"Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, 'Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up? Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?' Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, 'O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.' Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego." - Daniel 3:14-19
Being predisposed to obedience means that you have already decided what you will do when confronted with the opportunity to disobey what God has made plain and what you have resolved is the right thing to do in light of that Divine revelation. That is what those three men had done. They loved God more than their own lives. When confronted with a choice - it was - what is the today term? Easy-peazy! So they were able to respond with a "No" with confidence. Not concerned about the king's response.
"Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, 'Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?' But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, 'Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? Show Me the tax money.' So they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, 'Whose image and inscription is this?' They said to Him, 'Caesar’s.' And He said to them, 'Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.'" - Matthew 22:15-21
In the case of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego what Nebuchadnezzar was asking them to do belonged to God not to him. They would not render to him what was God's. There are times - many times sad to say - that we are asked to render to Caesar - our government or our culture that is not in their domain. You must not wait until it happens - when you are being confronted that you think about what you are going to say or how you will respond. That decision must be made - resolved in your mind and heart long before then. Like Daniel.
"Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself." Daniel 1:8
In this case he found favor with his boss. But I have no doubt that he had already decided Who he would honor with his life and it was not Nebuchadnezzar. Remember the lion's den!
So what about you my friends? Are you predisposed to obedience to God? We all want to say "yes, of course!" but you won't really know until you are faced with the choice. So many verses scrolling across my mind's eye. I with this one.
"And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." - Joshua 24:15
The attitude of every Christians must be more than words on a bumper sticker on your car or a plaque on the wall in your living room. It must be a life choice that you resolve to never abandon - no matter how hot the furnace might be. Something you decide on before you face the furnace not when or if. Listen, we will all feel the heat of the furnace in one way or another, at one time or many times while we walk this planet.
"I have decided to follow Jesus - no turning back - no turning back. The World behind me, the Cross before me - no turning back"
Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.
By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone
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