Today’s Bible Reading:
Daniel 3-4; Psalm 81; Revelation 17
Journal Entry on a passage from today’s reading:
Topic: Commitment
SCRIPTURE: Daniel 3:17-18
14
Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have
set up? 15 Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of
the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music,
and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do
not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery
furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?"
16
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, "O
Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If
that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning
fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But
if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor
will we worship the gold image which you have set up."
(Dan 3:14-18 NKJV)
OBSERVATION:
This well known story about three Hebrew boys in exile in Babylon accentuates the
value of unwavering commitment to God. King Nebuchadnezzar not only threatens Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abed-Nego with a fiery execution if they will not worship the
golden image he has erected to his god, but he directly challenges their God.
At the end of verse 15 he essentially boasts that no god is big enough to
deliver them from his hands. Their answer to the king in verses 17 and 18 in
the face of such an edict is extraordinary: “…our God whom we serve is able to deliver us
from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.”
What a powerful example of faith, trust and commitment!
APPLICATION:
This passage speaks to me of the importance of not
compromising my beliefs in God, nor my commitment to follow His ways NO MATTER
WHAT! God will deliver me; and if not, I will die believing in Him, worshipping
Him, and serving Him (see v.18).
PRAYER:
My Father God, thank you for the joy I receive in serving
you. Thank you for giving my life purpose and meaning. Help me to always trust
you no matter what circumstances may confront me. May the end of my earthly
days see me serving you, my Lord and my God whom I love. Through Christ. Amen. -AP
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