DCLM Higher Everyday 30 September 2023 — Hold On In Time Of Persecution
DCLM Higher Everyday 30 September 2023 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Hold On In Time Of Persecution
Topic: Hold On In Time Of Persecution
Text: Daniel 3:13-18
14Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
15Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
17If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
18But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
Key Verse: “But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up” (Daniel 3:18).
Message
If any youth faithfully follows Christ, he must share in His sufferings. A group of persecuted Christians were asked thus: “Have you ever wanted to give up your faith in Christ?” One of them responded: “Through all the pains I have gone through, I could not turn away from Christ and I have not turned away from him. I will never turn my back on him. He will always be my Saviour. Christ is my hope for eternal life.” In our text, the three Hebrew youths held on in the face of fierce persecution. This is challenging. Everyone who is living godly will face persecution. Persecution is not meant to destroy us but to make us stronger in the Lord.
As Christian youths, more than the persecution itself is our attitude in time of persecution. God’s expectation for us during persecution is to keep the faith and not to deny Christ. In order to remain steadfast in persecution you must have the word of God dwelling in you and constantly pray. If we endure persecution to the end, we shall receive eternal reward.
Quote: Keep the faith
Challenge: Will you deny or stand for Christ?
Prayer for today: Lord, may I not deny you in persecution.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
