DCLM Higher Everyday 17 February 2024 — Worship Men’s Works? – 3
Topic: Worship Men’s Works? – 3
Text: Daniel 3:23-30
23And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
25He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
26Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.
27And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.
28Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.
29Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.
30Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.
Key Verse “He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God”
Message
There is something wrong when men choose to worship the creature instead of the Creator. Nebuchadnezzar told people to worship the golden image that he made. Napoleon Bonaparte’s words on worship is appropriate here. He stated, “If Socrates would enter the room we should rise and do him honour. But if Jesus Christ came into the room we should fall down on our knees and worship Him.” But in our text, people were told to woship an idol. It is gratifying to note that when shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were cast into the fire, though they fell down intially, when Jesus came, they arose and walked about freely in the fire with Him. God honoured His young generals with His presence in their trying time.
Dear friend, you have a choice to make; you either worship God or the devil. If you reject Jesus by indulging in sinful practices, you are for the devil just as the idol worshipper. God’s Word says, “…If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15). Be loyal to Jehovah God.
Quote: God honoured His young generals
Challenge: Never worship man made gods.
Prayer for today: Empower me, Oh God to stand firm for you, in Jesus’ name.
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)
