Dan 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. (ESV)
These young men did not need any time to consider Nebuchadnezzar's offer. They knew they would not bow down to his statue because they had determined to remain undefiled and because they had made a habit of life to live in that manner. (see Dan 1) Good decisions in the past help us make good decisions in the present. Poor choices in the past undermine our ability to make good choices in the present. We cannot live with little compromises expecting that when the big issues arise we will somehow make the right choices.
There is a second principle that I see at work in this chapter as well. That is, God uses apparently bad circumstances to display his glory. Imagine you are one of these three. Wouldn't the thought go through your mind, "Why is God letting this happen?" Their answer to the king reveals their uncertainty. They are committed to faithfully serving God, but they are not sure how things will turn out.
Dan 3:17-18a If 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. But if not ... (ESV)
They didn't really know what God was up to, but they trusted him. Often in our lives circumstances arise that make no sense to us. Why hasn't my house sold in three years? Why are we facing these insurmountable obstacles? Why did our car break down here? Why did we feel God called us to a ministry that feels fruitless and pointless? Why, why, why? But so often when we look back we can see the hand of God bringing about circumstances for his glory in ways we could never have anticipated. I expect that when we get to Heaven God will reveal far more of those incidents in our lives then we were ever aware of. (Just to clarify, I don't feel like my current ministry is fruitless and pointless, but there have been times in the past when I have felt that way.)
Small decisions to honor God prepare us for the bigger decisions in life that honor God. Decisions to honor God when life doesn't make sense lead to God's glory. Father, forgive me for the small compromises I too often make. Today may you be honored and glorified in all I do.
By His grace,
Rick Weinert
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