Obedience

Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. “But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

Daniel 3:16-18

*Be willing to obey no matter the cost.

Daniel 3 contains one of the most famous stories in all of Scripture. Daniels friends refused to bow down and worship the King’s idol. After this, the three Hebrew children were cast into a furnace so hot that it cost the lives of those who executed the sentence. We know how the story turns out and we know that God saved them and they were miraculously delivered.

We need to keep something in mind as we read this account. We know the end of the story. But, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had no idea how things would end. They knew that God was able to save them. However, they also knew that obedience to God might cost them their lives. They didn’t have the hindsight we have today. Yet, they obeyed the Word of God.

They were willing to obey God’s prohibition against idolatry no matter what it cost them. We, as Christians, need to have the same resolve to follow the Holy Scriptures in our lives. When cast into the moment of decision, let us choose to obey the Lord. Charles Stanley always says “obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.” Our resolve should be that strong!

No one can promise us the same deliverance that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego received for their obedience. We know that God is more than able to rescue us. Are we willing to say “even if God doesn’t perform a miracle on my behalf, I will still obey Him?” Are we willing to obey no matter the cost?

Tony French