Decisions - Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego

Decisions

Everyday we make decisions, some big, some seemingly insignificant, and sometimes ones that seem to not have any real importance change the course of our lives.

Guy on motorcycle killed when dog falls off of bridge onto him.

Fireman in the restaurant who went back to get his kid’s toy.

Shadrach Meshach and Abednego. (Daniel 3)

In Babylon, decided not to eat the food from the king’s table or drink his wine.

It doesn’t seem like such a big deal, it’s only food.

They can just pray over it.

That decision changed their lives and the kingdom of Babylon.

The king made a statue and declared that when the trumpets sounded that everyone had to bow under threat of death.

Imagine the three talking the night before about what they would do.

When the trumpets sounded, they stayed standing.

Everyone bowing, “I can’t belive they’re not bowing.”

You can’t influence anyone if you are like everyone.

Only standing can you make a difference.

This is something the church needs to learn as she lives on her knees before the gods of this world.

The king got alll upset yet gave them a second chance to bow.

This is when their courage became commitment.

Bow or die. Worship or burn.

They didn’t need to think about it. They had already made their decision years before when they decided not to contaminate themselves with food from the king’s table.

James 1.27; Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

They learned early on the importance of making the right decision in the small decisions.

Everyday we are confronted with small decisions, opportunities to do something wrong.

Lie, gossip, steal (keep the extra change).

If you decide right on these, they won’t lead you to make bigger wrong decisions.

They learned with the small things.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” (Da 3:16-18)

They decided to obey God rather than men even if it meant death.

They chose to suffer rather than sin.

They preferred to die with integrity, rather than live with iniquity.

Rev 12.11; And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.

After that response, the king got really upset and ordered that the furnace be heated 7 times hotter than normal.

He ordered that they be thrown into the fire.

The soldiers that threw them in died.

There were four men in the furnace and one looked like a son of the gods.

It was the son of God, Jesus.

If you make the right decision, standing up for what is right, you will never be alone.

The king couldn’t belive what he saw and cried out, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.” (Da 3:28)

How are the small decisions in your life?

Do you lie?

Do you cheat?

Do you steal?

Are you living for God?

Are you aware of the possible repurcussions of those decisions?

Or do you find yourself kneeling before this world?

Would you rather die with integrity rather than live with iniquity?

It’s the little things that usually have big effects in our lives.