God Is My Judge
Daniel 3:17-18
‘If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty's hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.’
In this passage it is clear that the three friends know who the boss is! King Nebuchadnezzar has made a big gold statue and set a decree for everyone to worship the statue whenever musical instruments are played. Anyone not worshipping this statue is to be thrown into a fiery furnace.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (Daniel’s friends) have refused to worship the idol and are brought before the King. The three men do not apologize to the King; they are not sorry for their actions. Instead, they tell the King they are not willing to worship an idol because they worship God. They aren’t willing to budge on what they know is important. They know their ultimate judge is not the King but God himself. It is clear from what they are saying that they believe that God has the power to save them; it is also clear that they do not presume that God will save them. They simply know that God is sovereign over the situation.
Quite often I know I don’t live my life like God is my ultimate judge. Often things get in the way and I end up worshipping other things. I don’t worship a gold idol, but I do chase after money, status at work, friendships and popularity. These modern-day idols can turf God off the number one spot in our lives. We end up worshipping these things in our culture and our lives resolve around them instead of God.
Like these three men, we need to take a stand and remove those things that push God out of our number one priority. We need to know that God is our ultimate judge and be willing like Daniel’s friends to take up our cross daily and follow him (Luke 9:23).
Prayer – Jesus, show me what those things in my life have knocked you off the top spot. Show me how to make you the number one priority in my life. Help me to live my life knowing you are my gracious judge.