SCRIPTURE: Daniel 3:1-18
OBSERVATION:
What about Daniel? Maybe he was exempt because he was so high up. These guys are identified by their new Babylonian names. They are fully engaged in Babylonian life (Jeremiah 31:4-7), but they refuse to compromise their loyalty to God (Jeremiah 24:4-7). They are ‘in’ the world but not ‘of’ the world, and trust God to protect them (John 17:15-18). They will obey God even if He doesn’t rescue them from the fire (vv.17-18).
APPLICATION:
I am also ‘exiled’ in the world, tempted by its good life, and to compromise my loyalty to Jesus. He has called me to (and I have committed to) a way of life, but am I compromising? Perhaps more subtly, I am allowing the gree, materialism and hedonism of society to distract and weaken my commitment. The Lord calls me to be fully engaged in this world (not hide like the Amish), but to remain loyal to His cause. This is hard, risky, it requires determination.
PRAYER:
Lord, I have lost my edge. I sense that I am distracted from my calling and purpose in the world. Not even clear on what they are. Re-call me, and renew my passion and commitment to You, even if it puts my position in this world at risk. Amen.