Good morning,
The desire to obey Him
They were three young men working at a very high level for the most powerful human king in all of human history. They were required to join a huge crowd of all the important leaders from all around his kingdom for a united time to worship a 90 foot high golden statue of the king. When the music was played, you either bowed in worship or ended your life in a roaring furnace. When the music started, they stood up and stayed up. When the people under them saw that, they hurried to the king to get rid of those hateful Jews. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were dragged before the king, he was talking to some of his best leaders, so he told them that he would give them one more chance. If they refused, they would die. They were polite to the king, but said, If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty.(Dan.317) Their reason for not bowing was not based on their hatred for their king, they respected him, it was based on their loyalty to the genuine God who controlled their lives. They were trusting their God for the outcome of what they did. They went on to say, But even if he doesn't, Your Majesty can be sure that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” (v.18) The reason for what they did was for the glory of their God. The king had them thrown into the fire, they walked around in the fire, and came out untouched by the flames when the king called them out. God won, and the king put their God first in his line of the gods he was trusting.
Earlier, the prophet Isaiah said, LORD, we love to obey your laws; our heart's desire is to glorify your name.(Isa.26:8) And then king David wrote, The LORD will work out his plans for my life— for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever. Don't abandon me, for you made me.(Psa.138:8) This kind of trust comes with the attack of the enemy, but if we really love our God and Savior, we will remember what the Bible tells us and learn what it means to rely on the Holy Spirit for what we should say and do. Paul, when writing to the Christians at Philippi told them, But whatever happens to me, you must live in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ, as citizens of heaven.(Phil.1:27) His point was that part of our love for our Savior, no matter what we are dealing with, is that we are responsible to trust our God, not just talk about our God. Then he says, Don't be intimidated by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself.(v.28) Ever since the beginning of time it has been normal for God’s family to be hated and attacked for being who we are, because we have believed and trusted the God they hate, because they are controlled by God’s sworn enemy. He also reminds us that, For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him.(v,29) The only way we can know the joy of this honor is when we are obeying God with deep reverence and fear.(Phil.2:12) The good news about this overwhelming challenge is that God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him.(v.13) Dear Lord, thank you for the good news, that you have given us life so that we may be able to love and glorify you, and your Son Jesus as our Savior and King, and then you have given us your Holy Spirit to have your strength and love to carry our your plans for us and for eternity.
Isaiah 26:8 LORD, we love to obey your laws; our heart's desire is to glorify your name.
Roy Wisner
