Devotion:
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Read Daniel 3:13-18.
King Nebuchadnezzar had set up a large statue of gold of himself and wanted every person in the nation to bow down to it. Three young men, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, known more as Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego, had refused to bow down to the statue. The king gave them several chances to change their minds, warning them that they would be thrown into a hot, fiery furnace if they did not do it. The men stated that God would deliver them, but even if He did not, they still would not bow down to that statue. They would obey and follow God, no matter what happened.
It is common to hear of a person who had believed in God for a time, but chose to walk away from God because God did not deliver them from something. One of the more common reasons is that the person prayed for healing for a loved one and God did not heal the person. The person prayed for died without healing. The one praying gives up on God and walks away.
Acting like that does not give God absolute authority or control. God is the one in control and knows what is best for each and every person.
In the Old Testament, God made the rule not to bow down to idols. The young men chose to do that regardless of what God does. They did not set any stipulations on obeying God.
You have to set it in your heart that you will follow God, no matter what the cost is or what He will or will not do. You have to trust that He is doing everything that is the best for you.
Make the choice to not bow down to any idols in this world. Worship God and God alone. In reality, the worst that can happen is death, which then will allow you to step into heaven for eternity.
Who are you going to bow down and worship today?
Personal Worship Option:
I pray today that God will reveal His power to you; that God will strengthen you to not bow to sin; that you will turn from all sin to God; and that you will not fear this world or anyone in it.
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