Faithful worship

Daniel 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up."

King Nebuchadnezzar made an idol of gold and commanded everyone to worship it. These three Jews were faithful to worship the one, true God alone. Their response to the threat of the punishment of the furnace was that God is able to deliver them from the furnace but if He didn't then they still would only worship Him.

It turns out that God did deliver them from the furnace, but the point is that they did not know the outcome but chose to worship God alone anyway. Do I have this kind of faithful dedication to God? I don't think I'm there yet. I often allow circumstances to make me change my mind and what's worse, I often judge God's love for me if the circumstances start to change. This cannot be. Just as God was able to deliver these men from the furnace, He was able to deliver Jesus from the cross. Instead, God chose Jesus to suffer for our sins and Jesus did so willingly and lovingly. I want the kind of faith that can withstand the fire instead of always wavering at the first signs of change.

Heavenly Father, please forgive me for often changing my commitment to You when the first signs of trials appear. Lord, instill in me a steadfast faith. Keep me totally obsessed with You. Lord, I love You and want to be more in love with You. Help me to be more like Jesus today. Despite the situation, may I always be faithful to worship You alone. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen.