Daily Devotional

Bow or Burn: A Faith That Stands

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were in a difficult and stressful spot. Though they were devoted, I am sure the enemy tried to work them over. It didn’t work, but you know he tried—it’s what he does.

Long story short, they had been captured as slaves to King Nebuchadnezzar and had been given jobs to do. The king decided to raise up a statue to honor himself and required everyone to bow and worship it when they heard the music play (Daniel 3:5). People were watching, someone is always watching. Some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews to report to the King if they knew of anyone failing to bow and worship (Daniel 3:8). The penalty for refusing to bow, was being thrown into a fiery furnace. So, when they told the King that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were not bowing, the King was furious. He ordered that the men be brought to him.

We, our children, and grandchildren will always have people around us that will taunt us, make fun of us, mock us if we don’t go along with their way of doing things. We are expected to compromise—to go along to get along. Most people don’t want any behavior that might indicate their way of life could be wrong. The king wasn’t going to let anyone keep him from exalting his way of living.

The Fire Still Burns Today

Now…your friends, family, spouse, and/or co-workers might not be threatening to throw you in a fiery furnace, but it’s the EXACT same mindset. If that child of compromise has been birthed in them, justifying it will consume their thinking. If you don’t do what they do, think like they think, watch what they watch, follow their lifestyle, etc., they are ready to toss you in that furnace to shut you up.

That’s where the mocking, taunting, and all that comes in—it is like a modern-day fiery furnace. Still, you have to choose. Are you going to bow and worship the gods and idols of this world? They are everywhere—money, cars, clothes, TV shows, movies, music, books and the like that are loaded with ungodly themes.

Are you going to bow and worship?

The astrologers told on Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego… The king ordered that they had one more shot—bow or burn. He told them, “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 god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow.

Cross Reference: Daniel 3:16-18 – “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to him, ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it… But even if He does not, we want you to know… we will not serve your gods.’”

The furious King had the furnace cranked 7 times hotter. The fire killed the soldiers who took them up to be tossed in. Then the King jumped up and said, “Didn’t we throw three men into the fire? Look! I see four men walking around, unbound, and unharmed—and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”

They came out of the fire untouched. Not a hair singed. No smell of smoke. We live at the Lord’s pleasure – our lives are in his hands. We are called into relationship with him to trust and obey HIM and HIM alone. So, when the persecution comes, even if the fire gets cranked up even hotter—will you still stand or will you bow?

Additional Devotional Reading

Cross Reference: Romans 12:2 – “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Cross Reference: Joshua 24:15 – “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Cross Reference: 1 Peter 4:12–14 – “Do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal… But rejoice… that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.”

Cross Reference: Revelation 3:15–16 – “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot… So because you are lukewarm—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”

Blessings to YOU,

Cassandra Lee

There’s JOY in the journey – nourishing body & soul…

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