Standing True No Matter What

Daniel 3:16-18 ESV

“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had a resolve, they were commanded by man, the King, to bow down and worship a man-made idol. These three teenagers refused. They had a made-up mind that they were God’s and God’s alone.

They knew God was able to deliver them, but even if God did not deliver them from the King’s judgment and punishment, they were still going to love God, to trust God, to only worship God.

We all face this decision in life, how-be-it, we are not facing life and death decisions, but we make a choice. When those around us are pressuring us to follow the ways of the world or follow God, what will our decision be?

Our children and grandchildren, nephews and nieces face this decision in public schools and in college and the universities every day, follow the crowd or follow God and be ridiculed.

People in third world countries have to make this decision every day under life-or-death situations. In 2021, around the world, an average of sixteen people were killed every day for following Jesus.

We are tested, our children, grandchildren, nephews and nieces are tested every day. What will be our resolve? Will we have a made-up mind that we will follow Jesus no matter what?

Prayer:

Lord, give us the made-up mind and the resolve that we will follow You and we will not turn away from You. Protect our children, grandchildren, and nephews and nieces and all the people around the world, but if we are tested, I pray we have a made-up mind that we will follow You no matter what happens.