned: “Little children, guard yourselves from idols” (1 John 5:21).
If we want God to deliver us from a different sort of fire (Revelation 20:14-15), we must do as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego did in their service to the Lord.
Tomorrow’s reading: Daniel 4-6
[I’m using the Chronological reading plan on the Bible Gateway website if you’d like to follow along, too.]
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