Highlighted Verses and my thoughts:
"If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn't, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up." Daniel 3:17
"Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to even higher positions in the province of Babylon." Daniel 3:30
King Nebuchadnezzar was especially furious with these young men of Judah because he had promoted them to be in charge of all the affairs of the province of Babylon. He probably took offense because he felt he had given them special favor and they 'rebelled' in return. However, he had the opportunity...no, blessing, to see for himself how the living God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego protected them in the fiery furnace. He must have had some sense, because he immediately began to Praise God and decreed in favor of the Lord.
"But don't be fooled by those who promise you safety simply because the Lord's Temple is here. They chant, 'The Lord's Temple is here! The Lord's Temple is here!' But I will be merciful only if you stop your evil thoughts and deeds and start treating each other with justice; only if you stop exploiting foreigners, orphans, and widows; only if you stop your murdering; and only if you stop harming yourselves by worshiping idols. Then I will let you stay in this land that I gave your ancestors to keep forever." Jeremiah 7:4-7
"Do you really think you can steal, murder, commit adultery, lie and burn incense to Baal and all those other new gods of yours, and then come here and stand before me in my Temple and chant, 'We are safe!' -- only to go right back to all those evils again?" Jeremiah 7:9-10
These verses should make it clear to anyone that God wants more from us than just showing up for church on Sunday morning. We must do more than just be in close proximity to a place where worship is occurring. We must be part of that worship.
My response to God: Heavenly Father, help me not to need the miracle that King Nebuchadnezzar needed in order to worship you. Grow my faith. Teach me mercy. Make my heart open to all. All praises go to you, Lord.
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