Beyond the Weekend

October 25 | The Decision

October 25, 2022

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it… But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Daniel 3:17-18

Read: Daniel 3:13-18
Listen: 
Daniel 3

TODAY’S MESSAGE

Some officials tattle on Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego when they refuse to worship the statue. Not liking his supremacy challenged, in a rage, Nebuchadnezzar tells them to bow down now or be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. This furnace is no tiny oven but industrial-sized, hot enough to smelt metal and heated seven times hotter than usual.

These three men have some choices. Maybe they bow down and not worship, bow down just this one time, or God won’t care if they bow down now because it will keep them alive. Under pressure, their decision is none of these and instead, they choose only to worship God and not the golden statue. What they tell Nebuchadnezzar is surprising. They tell him their God is able to deliver them because God alone is all-powerful. But even if God doesn’t, they will still serve God, not the Babylonian gods. Their faith is in the certainty of who God is, not whether he will do what they want. They trust God’s character and contently lay their lives at God’s feet and yield to God’s discretion, even if they die.

We might not find ourselves in such life-and-death circumstances, but we too have situations where we need to trust God even if the outcome is uncertain. Like these three men, we can trust in God’s character even if the cancer spreads, even if our prodigal child doesn’t come home and even if we lose our job.

IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY

You may be in a situation where you need to trust God even if the outcome is uncertain. With open hands and heart, pray, “Father, I trust you with (my job, health, anxiety, fear, feelings of rejection, etc.) even if it doesn’t turn out the way I want because I believe in your character and discretion.”


2022 BIBLE MEMORY PRACTICE

Develop spiritual roots and tap in the power of God’s word by memorizing monthly a Bible verse! View previous verses at beyondtheweekend.org/biblememorypractice.

MICAH 6:8
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.


Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.

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