Sun.’s Devo - No Compromise

Read: Daniel 2:24-3:30; 1 Peter 4:7-5:14; Psalm 119:81-96; Proverbs 28:15-16
Daniel went to Arioch, the man who was appointed to execute the wise men and told him to wait because he had what the king wanted - the dream and the interpretation. Daniel was taken to Nebuchadnezzar where he asked Daniel if he was able to tell him his dream and the interpretation. Daniel’s response was that no man could do that but there was a God in heaven who reveals mysteries and he had shown the king what will happen in the future. Daniel’s response gave no attention to himself but exalted God and the king instead.
Then Daniel told him the dream. He had dreamed a huge statue stood before him with a head of gold, shoulders of silver, belly and thighs of bronze, legs of iron and feet of iron and clay. Then a rock that was cut out not by human hands, struck the statue on its feet and smashed them causing the whole statue to fall into pieces on the ground.
Next, Daniel told him the interpretation. He was the head of gold, the king of kings on the earth. The other pieces working down to the feet were other kingdoms that would come. The rock, was the kingdom that Jesus would set up that would crush every man-made kingdom.
The king was so impressed he fell and worshipped Daniel. Daniel was exalted above all the other wise men and given much honor and gifts. Daniel exalted his friends Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. These three ended up being thrown into the fire because they wouldn’t bow to Nebuchadnezzar’s golden statue he had made of himself. God killed the men who threw them in the fire then came and walked among them in the flames. They were brought out and once again Nebuchadnezzar got to see the power of Almighty God and was humbled again.
First Peter talks about the future also. He says that the end is near so we should watch over our mind and show self-control so that we can pray. We can’t get the heart of God when we have so many things in our minds. Our main goal should be to love others as God loves them. Our service to God should be without grumbling or complaining. We should not be surprised at the trials we face but rejoice that we can suffer for Christ.
We have a real enemy who is looking for someone to devour. Let’s revisit him and stand firm in our faith.
Lord, may we be like the men we read about today that refused to compromise the truth for their lives.