Monday, May 14, 2012

May 15, 2012

"King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it. Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “Nations and peoples of every language, this is what you are commanded to do: As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.  Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.” Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the nations and peoples of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up."  Daniel 3:1-7
 
How important is worship?
 
Many people take it for granted. Do you?
 
Let me remind you how important worship is. It is illustrated in this Old Testament story about three Hebrew slaves who had to face that issue.
 
The first two commandments talk about worship.
 
Our first amendment to the US Constitution protects the freedom to worship.
 
For Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego worship was dead serious!
 
The king they served had an eight story image built and issued a decree that everyone would be required to worship this huge idol upon his command. Once Nebuchadnezzar issued that decree, every one of his subjects had to choose, "Bow or burn". No pressure.
 
What would you do given those two options, would you bow to the idol or would you choose to burn in the furnace?
 
I don't know how large King Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom was but everyone in it decided they would bow to the image when the command was given. That is, everyone but three. When the trumpets sounded and the band played and all the people bowed to worship the image there were three who stood tall and straight above the crowd. They were Hebrews and their names are recorded for history, Shadrah and Meschach and Abednego.
 
When faced with the life or death decision of who they would worship, they chose God. They refused to bow and chose to burn. Because they stood for God, when they were tossed into the furnace He stood with them!
 
Here's the application for you. You face the same decision they did! So do I!
 
The Bible is clear those who do not devote their lives to worshipping God and bowing to His will and His ways, will in fact - BURN - after they leave this life. Their eternal future is a a firey lake that burns forever.
 
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego survived the firey furnace because they had a greater fire burning within them! They had a fire of desire for God. And they had a fire of devotion for God. And that fire within delivered them from the fire around them!
 
What have you chosen to do? Will you bow to false idols or will you burn with passionate devotion for your God?
 
 
 
 
 
 

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