Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Cross- New Model to Discipleship
Daniel 3:14-25
  Babu T George

Trinity MTC, Houston

25 He replied, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the middle of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the fourth has the appearance of a god.”
The Word of God says, “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). Anything we love more than God is an idol. We love, all too dearly, money, status, prestige, friendships and many other things. In order to climb the ladder of success we  are willing to give up our principles and ideals. But the adopted principles and ideals are often not in line with the truth. The new world order is to compromise and tolerate. The truth of the matter is the Word of God does not change and God expects His children to be obedient to Him. Any gain or success that deviates from that truth leads to ultimate failure and loss of our salvation.
The three Hebrew youths in today’s passage, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, were the brightest and the smartest of the Israelites. They were handsome and wise among other young men. The three were selected to serve in King Nebuchadnezzar’s palace. The circumstances did not change their faith and allegiance to God Almighty, and they were not willing to change their routines. Without eating the food that was served on the King’s table, they were healthy and fit. Even when their life was in danger, they refused to worship the statue of the King and went against the King’s order. Their faith was strong and they were bold to take a stand, even if God did not save them from the fiery furnace that the King prepared to put them in, they refused to obey his order. Because God knew their future and honored their faith, He would allow nothing to harm them.
Are we willing to stand against the ungodly pressures of the world? Jesus said we cannot carry His cross but He asked us to carry our cross. Those who are the friends of this world cannot serve the Lord. If we are willing to compromise under the guise of “tolerance”, we are defying the Word of God. Let us commit our lives to God and stand firm in faith in order to be true Disciples of Christ.

PRAYER

Dear Lord, help us to stand against the idols of this world and help us to stand firm in Your truth. Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
The Cross is the symbol of our relationship with God vertically and with fellow man horizontally. Without the cross there is no deliverance. Stand firm in faith.
  


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