Bible Reading: Daniel 3:8-18 8 Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and accused the Jews. 9 They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live forever! 10 You, O king, have made a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the gold image; 11 and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 12 There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up." 13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?" 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up." |
| One of the strongest influences on the life-style, dress or actions of most people is peer pressure. "Everyone is doing it" becomes the justification for our behavior in a variety of circumstances, but does that always make it right? Our reading today is the story of how three believers did the opposite of everyone else. On the dedication day for Nebuchadnezzar's huge golden image, three Jewish men remained standing while thousands and thousands of others knelt as the music began. The three believers stood out like three palm trees in a barren desert. Nebuchadnezzar reacted furiously to their disobedience, yet he gave them one more opportunity to bow down to the image, or else face the consequences. It was a compromising situation which faced the three young men. It would have been easy to say, "This is the king who is asking us. He's been very good to us. Perhaps we ought to do what he asks. Everyone else has. We need to think about our future too." However, they refused again, plainly and bluntly. Paraphrasing their answer, they said, "We don't need time to think about it, we have already made up our minds. God has said we must worship Him and Him alone, even if it means death for us. We also believe God can save us from being burned to death. Even if He doesn't, our answer is still the same - NO". You know what happened next. Something unexpected took place (vv.24-25). Jesus Christ came and stood with them in the incredible heat of the furnace and not even their hair was singed! (v.27). What a testimony it was to those watching! Even the king acknowledged the greatness of the young men's God. Can we bring the same glory to God? The same Saviour will always be with us, no matter what our circumstances are. Ask Him for his help today. He will be with you in whatever circumstances you may find yourself in today or any day. Trust Him. He is able. GOD HAS SAID, "NEVER WILL I LEAVE YOU. NEVER WILL I FORSAKE YOU." (Jos.1:5) |
簡介／操練須知 
沒有留言:
張貼留言