Today's Daily Lesson comes from Daniel chapter 3 verses 8 through 18:
8 Accordingly, at this time certain Chaldeans came forward and denounced the Jews. 9They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, ‘O king, live for ever! 10You, O king, have made a decree, that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble, shall fall down and worship the golden statue, 11and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire. 12There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These pay no heed to you, O king. They do not serve your gods and they do not worship the golden statue that you have set up.’
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought in; so they brought those men before the king. 14Nebuchadnezzar said to them, ‘Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods and you do not worship the golden statue that I have set up? 15Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble to fall down and worship the statue that I have made, well and good.* But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire, and who is the god that will deliver you out of my hands?’
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to present a defence to you in this matter. 17If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire and out of your hand, O king, let him deliver us. 18But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods and we will not worship the golden statue that you have set up.’
One of the great mentors in my life used to say, "It is more important to be faithful than it is to be successful."
The three Jews Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego could not in good conscience abide by the executive orders of the King. King Nebuchadnezzar had ordered all the people to bow down to his power and authority. They heard the order, but they could not abide. For to do so would be a betrayal of their own convictions. They would resist. They would resist -- come what may. They would resist and hope God would intervene, but even if God did not intervene they would still not bow down to the King.
We are all faced with decisions where our convictions are tested. Resistance may mean opposition, rejection, ridicule and the loss of social position. It may not be popular or acceptable or "successful" in any way. But my friend is right; we are not called to be successful. We are called to be faithful.
Dr. King said, "Cowardice asks the question, is it safe? Expediency asks the question, is it politic? Vanity asks the question, is it popular? But, conscience asks the question, is it right?"
That's a quote to write down and tape on the bathroom mirror.
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